SKIP TO CONTENT

kaplan's top words for GRE

368 words 6 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Full list of words from this list:

  1. mendacity
    the tendency to be untruthful
    Polite mendacity and inward bitterness on my part towards the individual who has converted the compartment into an oven. Hammerton, John Alexander, Sir
  2. intuition
    instinctive knowing, without the use of rational processes
    Two days later, Kraft and Intuit followed suit.
  3. affinity
    a natural attraction or feeling of kinship
  4. anomaly
    deviation from the normal or common order, form, or rule
  5. assuage
    provide physical relief, as from pain
  6. enigma
    something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
  7. fervid
    characterized by intense emotion
  8. erudite
    having or showing profound knowledge
  9. lucid
    transparently clear; easily understandable
  10. opaque
    not transmitting or reflecting light or radiant energy
  11. equivocal
    open to two or more interpretations
  12. placate
    cause to be more favorably inclined
  13. zeal
    a feeling of strong eagerness
  14. prodigal
    recklessly wasteful
  15. precipitate
    bring about abruptly
  16. abstain
    refrain from doing, consuming, or partaking in something
  17. apathy
    an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
  18. adulterate
    make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance
  19. audacious
    disposed to venture or take risks
  20. capricious
    determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
  21. corroborate
    give evidence for
  22. desiccate
    lacking vitality or spirit; lifeless
  23. engender
    call forth
  24. ephemeral
    anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day
  25. gullible
    naive and easily deceived or tricked
  26. homogenous
    all of the same or similar kind or nature
  27. laconic
    brief and to the point
  28. laudable
    worthy of high praise
  29. mitigate
    lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
  30. loquacious
    full of trivial conversation
  31. pedant
    a person who is preoccupied with rules and learning
  32. pragmatic
    concerned with practical matters
  33. propriety
    correct behavior
  34. volatile
    liable to lead to sudden change or violence
  35. vacillate
    be undecided about something
  36. abate
    become less in amount or intensity
  37. abscond
    run away, often taking something or somebody along
  38. abyss
    a bottomless gulf or pit
  39. adulterate
    make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance
  40. advocate
    a person who pleads for a person, cause, or idea
  41. aesthetic
    characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste
  42. aggrandize
    embellish; increase the scope, power, or importance of
  43. alleviate
    provide physical relief, as from pain
  44. amalgamate
    bring or combine together or with something else
  45. ambiguous
    having more than one possible meaning
  46. ameliorate
    make better
  47. anachronism
    locating something at a time when it couldn't have existed
  48. analogous
    similar or equivalent in some respects
  49. anomaly
    deviation from the normal or common order, form, or rule
  50. antagonize
    provoke the hostility of
  51. antipathy
    a feeling of intense dislike
  52. apathy
    an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
  53. arbitrate
    act between parties with a view to reconciling differences
  54. archaic
    so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
  55. ardor
    feelings of great warmth and intensity
  56. articulate
    express or state clearly
  57. austere
    of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
  58. banal
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
  59. bolster
    support and strengthen
  60. bombastic
    ostentatiously lofty in style
  61. cacophony
    loud confusing disagreeable sounds
  62. candid
    openly straightforward and direct without secretiveness
  63. castigate
    inflict severe punishment on
  64. catalyst
    substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction
  65. caustic
    capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action
  66. chaos
    formless state of matter before the creation of the cosmos
  67. chauvinistic
    fanatically patriotic
  68. chicanery
    the use of tricks to deceive someone
  69. cogent
    powerfully persuasive
  70. condone
    excuse, overlook, or make allowances for
  71. convoluted
    highly complex or intricate
  72. credulous
    showing a lack of judgment or experience
  73. crescendo
    a gradual increase in loudness
  74. decorum
    propriety in manners and conduct
  75. deference
    courteous regard for people's feelings
  76. deride
    treat or speak of with contempt
  77. desiccate
    lacking vitality or spirit; lifeless
    They were not yet desiccated, but appeared as if freshly cut off from the bodies to which they belonged. Reid, Mayne
  78. diatribe
    thunderous verbal attack
  79. diffident
    showing modest reserve
  80. dilate
    become wider
  81. dilatory
    wasting time
  82. dilettante
    an amateur engaging in an activity without serious intention
  83. dirge
    a song or hymn of mourning as a memorial to a dead person
  84. disabuse
    free somebody from an erroneous belief
  85. discern
    perceive, recognize, or detect
  86. disparate
    fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
  87. dissemble
    behave unnaturally or affectedly
  88. dissonance
    disagreeable sounds
  89. dogma
    a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
  90. dogmatic
    pertaining to a code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
  91. eclectic
    selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
  92. efficacy
    capacity or power to produce a desired result
  93. elegy
