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GRE Vocabulary

Graduate Record Examination

100 GRE vocabulary words for verbal reasoning. High-frequency words with definitions, examples, and memory techniques.

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About 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

1

Analytical Writing

2

Verbal Reasoning

3

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

1

abate

verb
mediumhigh

To become less intense or widespread

Example: The storm finally abated after three hours.

2

aberrant

adjective
hardhigh

Departing from an accepted standard

Example: The scientist noted aberrant behavior.

3

abstemious

adjective
hardmedium

Indulging only moderately; temperate

Example: His abstemious lifestyle contributed to longevity.

4

admonish

verb
mediumhigh

To warn or reprimand firmly

Example: The teacher admonished the students.

5

adulterate

verb
hardmedium

To make impure by adding inferior substances

Example: The product was adulterated with cheap fillers.

mediumhigh

To publicly recommend or support

Example: She advocates for environmental protection.

7

aesthetic

adjective
easyhigh

Concerned with beauty

Example: The museum has aesthetic appeal.

8

aggrandize

verb
hardlow

To increase power, wealth, or status

Example: He sought to aggrandize his reputation.

hardmedium

Brisk and cheerful readiness

Example: She accepted with alacrity.

10
mediumhigh

To make suffering less severe

Example: The medicine alleviated the pain.

11

amalgamate

verb
hardmedium

To combine or unite to form one

Example: The companies amalgamated last year.

12
ambiguousadjective
mediumhigh

Open to more than one interpretation

Example: The statement was ambiguous.

hardmedium

To make better

Example: Policies ameliorated the crisis.

14

anachronism

noun
hardmedium

Something out of its proper time

Example: The typewriter is an anachronism.

15

analogous

adjective
mediumhigh

Comparable in certain respects

Example: The situations are analogous.

16

anomalous

adjective
hardmedium

Deviating from what is standard

Example: The results were anomalous.

17

antipathy

noun
hardmedium

A deep-seated feeling of dislike

Example: There was mutual antipathy.

18
apathynoun
easyhigh

Lack of interest or concern

Example: Voter apathy was widespread.

19
mediumhigh

To pacify by acceding to demands

Example: They tried to appease the protesters.

20

approbation

noun
hardlow

Approval or praise

Example: The plan met with approbation.

21

appropriate

verb
mediumhigh

To take for one's own use

Example: They appropriated funds for research.

22
arduousadjective
mediumhigh

Involving strenuous effort

Example: The climb was arduous.

23

artless

adjective
hardlow

Without guile or deception

Example: Her artless manner was refreshing.

24

ascetic

adjective
hardmedium

Characterized by severe self-discipline

Example: He led an ascetic life.

25

assuage

verb
hardmedium

To make less intense

Example: Nothing could assuage his guilt.

26

attenuate

verb
hardlow

To reduce in force or value

Example: The signal was attenuated.

27
audaciousadjective
mediummedium

Showing willingness to take bold risks

Example: It was an audacious plan.

28
austereadjective
hardmedium

Severe or strict in manner

Example: The room was austere.

29

autonomous

adjective
mediumhigh

Having self-government

Example: The region is autonomous.

30

avarice

noun
hardlow

Extreme greed for wealth

Example: His avarice knew no bounds.

31
banaladjective
hardmedium

Lacking originality; boring

Example: The plot was banal.

32

belie

verb
hardmedium

To give a false impression of

Example: His smile belied his anger.

33

beneficent

adjective
hardlow

Doing or producing good

Example: She was a beneficent ruler.

34
mediumhigh

To support or strengthen

Example: Evidence bolstered the claim.

35

bombastic

adjective
hardlow

High-sounding but with little meaning

Example: His speech was bombastic.

36

burgeon

verb
hardmedium

To begin to grow rapidly

Example: The industry is burgeoning.

37

buttress

verb
hardmedium

To support or strengthen

Example: Data buttressed the argument.

38
capriciousadjective
hardmedium

Given to sudden changes of mood

Example: The weather is capricious.

39

castigation

noun
hardlow

Severe criticism

Example: He faced castigation from critics.

40
mediumhigh

Something that precipitates change

Example: The event was a catalyst.

41

caustic

adjective
hardmedium

Sarcastic in a bitter way

Example: Her caustic remarks stung.

42

censure

verb
hardmedium

To express severe disapproval

Example: The board censured him.

43

chicanery

noun
hardlow

Trickery to achieve a goal

Example: Political chicanery was exposed.

44

coalesce

verb
hardmedium

To come together to form one

Example: The groups coalesced.

45
cogentadjective
hardmedium

Clear, logical, and convincing

Example: She made a cogent argument.

46

commensurate

adjective
hardmedium

Corresponding in size or degree

Example: Pay is commensurate with experience.

47

compendium

noun
hardlow

A collection of concise information

Example: The book is a compendium of facts.

48

complaisant

adjective
hardlow

Willing to please others

Example: He was complaisant to a fault.

49

conciliatory

adjective
hardmedium

Intended to placate

Example: He took a conciliatory tone.

50

condone

verb
mediumhigh

To accept behavior that is wrong

Example: We cannot condone violence.

