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GMAT Vocabulary

Graduate Management Admission Test

Top 100 vocabulary words for GMAT verbal section. Essential words for sentence correction, critical reasoning, and reading comprehension.

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About Graduate Management Admission Test

GMAT is a standardized test for admission to graduate business programs worldwide. It assesses analytical writing, quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and integrated reasoning skills.

Exam Sections

1

Analytical Writing Assessment

2

Integrated Reasoning

3

Quantitative Reasoning

4

Verbal Reasoning

Why Vocabulary Matters

Vocabulary is crucial for the Verbal Reasoning section, which includes reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction. GMAT tests your ability to understand precise meanings and use words correctly in business contexts.

Essential Vocabulary Words

Master these 100 high-frequency words to excel in your GMAT exam

1
ambivalentadjective
mediumhigh

Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas

Example: She felt ambivalent about accepting the job offer.

2
mediumhigh

Something that deviates from what is standard

Example: The test results showed an anomaly requiring investigation.

3
arduousadjective
mediumhigh

Involving strenuous effort; difficult

Example: The arduous journey tested their endurance.

4

articulate

adjective
easyhigh

Able to speak fluently and coherently

Example: She is an articulate speaker.

5
austereadjective
hardmedium

Severe or strict; having no luxuries

Example: The monk lived an austere life.

6
mediumhigh

To support or strengthen

Example: The data bolstered their argument.

7
candidadjective
easyhigh

Truthful and straightforward

Example: She gave a candid assessment.

mediumhigh

Something that precipitates an event

Example: The crisis was a catalyst for change.

9
coherentadjective
mediumhigh

Logical and consistent

Example: He presented a coherent argument.

10

compelling

adjective
easyhigh

Evoking interest or attention

Example: She made a compelling case.

11

comprehensive

adjective
easyhigh

Complete; including all elements

Example: The report was comprehensive.

12

concise

adjective
easyhigh

Giving information clearly in few words

Example: Please provide a concise summary.

13
conduciveadjective
mediumhigh

Making a situation likely to happen

Example: The environment is conducive to learning.

14

consensus

noun
easyhigh

General agreement

Example: The team reached a consensus.

15

consolidate

verb
mediumhigh

To make stronger or more solid

Example: They consolidated their market position.

16

contentious

adjective
mediumhigh

Causing disagreement

Example: The proposal is contentious.

hardmedium

To confirm or support

Example: The evidence corroborated his story.

18

credible

adjective
easyhigh

Able to be believed

Example: She provided credible evidence.

19

criterion

noun
mediumhigh

A principle for judging something

Example: Quality is the main criterion.

20

crucial

adjective
easyhigh

Of great importance

Example: Timing is crucial to success.

21

curtail

verb
mediummedium

To reduce or limit

Example: They had to curtail expenses.

22

debatable

adjective
easyhigh

Open to discussion or argument

Example: The point is debatable.

23

deliberate

adjective
easyhigh

Done consciously and intentionally

Example: It was a deliberate decision.

24
hardmedium

To describe precisely

Example: The report delineates the challenges.

25

demonstrate

verb
easyhigh

To clearly show the existence of

Example: The study demonstrates the benefits.

26

detrimental

adjective
mediumhigh

Tending to cause harm

Example: Smoking is detrimental to health.

27

discern

verb
mediumhigh

To perceive or recognize

Example: It was hard to discern the truth.

28

discrepancy

noun
mediumhigh

A lack of compatibility

Example: There was a discrepancy in the accounts.

29

disparate

adjective
hardmedium

Essentially different

Example: They held disparate views.

30

disseminate

verb
hardmedium

To spread widely

Example: They disseminate information globally.

31

diverse

adjective
easyhigh

Showing variety

Example: The company has a diverse workforce.

32

dubious

adjective
mediumhigh

Hesitating or doubting

Example: I am dubious about the plan.

33

efficacy

noun
hardmedium

The ability to produce a desired result

Example: The drug's efficacy was proven.

34

efficient

adjective
easyhigh

Achieving maximum productivity

Example: The process is highly efficient.

35

elaborate

adjective
easyhigh

Involving many careful details

Example: They made elaborate plans.

36

elicit

verb
mediumhigh

To evoke or draw out

Example: The question elicited a response.

37

empirical

adjective
hardmedium

Based on observation or experience

Example: The study provides empirical evidence.

38

enhance

verb
easyhigh

To intensify or improve

Example: Technology enhances productivity.

39

equitable

adjective
mediummedium

Fair and impartial

Example: They sought an equitable solution.

40
erraticadjective
mediummedium

Not even or regular in pattern

Example: His behavior was erratic.

hardmedium

To make worse

Example: The drought exacerbated the crisis.

42

exemplify

verb
mediumhigh

To be a typical example of

Example: This case exemplifies the problem.

43

expedite

verb
mediumhigh

To make happen sooner

Example: We need to expedite the process.

44

explicit

adjective
easyhigh

Stated clearly and in detail

Example: The instructions were explicit.

mediumhigh

To make an action easier

Example: Technology facilitates communication.

46

feasible

adjective
mediumhigh

Possible to do easily

Example: The plan is feasible.

47

fluctuate

verb
mediumhigh

To rise and fall irregularly

Example: Prices fluctuate daily.

48

formidable

adjective
mediummedium

Inspiring fear or respect

Example: They faced formidable challenges.

49

fundamental

adjective
easyhigh

Forming a necessary base

Example: This is a fundamental principle.