    a mournful poem; a lament for the dead
  94. eloquent
    expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively
  95. emulate
    strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
  96. enervate
    weaken physically, mentally, or morally
  97. enumerate
    specify individually
  98. erratic
    liable to sudden unpredictable change
  99. esoteric
    understandable only by an enlightened inner circle
  100. estimable
    deserving of respect or high regard
  101. eulogy
    a formal expression of praise for someone who has died
  102. euphemism
    an inoffensive expression substituted for an offensive one
  103. exacerbate
    make worse
  104. exculpate
    pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
  105. exigent
    demanding immediate attention
  106. exonerate
    pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
  107. explicit
    precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable
  108. fanatic
    a person motivated by irrational enthusiasm
  109. fawning
    attempting to win favor by flattery
  110. florid
    elaborately or excessively ornamented
  111. foment
    try to stir up
  112. frugality
    prudence in avoiding waste
  113. garrulous
    full of trivial conversation
  114. gregarious
    temperamentally seeking and enjoying the company of others
  115. guile
    shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception
  116. iconoclast
    someone who attacks cherished ideas or institutions
  117. imperturbable
    marked by extreme calm and composure
  118. impervious
    not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
  119. impetuous
    characterized by undue haste and lack of thought
  120. implacable
    incapable of being appeased or pacified
  121. inchoate
    only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
  122. inimical
    tending to obstruct or cause harm
  123. innocuous
    not injurious to physical or mental health
  124. insipid
    lacking interest or significance or impact
  125. intransigent
    impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason
  126. inundate
    fill or cover completely, usually with water
  127. irascible
    quickly aroused to anger
  128. lament
    a cry of sorrow and grief
  129. laud
    praise, glorify, or honor
  130. lavish
    given or giving freely, generously, or without restriction
  131. lethargic
    deficient in alertness or activity
  132. loquacious
    full of trivial conversation
  133. luminous
    softly bright or radiant
  134. malingerer
    someone shirking duty by feigning illness or incapacity
  135. malleable
    capable of being shaped or bent
  136. metaphor
    a figure of speech that suggests a non-literal similarity
  137. meticulous
    marked by precise accordance with details
  138. misanthrope
    someone who dislikes people in general
  139. mollify
    cause to be more favorably inclined
  140. monotony
    the quality of wearisome constancy and lack of variety
  141. naive
    marked by or showing unaffected simplicity
  142. obstinate
    refusing to change one's mind or ways; difficult to convince
  143. obsequious
    attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
  144. obviate
    do away with
  145. occlude
    block passage through
  146. onerous
    burdensome or difficult to endure
  147. opprobrium
    a state of extreme dishonor
  148. ostentation
    pretentious or showy or vulgar display
  149. paragon
    a perfect embodiment of a concept
    “Media induced panic has washed over some areas of Bangkok, with bomb scares reported at Siam Paragon shopping center and elsewhere.”
  150. perfidious
    tending to betray
  151. permeate
    spread or diffuse through
    Florida’s summertime heat permeates almost every scene, becoming something like a character. New York Times (Mar 13, 2012)
  152. philanthropy
    the act of donating money or time to promote human welfare
    He also continued his arts philanthropy around the Twin Cities; most recently, the Cowles Center, a theater devoted to dance, opened in Minneapolis last fall. New York Times (Mar 20, 2012)
  153. placate
    cause to be more favorably inclined
    Rickford Burke, president of the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy, which is based in New York, said words alone would not placate the community’s concerns. New York Times (Dec 12, 2011)
  154. plastic
    capable of being molded or modeled
    Always pack your playing cards in a clear plastic bag for easy locating and protection from rain and leaky water bottles. New York Times (Apr 10, 2012)
  155. plethora
    extreme excess
    While Analog Semiconductors remains its core strength, a plethora of opportunities in the Wireless and embedded space are coming up. Forbes (Feb 27, 2012)
  156. prevaricate
    be deliberately ambiguous or unclear
    But with the US President on the case, and so much, including thousands of livelihoods at risk, he was absolutely right not to prevaricate. Wall Street Journal (May 4, 2010)
  157. proliferate
    grow rapidly
    In fact, the conspiracy theories are proliferating so fast it’s hard to keep up. New York Times (Mar 23, 2012)
  158. propitiate
    make peace with
    Dogmatic systems may enjoin men to propitiate certain unseen beings by acts which are not in accordance with the moral law. Lecky, William Edward Hartpole
  159. prudent
    marked by sound judgment
    “Came back prematurely from surgery and being prudent in approach to health.” New York Times (Mar 7, 2012)
  160. quiescent
    being quiet or still or inactive
    He re-emerged 81 days later, his hefty figure noticeably reduced and his voice uncharacteristically quiescent. New York Times (Nov 1, 2011)
  161. rarefy
    lessen the density or solidity of
    The atmosphere is so rarefied that distant objects appear near, and the buildings, which were in reality 15 miles away, looked quite close at hand. Hume-Griffith, A.
