GRE Vocabulary
Graduate Record Examination
100 GRE vocabulary words for verbal reasoning. High-frequency words with definitions, examples, and memory techniques.
Start LearningAbout Graduate Record Examination
GRE is a standardized test required for admission to most graduate schools in the United States and other countries. It measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills.
Exam Sections
Analytical Writing
Verbal Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning
Why Vocabulary Matters
Vocabulary is fundamental to GRE Verbal Reasoning, which includes text completion, sentence equivalence, and reading comprehension. GRE tests sophisticated vocabulary and your ability to understand complex academic texts.
Essential Vocabulary Words
Master these 100 high-frequency words to excel in your GRE exam
abate
verbTo become less intense or widespread
Example: The storm finally abated after three hours.
aberrant
adjectiveDeparting from an accepted standard
Example: The scientist noted aberrant behavior.
abstemious
adjectiveIndulging only moderately; temperate
Example: His abstemious lifestyle contributed to longevity.
admonish
verbTo warn or reprimand firmly
Example: The teacher admonished the students.
adulterate
verbTo make impure by adding inferior substances
Example: The product was adulterated with cheap fillers.
To publicly recommend or support
Example: She advocates for environmental protection.
aesthetic
adjectiveConcerned with beauty
Example: The museum has aesthetic appeal.
aggrandize
verbTo increase power, wealth, or status
Example: He sought to aggrandize his reputation.
amalgamate
verbTo combine or unite to form one
Example: The companies amalgamated last year.
Open to more than one interpretation
Example: The statement was ambiguous.
anachronism
nounSomething out of its proper time
Example: The typewriter is an anachronism.
analogous
adjectiveComparable in certain respects
Example: The situations are analogous.
anomalous
adjectiveDeviating from what is standard
Example: The results were anomalous.
antipathy
nounA deep-seated feeling of dislike
Example: There was mutual antipathy.
To pacify by acceding to demands
Example: They tried to appease the protesters.
approbation
nounApproval or praise
Example: The plan met with approbation.
appropriate
verbTo take for one's own use
Example: They appropriated funds for research.
artless
adjectiveWithout guile or deception
Example: Her artless manner was refreshing.
ascetic
adjectiveCharacterized by severe self-discipline
Example: He led an ascetic life.
assuage
verbTo make less intense
Example: Nothing could assuage his guilt.
attenuate
verbTo reduce in force or value
Example: The signal was attenuated.
Showing willingness to take bold risks
Example: It was an audacious plan.
autonomous
adjectiveHaving self-government
Example: The region is autonomous.
avarice
nounExtreme greed for wealth
Example: His avarice knew no bounds.
belie
verbTo give a false impression of
Example: His smile belied his anger.
beneficent
adjectiveDoing or producing good
Example: She was a beneficent ruler.
bombastic
adjectiveHigh-sounding but with little meaning
Example: His speech was bombastic.
burgeon
verbTo begin to grow rapidly
Example: The industry is burgeoning.
buttress
verbTo support or strengthen
Example: Data buttressed the argument.
castigation
nounSevere criticism
Example: He faced castigation from critics.
caustic
adjectiveSarcastic in a bitter way
Example: Her caustic remarks stung.
censure
verbTo express severe disapproval
Example: The board censured him.
chicanery
nounTrickery to achieve a goal
Example: Political chicanery was exposed.
coalesce
verbTo come together to form one
Example: The groups coalesced.
commensurate
adjectiveCorresponding in size or degree
Example: Pay is commensurate with experience.
compendium
nounA collection of concise information
Example: The book is a compendium of facts.
complaisant
adjectiveWilling to please others
Example: He was complaisant to a fault.
conciliatory
adjectiveIntended to placate
Example: He took a conciliatory tone.
condone
verbTo accept behavior that is wrong
Example: We cannot condone violence.
confound
verbTo cause surprise or confusion
Example: The results confounded experts.
connoisseur
nounAn expert judge in matters of taste
Example: He is a wine connoisseur.
contentious
adjectiveCausing disagreement
Example: The issue is contentious.
contrite
adjectiveFeeling remorse
Example: He was contrite about his error.
convoluted
adjectiveExtremely complex
Example: The explanation was convoluted.
cosmopolitan
adjectiveFamiliar with many countries
Example: She has a cosmopolitan outlook.
covet
verbTo yearn to possess
Example: He coveted his neighbor's success.
craven
adjectiveContemptibly lacking courage
Example: His craven behavior was shameful.
credulous
adjectiveToo ready to believe things
Example: He was credulous and easily fooled.
culpable
adjectiveDeserving blame
Example: He was culpable for the accident.
cynical
adjectiveBelieving people are motivated by self-interest
Example: She has a cynical view.
daunt
verbTo make someone feel intimidated
Example: The challenge did not daunt her.
decorum
nounBehavior in keeping with good taste
Example: He maintained decorum.
deference
nounRespectful submission
Example: He showed deference to elders.
demur
verbTo raise objections
Example: She demurred at the suggestion.
denigrate
verbTo criticize unfairly
Example: Don't denigrate his efforts.
deride
verbTo express contempt for
Example: Critics derided the plan.
derivative
adjectiveImitative of another's work
Example: The film was derivative.
desiccate
verbTo remove moisture from
Example: The heat desiccated the land.
desultory
adjectiveLacking purpose or enthusiasm
Example: He made desultory attempts.
deterrent
nounSomething that discourages action
Example: Punishment is a deterrent.
diatribe
nounA forceful verbal attack
Example: He launched into a diatribe.
diffident
adjectiveModest or shy
Example: He was diffident about his skills.
digress
verbTo leave the main subject
Example: I don't mean to digress.
dilatory
adjectiveSlow to act
Example: His dilatory tactics delayed progress.
discern
verbTo perceive or recognize
Example: I could discern a pattern.
discomfit
verbTo make uneasy
Example: The question discomfited him.
discordant
adjectiveDisagreeing or incongruous
Example: The colors were discordant.
discredit
verbTo harm the reputation of
Example: The scandal discredited him.
discrepancy
nounA lack of compatibility
Example: There was a discrepancy.
discrete
adjectiveIndividually separate and distinct
Example: The issues are discrete.
disingenuous
adjectiveNot candid or sincere
Example: His apology was disingenuous.
disinterested
adjectiveImpartial
Example: A judge must be disinterested.
disparate
adjectiveEssentially different
Example: They held disparate views.
dissemble
verbTo conceal one's true motives
Example: He dissembled his intentions.
disseminate
verbTo spread widely
Example: They disseminate information.
distend
verbTo swell or cause to swell
Example: His stomach was distended.
diverge
verbTo separate and go in different directions
Example: Their paths diverged.
divulge
verbTo make known
Example: He refused to divulge details.
dogmatic
adjectiveInclined to lay down principles as true
Example: His approach was dogmatic.
ebullient
adjectiveCheerful and full of energy
Example: She was in ebullient spirits.
eclectic
adjectiveDeriving ideas from various sources
Example: Her taste is eclectic.
efficacious
adjectiveSuccessful in producing a desired result
Example: The treatment was efficacious.
abscond
verbTo leave hurriedly and secretly
Example: The thief absconded with the money.
abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand
Example: The theory is abstruse.
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