50

hamper

verb
mediummedium

To hinder or impede

Example: Bad weather hampered progress.

51

hypothetical

adjective
mediumhigh

Based on a suggested idea

Example: Let's consider a hypothetical scenario.

52

implement

verb
easyhigh

To put into effect

Example: They implemented new policies.

53

implicit

adjective
mediumhigh

Suggested though not directly expressed

Example: There was an implicit threat.

54

incentive

noun
easyhigh

Something that motivates action

Example: They offered financial incentives.

55
inherentadjective
mediumhigh

Existing as a natural part

Example: There are inherent risks.

56

innovative

adjective
easyhigh

Featuring new methods

Example: The company is innovative.

57

integral

adjective
mediumhigh

Necessary to make complete

Example: Communication is integral to success.

58

intrinsic

adjective
hardmedium

Belonging naturally

Example: The work has intrinsic value.

59

invoke

verb
mediummedium

To cite as an authority

Example: He invoked company policy.

60

justify

verb
easyhigh

To show to be right or reasonable

Example: Can you justify the expense?

61

legitimate

adjective
easyhigh

Conforming to rules

Example: He raised legitimate concerns.

62

lucrative

adjective
mediummedium

Producing a great deal of profit

Example: It was a lucrative business.

63

magnitude

noun
mediumhigh

The great size or extent

Example: The magnitude of the problem is clear.

64

marginal

adjective
mediumhigh

Relating to or at the edge

Example: The improvement was marginal.

65
meticulousadjective
mediumhigh

Showing great attention to detail

Example: She is meticulous in her work.

66
hardmedium

To make less severe

Example: Measures will mitigate the impact.

67

negligible

adjective
mediummedium

So small as to be not worth considering

Example: The difference is negligible.

68

objective

adjective
easyhigh

Not influenced by personal feelings

Example: We need an objective assessment.

69

obsolete

adjective
easyhigh

No longer in use

Example: The technology is obsolete.

70

optimize

verb
mediumhigh

To make the best use of

Example: They optimized the process.

71
hardmedium

A typical example or pattern

Example: There was a paradigm shift.

72

paramount

adjective
mediummedium

More important than anything else

Example: Safety is paramount.

73

pervasive

adjective
mediummedium

Spreading widely throughout

Example: The problem is pervasive.

74

plausible

adjective
mediumhigh

Seeming reasonable or probable

Example: The explanation is plausible.

75
pragmaticadjective
mediumhigh

Dealing with things sensibly

Example: She took a pragmatic approach.

76

preclude

verb
hardmedium

To prevent from happening

Example: This precludes other options.

77

predominant

adjective
mediumhigh

Present as the strongest element

Example: English is the predominant language.

78

preliminary

adjective
easyhigh

Denoting an action preceding something

Example: These are preliminary results.

79

prerequisite

noun
mediumhigh

A thing required as a prior condition

Example: Experience is a prerequisite.

80

prevalent

adjective
mediumhigh

Widespread in a particular area

Example: The disease is prevalent here.

81
profoundadjective
easyhigh

Very great or intense

Example: The impact was profound.

82

proliferate

verb
hardmedium

To increase rapidly in number

Example: Smartphones proliferated quickly.

83

prominent

adjective
easyhigh

Important; famous

Example: She is a prominent figure.

84

propensity

noun
hardmedium

An inclination or tendency

Example: He has a propensity for risk.

85
prudentadjective
mediummedium

Acting with care and thought

Example: It was a prudent decision.

86
mediumhigh

A set of reasons for a course of action

Example: What is the rationale?

87

redundant

adjective
mediummedium

Not needed; superfluous

Example: The information is redundant.

88

relevant

adjective
easyhigh

Closely connected to the matter

Example: Please provide relevant information.

89
resilientadjective
mediumhigh

Able to withstand or recover quickly

Example: The economy proved resilient.

90

rigorous

adjective
mediumhigh

Extremely thorough and careful

Example: The study was rigorous.

91

scrutinize

verb
mediummedium

To examine closely

Example: They scrutinized the contract.

92

significant

adjective
easyhigh

Sufficiently great to be worthy of attention

Example: There was significant progress.

93
substantialadjective
easyhigh

Of considerable importance or size

Example: They made substantial gains.

94
succinctadjective
mediummedium

Briefly and clearly expressed

Example: The summary was succinct.

95

tangible

adjective
mediumhigh

Perceptible by touch; clear and definite

Example: We need tangible results.

96

tenuous

adjective
hardmedium

Very weak or slight

Example: The connection is tenuous.

97
ubiquitousadjective
hardmedium

Present everywhere

Example: Smartphones are ubiquitous.

98

undermine

verb
mediumhigh

To weaken gradually

Example: This undermines our efforts.

99

viable

adjective
mediumhigh

Capable of working successfully

Example: The plan is viable.

100

volatile

adjective
mediumhigh

Liable to change rapidly

Example: The market is volatile.

Expert Preparation Tips

Proven strategies to master vocabulary for GMAT

Focus on understanding precise meanings and subtle differences between similar words
Practice identifying correct word usage in sentence correction questions
Read business publications like Harvard Business Review and The Economist
Learn common GMAT idioms and expressions
Practice critical reasoning questions to understand how vocabulary affects arguments

Master GMAT Vocabulary

Practice with AI-powered flashcards and spaced repetition designed for GMAT success

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Quick Facts

Exam Type

standardized

Difficulty Level

intermediate

Total Words

100 essential words

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GMAT Vocabulary: Top 100 Words for Graduate Management Admission Test | WordFlippin