  162. repudiate
    refuse to acknowledge, ratify, or recognize as valid
    He called on Republican leaders to repudiate Cain’s comments. Washington Post (Jul 18, 2011)
  163. reticent
    reluctant to draw attention to yourself
    TransCanada has taken reticent landowners before special county boards in Texas, one of the first steps in that state’s condemnation process. New York Times (Oct 18, 2011)
  164. rhetoric
    study of the technique for using language effectively
    I think that the rhetoric needs to be toned down a bit. Scientific American (Apr 19, 2012)
  165. satiate
    fill to satisfaction
    But the duke was satiated, and his only pleasure lay in novelty. Seingalt, Jacques Casanova de
  166. soporific
    inducing sleep
    "Be not ashamed of yielding to televised golf's soporific power," Heard advises. Slate (Apr 7, 2011)
  167. specious
    plausible but false
    In principle, the Fed could stand up to the bankers, pushing back against all specious arguments. New York Times (Mar 29, 2012)
  168. stigma
    a symbol of disgrace or infamy
    Stigma terminal, broad and depressed.—Low glabrous perennial; leaves all radical, compound. Gray, Asa
  169. sublime
    of high moral or intellectual value
    “So I checked the Internet,” she continued as the sublime countryside rushed past. New York Times (Apr 6, 2012)
  170. tacit
    implied by or inferred from actions or statements
    By tacit agreement, the job has always gone to an American.
  171. tirade
    a speech of violent denunciation
    Tommy Jordan shot his daughter’s laptop — nine times — after he found a profanity-laced tirade she had written on her Facebook page. Washington Post (Feb 19, 2012)
  172. torpor
    a state of motor and mental inactivity
    What sometimes looked like an intellectual torpor was the boa constrictor digesting the zebra whole. Price, Lucien
  173. venerate
    regard with feelings of respect and reverence
    Moscow’s city government closed streets around the cathedral — causing those Muscovites not so inclined to venerate relics to rant about the even-worse-than-usual traffic jams. New York Times (Nov 24, 2011)
  174. veracity
    unwillingness to tell lies
    Assessing veracity was impossible when everything was contradicted, backed up and/or laughed at within moments by some other source. Newsweek (Feb 21, 2011)
  175. verbose
    using or containing too many words
    There are lots of people within social networks that produce lots of content, but being verbose does not equal influence. Forbes (Oct 11, 2011)
  176. vex
    disturb, especially by minor irritations
    But though the buildings on either side have vexed Mr. Peterson, he does not want to see them torn down. New York Times (Apr 16, 2012)
  177. waver
    pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
    Enrollment wavers from about 70 to 100, depending on that week’s court docket. New York Times (Apr 16, 2012)
  178. whimsical
    determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
    Her inspirations were whimsical, even rarefied at times. New York Times (Apr 5, 2012)
  179. fathom
    a linear unit of measurement for water depth
  180. flounder
    move clumsily or struggle to move, as in mud or water
  181. apogee
    the farthest point in an orbit around the Earth
  182. epiphany
    a usually sudden insight, perception, or understanding of something
  183. impasse
    a situation in which no progress can be made
  184. regress
    go back to a previous state
  185. impugn
    attack as false or wrong
  186. acrimony
    a rough and bitter manner
  187. sinecure
    a job that involves minimal duties
  188. gainsay
    take exception to
  189. translucent
    allowing light to pass through diffusely
  190. diminutive
    very small
  191. orator
    a person who delivers a speech
  192. interloper
    someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another
  193. despair
    a state in which all hope is lost or absent
  194. duress
    compulsory force or threat
  195. ignoble
    dishonorable in character or purpose
  196. facetious
    cleverly amusing in tone
  197. precarious
    not secure; beset with difficulties
  198. courageous
    able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
  199. virtue
    the quality of doing what is right
  200. altruistic
    showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others
  201. baneful
    evil or sinister
  202. benevolent
    showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
  203. melancholy
    a constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed
  204. vociferous
    conspicuously and offensively loud
  205. appease
    make peace with
  206. impede
    be a hindrance or obstacle to
