Browse By Letter

Vocabulary Collections

Browse GRE vocabulary meanings, definitions, synonyms, and example sentences from eruditeEdge.

Abate Formal Legal Medical verb common

To become less intense or widespread; to reduce in amount, degree, or severity.

Aberrant Formal adjective

different from what is typical or usual, especially in an unacceptable way

Acrid Formal Literary adjective common GRE: medium

Having a sharp, bitter, and irritating taste or smell; also, harsh or caustic in tone.

Alacrity Formal noun

Speed and eagerness

Apprehensive Formal adjective common GRE: high

Anxious or fearful that something undesirable may happen.

Ardent adjective

Having or showing very strong feelings, passion, or enthusiasm; fervent or intense.

Austere Formal Literary adjective common GRE: high

Severely simple, plain, or lacking comfort and decoration; also characterized by strict self-discipline or severity.

Avaricious Formal Literary adjective uncommon

Having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

Belligerent Formal Military Legal adjective uncommon

Having an aggressive or warlike attitude; inclined to fight or engage in conflict.

Bucolic Literary Formal adjective uncommon GRE: high

Relating to or depicting the pleasant, peaceful aspects of rural life and the countryside.

Chagrin Formal noun

disappointment or anger, especially when caused by a failure or mistake

Cogitate Formal Academic verb uncommon GRE: high

To think carefully and deliberately about something; to ponder.

Contemplate Formal Academic Philosophy verb common

To think about something deeply and thoughtfully, often considering it carefully or at length.

Contrite Formal adjective

Feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt.

Dragnet Formal Legal noun uncommon GRE: medium

A widespread, coordinated search or operation by authorities to capture suspects or locate missing people or objects.

Equanimity noun common

Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.

Ersatz Formal Academic adjective uncommon GRE: high

Artificial or inferior substitute; made to imitate something genuine.

Eschew verb

To deliberately avoid using, abstain from, or keep away from something, especially on moral or practical grounds.

Expedient Formal adjective

helpful or useful in a particular situation, but sometimes not morally acceptable.

Facetious adjective

Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.

Fortuitous adjective

Happening by chance, often in a lucky or beneficial way.

Gait Formal noun common GRE: medium

A person's or animal's manner or pattern of walking.

Ignominious Formal Literary adjective uncommon GRE: high

Marked by or causing disgrace, shame, or public humiliation.

Indolent Formal Literary Medical adjective uncommon

Showing an inclination to avoid activity or exertion; habitually lazy or idle.

Inert Formal adjective common GRE: high

Lacking movement, energy, or the capacity to act; inactive or unresponsive.

Insolent adjective common

Showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect.

Paltry Formal Literary adjective uncommon

Insignificantly small or meager; trivial or worthless in amount or importance.

Precipitous adjective

Very steep or fast decline. Falling very fast

Quaintly Literary Formal adverb uncommon GRE: low

In an attractively old-fashioned, unusual, or charmingly picturesque manner.

Quip Informal Literary noun common GRE: medium

A witty or clever remark, often brief and sometimes mildly sarcastic.

Reprobate Formal Literary Religion noun uncommon

A person who is morally unprincipled or depraved; someone condemned as beyond hope of salvation or redemption.

Sagacious Formal Academic adjective uncommon GRE: high

Having keen judgment, sound reasoning, and practical wisdom; discerning and insightful.

Sanguine Formal Literary adjective common

Having a positive and hopeful outlook, especially in a difficult or challenging situation; optimistic.

Subterfuge Formal Literary noun uncommon GRE: high

Deception or a deceptive strategy used to conceal one's intentions or achieve a goal.

Tacit Formal Academic Philosophy adjective common

Understood or implied without being stated openly; expressed or carried out without words or explicit communication.

Ubiquitous adjective

Present, appearing, or found everywhere.

Unscrupulous Formal Literary Academic adjective

Having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair.

Verdant Literary Formal adjective uncommon GRE: medium

Covered with or characterized by lush green vegetation; green and flourishing.

Wimple Literary Archaic noun archaic or obsolete GRE: low

A cloth head covering, traditionally worn by women, that frames the face and covers the neck and chin; especially associated with medieval dress.

arbitrary adjective common

Based on random choice or personal whim rather than any reason or system.

fecund Formal Literary Academic adjective

Producing or capable of producing an abundance of offspring, vegetation, or creative ideas; highly fertile or productive.

futile Formal Academic adjective common

Incapable of producing any useful result; pointless or ineffective.

incongruous adjective common

Not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects; inappropriate or out of place.

jettison verb

to get rid of as superfluous or encumbering : omit or forgo as part of a plan or as the result of some other decision

myopic Medical adjective

Lacking imagination, foresight, or intellectual insight.

obstinate adjective

Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.

quixotic Formal Literary adjective uncommon GRE: high

Characterized by idealistic, romantic, or visionary aims that are impractical and unlikely to succeed.

tangible adjective

Perceptible by touch; capable of being touched or felt. Also used figuratively to describe something real or concrete, rather than abstract or imaginary.