51

confound

verb
mediummedium

To cause surprise or confusion

Example: The results confounded experts.

52

connoisseur

noun
mediummedium

An expert judge in matters of taste

Example: He is a wine connoisseur.

53

contentious

adjective
mediumhigh

Causing disagreement

Example: The issue is contentious.

54

contrite

adjective
hardmedium

Feeling remorse

Example: He was contrite about his error.

55

convoluted

adjective
hardmedium

Extremely complex

Example: The explanation was convoluted.

hardmedium

To confirm or support

Example: Evidence corroborated the story.

57

cosmopolitan

adjective
mediummedium

Familiar with many countries

Example: She has a cosmopolitan outlook.

58

covet

verb
mediummedium

To yearn to possess

Example: He coveted his neighbor's success.

59

craven

adjective
hardlow

Contemptibly lacking courage

Example: His craven behavior was shameful.

60

credulous

adjective
hardmedium

Too ready to believe things

Example: He was credulous and easily fooled.

61

culpable

adjective
hardmedium

Deserving blame

Example: He was culpable for the accident.

62

cynical

adjective
mediumhigh

Believing people are motivated by self-interest

Example: She has a cynical view.

63

daunt

verb
mediummedium

To make someone feel intimidated

Example: The challenge did not daunt her.

64

decorum

noun
hardmedium

Behavior in keeping with good taste

Example: He maintained decorum.

65

deference

noun
mediummedium

Respectful submission

Example: He showed deference to elders.

66
hardmedium

To describe precisely

Example: The report delineates the issues.

67

demur

verb
hardlow

To raise objections

Example: She demurred at the suggestion.

68

denigrate

verb
hardmedium

To criticize unfairly

Example: Don't denigrate his efforts.

69

deride

verb
hardmedium

To express contempt for

Example: Critics derided the plan.

70

derivative

adjective
mediummedium

Imitative of another's work

Example: The film was derivative.

71

desiccate

verb
hardlow

To remove moisture from

Example: The heat desiccated the land.

72

desultory

adjective
hardlow

Lacking purpose or enthusiasm

Example: He made desultory attempts.

73

deterrent

noun
mediumhigh

Something that discourages action

Example: Punishment is a deterrent.

74

diatribe

noun
hardlow

A forceful verbal attack

Example: He launched into a diatribe.

75
didacticadjective
hardmedium

Intended to teach

Example: The novel is didactic.

76

diffident

adjective
hardmedium

Modest or shy

Example: He was diffident about his skills.

77

digress

verb
mediummedium

To leave the main subject

Example: I don't mean to digress.

78

dilatory

adjective
hardlow

Slow to act

Example: His dilatory tactics delayed progress.

79

discern

verb
mediumhigh

To perceive or recognize

Example: I could discern a pattern.

80

discomfit

verb
hardlow

To make uneasy

Example: The question discomfited him.

81

discordant

adjective
mediummedium

Disagreeing or incongruous

Example: The colors were discordant.

82

discredit

verb
mediumhigh

To harm the reputation of

Example: The scandal discredited him.

83

discrepancy

noun
mediumhigh

A lack of compatibility

Example: There was a discrepancy.

84

discrete

adjective
hardmedium

Individually separate and distinct

Example: The issues are discrete.

85

disingenuous

adjective
hardmedium

Not candid or sincere

Example: His apology was disingenuous.

86

disinterested

adjective
mediumhigh

Impartial

Example: A judge must be disinterested.

87
hardmedium

To regard as being of little worth

Example: Don't disparage his work.

88

disparate

adjective
hardmedium

Essentially different

Example: They held disparate views.

89

dissemble

verb
hardlow

To conceal one's true motives

Example: He dissembled his intentions.

90

disseminate

verb
hardmedium

To spread widely

Example: They disseminate information.

hardmedium

Lack of harmony

Example: There was cognitive dissonance.

92

distend

verb
hardlow

To swell or cause to swell

Example: His stomach was distended.

93

diverge

verb
mediumhigh

To separate and go in different directions

Example: Their paths diverged.

94

divulge

verb
mediummedium

To make known

Example: He refused to divulge details.

95

dogmatic

adjective
mediummedium

Inclined to lay down principles as true

Example: His approach was dogmatic.

96

ebullient

adjective
hardlow

Cheerful and full of energy

Example: She was in ebullient spirits.

97

eclectic

adjective
hardmedium

Deriving ideas from various sources

Example: Her taste is eclectic.

98

efficacious

adjective
hardmedium

Successful in producing a desired result

Example: The treatment was efficacious.

99

abscond

verb
hardmedium

To leave hurriedly and secretly

Example: The thief absconded with the money.

100

abstruse

adjective
hardlow

Difficult to understand

Example: The theory is abstruse.

Expert Preparation Tips

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Study word roots, prefixes, and suffixes (Latin and Greek origins)
Practice text completion and sentence equivalence questions daily
Read academic journals and publications to see words in context

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Quick Facts

Exam Type

standardized

Difficulty Level

advanced

Total Words

100 essential words

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GRE Vocabulary: Top 100 Words for Graduate Record Examination | WordFlippin