  207. candor
    the quality of being honest and straightforward
  208. abashed
    feeling or caused to feel uneasy and self-conscious
  209. nonplussed
    filled with bewilderment
  210. doleful
    filled with or evoking sadness
  211. atrocious
    shockingly brutal or cruel
  212. apprehensive
    in fear or dread of possible evil or harm
  213. sluggish
    moving slowly
  214. histrionic
    overly dramatic or emotional
  215. augment
    enlarge or increase
  216. scanty
    lacking in extent or quantity
  217. prosaic
    lacking wit or imagination
  218. reticent
    reluctant to draw attention to yourself
  219. congenial
    suitable to your needs
  220. brusque
    rudely abrupt or blunt in speech or manner
  221. scurrilous
    expressing offensive, insulting, or scandalous criticism
  222. arcane
    requiring secret or mysterious knowledge
  223. acclaim
    enthusiastic approval
  224. shrewd
    marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
  225. infallible
    incapable of failure or error
  226. absurd
    inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
  227. befuddle
    be confusing or perplexing to
  228. chagrin
    strong feelings of embarrassment
  229. bemuse
    cause to be confused emotionally
  230. resentment
    a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
  231. altruism
    the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others
  232. malfeasance
    wrongful conduct by a public official
  233. ingratiate
    gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
  234. nepotism
    favoritism shown to relatives or friends by those in power
  235. ribald
    humorously vulgar
  236. supercilious
    having or showing arrogant superiority
  237. patronize
    provide support for
  238. toothsome
    extremely pleasing to the sense of taste
  239. inconspicuous
    not prominent or readily noticeable
  240. fraudulent
    intended to deceive
  241. apocryphal
    being of questionable authenticity
  242. acumen
    shrewdness shown by keen insight
  243. acrid
    strong and sharp, as a taste or smell
  244. dexterity
    adroitness in using the hands
  245. mellifluous
    pleasing to the ear
  246. euphony
    any pleasing and harmonious sounds
  247. alienated
    caused to be unloved
  248. stunned
    dazed or knocked unconscious by a heavy blow
  249. circuitous
    deviating from a straight course
  250. extirpate
    destroy completely, as if down to the roots
  251. pivotal
    being of crucial importance
  252. momentous
    of very great significance
  253. detritus
    loose material that is worn away from rocks
  254. gaudy
    tastelessly showy
  255. bedlam
    a state of extreme confusion and disorder
  256. barren
    completely wanting or lacking
  257. waggish
    witty or joking
  258. lighthearted
    carefree and happy and lighthearted
  259. demeanor
    the way a person behaves toward other people
  260. mien
    a person's appearance, manner, or demeanor
  261. vindicate
    show to be right by providing justification or proof
  262. ailing
    somewhat ill or prone to illness
  263. convalesce
    get over an illness or shock
  264. nauseous
    causing a sick feeling
  265. enfeeble
    make weak
  266. recuperate
    restore to good health or strength
  267. litigation
    a legal proceeding in a court
  268. salubrious
    promoting health
  269. evocative
    serving to bring to mind
  270. panegyric
    formally expressing praise
  271. phlegmatic
    showing little emotion
  272. preposterous
    inviting ridicule
  273. deplore
    express strong disapproval of
  274. dilettantish
    showing frivolous or superficial interest; amateurish
  275. ambrosial
    worthy of the gods
  276. encroachment
    any entry into an area not previously occupied
  277. apex
    the highest point of something
  278. eschew
    avoid and stay away from deliberately
  279. deprecate
    express strong disapproval of; deplore
  280. tarnish
    make or become dirty or dull, as by exposure to air
  281. vituperative
    marked by harshly abusive criticism
  282. meager
    deficient in amount or quality or extent
  283. delicacy
    the quality of being exquisitely fine in appearance
  284. orotund
    overly formal and pompous in style
  285. depilation
    the act of removing hair (as from an animal skin)
  286. sanguine
    confidently optimistic and cheerful
  287. arrogate
    seize and take control without authority
  288. chastise
    scold or criticize severely
  289. cosset
    treat with excessive indulgence
  290. squat
    sit on one's heels
  291. arid
    lacking sufficient water or rainfall
  292. inundated
    covered with water
  293. guzzling
