Having a strong vocabulary is essential to scoring high on the GRE. Our analysis shows that these are some of the most commonly tested vocabulary words on the exam. It’s hard to accurately measure your understanding with simple flashcards, so take our quizzes to ensure you know these for exam day.
Definitions
shrewdness shown by keen insight
"Her political acumen helped her navigate such rough times gracefully."
"His business acumen propelled him to the top of the corporate ladder."
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
In a state of high anticipation, excitement, or interest.
"The fans were agog for the whole week, waiting for the next episode to be released."
"She was agog to show the new words she learned to her language partner."
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
Simultaneously experiencing or expressing opposing or contradictory feelings, beliefs, or motivations.
"The sports fan was ambivalent about the results of the game; he hated both teams equally."
"He felt ambivalent about his new job; he would make more money, but the job was less fulfilling."
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
Conducive to success.
"Her perfect grade on the first quiz was an auspicious start to the semester."
"The honeymoon was an auspicious start to a wonderful marriage."
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
To deceive or delude.
"Don't be beguiled by his kind actions since the breakup; you know he will treat you poorly again once you get back together."
"He beguiled his enemies into thinking he was harmless."
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
an expert able to appreciate a field; especially in the fine arts
"The movie connoisseur was particularly critical of films made by this producer."
"Connoisseurs of classical paintings love to go to art museums."
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
To treat as worthless; belittle, degrade or disparage.
"The manager denigrated his workers any opportunity he could; he even belittled them in front of customers."
"The doubtful person always denigrated his own abilities."
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
An inconsistency between facts or sentiments.
"There was a clear discrepancy in the company's accounting; the employees all received a raise, yet the company costs remained consistent."
"There is a discrepancy between the original manuscript and the copy."
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
characterized by intense emotion
"The young student had a fervid desire to learn."
"Their fervid enthusiasm could not be bridled."
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
To incite or cause troublesome acts; to encourage; to instigate.
"The spread of the recent tragic news will certainly foment unrest in the street."
"The small missile strike was meant to foment further conflict by provoking the enemy."
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
Happening by chance; coming or occurring unexpectedly, or without any known cause; chance.
"It was a fortuitous coincidence that the future lovers randomly met at the train station."
"The cavalry came to save the day at a fortuitous moment."
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
Anything delicate, light and flimsy.
"The thin string was like a gossamer thread floating in the wind."
"The gossamer garment was silky and weightless."
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
Deliberate exaggeration.
"The phrase "The heat is killing me" is a hyperbole."
"Hyperbole is expected in advertisements."
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
A hindrance; that which hinders progress.
"The prohibitive tariff was a great impediment to international trade."
"Distractions are an impediment to success."
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
showing inventiveness and skill
"The chess player had an ingenious approach to the game that made his style very difficult to counter."
"The engineer discovered an ingenious way for the machine to both work faster and save energy."
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
Not easily governed, managed, or directed; indisposed to be taught, disciplined, or tamed; violent; stubborn; obstinate; refractory.
"The intractable cancerous mass would not respond to treatment."
"The intractable weeds could not be eradicated."
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
praise, glorify, or honor
"The pedestrian was lauded for saving the child from running into the moving bus."
"The public lauded the hero for his brave acts."
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
The lowest point; the time of greatest depression.
"His athletic career reached a nadir after he got a season-ending injury just before he planned to negotiate a new contract."
"The nadir of the valley rarely saw sunlight."
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
Lacking in distinction or imaginativeness; ordinary; commonplace; dull; insipid; prosaic.
"The lifeguard had an uneventful, pedestrian day at work."
"He had a pedestrian Midwest accent."
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
the power to foresee the future
"Without the prescience to understand how your opponent will react, it can be difficult to play strategy board games successfully."
"His prescience showed when he bought stocks right before the price rose."
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
To prove (something) to be false or incorrect.
"The recordings refuted the defendant's claims that he never spoke on that subject before."
"The old academic studies have been refuted by new evidence."
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
favorable to health of mind or body
"Spinach has many salubrious effects."
"The personal trainer had salubrious eating habits."
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
full of anxiety and concern
"The solicitous mother constantly called her son, who was taking his first vacation outside the country all on his own."
"His mother asked him many solicitous questions before he went out with his friends."
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
someone new to a field or activity
"The tyro was only starting his second week in the office."
"One could see that he was a tyro rifleman; he barely knew how to reload the weapon."
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
Seeming to appear everywhere at the same time.
"Cafes are ubiquitous in most European cities."
"Smartphones went from being a luxury product to a way of life ubiquitous to almost all."
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