    the drinking of large mouthfuls rapidly
  294. quaff
    swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one draught
  295. imbibe
    take in liquids
  296. quandary
    state of uncertainty in a choice between unfavorable options
  297. bestow
    give as a gift
  298. belittle
    cause to seem lesser or inferior
  299. indignant
    angered at something unjust or wrong
  300. spiteful
    showing malicious ill will and a desire to hurt
  301. sober
    not affected by a chemical substance, especially alcohol
  302. dogged
    stubbornly unyielding
  303. arduous
    characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion
  304. daedal
    complex and ingenious in design or function
  305. colossal
    so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
  306. herculean
    extremely difficult; requiring great strength
  307. Gordian
    extremely intricate; usually in phrase `Gordian knot'
  308. picayune
    small and of little importance
  309. paltry
    contemptibly small in amount or size
  310. infinitesimal
    immeasurably small
  311. middling
    average or mediocre in quality or ability
  312. egregious
    conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
  313. irradiation
    (medicine) the treatment of disease (especially cancer) by exposure to a radioactive substance
  314. ebb
    the outward flow of the tide
  315. forged
    reproduced fraudulently
  316. aver
    declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
  317. opine
    express one's view openly and without fear or hesitation
  318. hieroglyphic
    a writing system using picture symbols
  319. ostracize
    expel from a community or group
  320. excommunication
    cutting a person off from a religious society
  321. exigent
    demanding immediate attention
  322. conflagration
    a very intense and uncontrolled fire
  323. dissension
    disagreement among those expected to cooperate
  324. contention
    the act of competing as for profit or a prize
  325. Rubicon
    the boundary in ancient times between Italy and Gaul
  326. jaunty
    having a cheerful, lively, and self-confident air
  327. sloppy
    lacking neatness or order
  328. slipshod
    marked by great carelessness
  329. blithe
    carefree and happy and lighthearted
  330. idiosyncratic
    peculiar to the individual
  331. endow
    give qualities or abilities to
  332. parsimonious
    excessively unwilling to spend
  333. avaricious
    immoderately desirous of acquiring something
  334. rapacious
    living by preying on other animals
  335. proscribe
    command against
  336. valor
    courage when facing danger
  337. opulence
    wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living
  338. treachery
    an act of deliberate betrayal
  339. reclusive
    withdrawn from society; seeking solitude
  340. pensive
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
  341. antiquity
    the historic period preceding the Middle Ages in Europe
  342. regiment
    army unit smaller than a division
  343. commotion
    a disorderly outburst or tumult
  344. hullabaloo
    disturbance usually in protest
  345. virulent
    extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom
  346. incarcerate
    lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
  347. sequestration
    the act of segregating or sequestering
  348. endearment
    the act of showing affection
  349. pacifism
    the doctrine that all violence is unjustifiable
  350. abridge
    lessen, diminish, or curtail
  351. contend
    compete for something
  352. intrusion
    entrance by force or without permission or welcome
  353. obliterate
    remove completely from recognition or memory
  354. dilapidated
    in a state of decay, ruin, or deterioration
  355. grudging
    petty or reluctant in giving or spending
  356. nugatory
    of no real value
  357. turpitude
    a corrupt or depraved or degenerate act or practice
  358. palimpsest
    a manuscript on which more than one text has been written
  359. galvanize
    stimulate (muscles) by administering a shock
  360. bludgeon
    a club used as a weapon
  361. niggardly
    petty or reluctant in giving or spending
  362. unassailable
    impossible to attack
  363. gossamer
    a gauze fabric with an extremely fine texture
  364. pulmonary
    relating to or affecting the lungs
  365. horticultural
    of or relating to the cultivation of plants
  366. bedizen
    decorate tastelessly
  367. belabor
    beat soundly
  368. mangy
    affected with a skin disease causing itching and hair loss
Created on 四月 20, 2012 (updated 四月 25, 2012)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner 全国统一开奖网址, soonshin.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.