GRE :: Flashcard Stash

RETICENT

Keeping one's thoughts and opinions to oneself; reserved or restrained.

SCURRILOUS

given to vulgar verbal abuse; foul-mouthed

PARTISAN

An adherent to a party or faction.

preternatural

Having an existence outside of the natural world. In this sense, everything supernatural is also preternatural.

dilettante

An amateur, someone who dabbles in a field out of casual interest rather than as a profession or serious interest.

misogyny

hatred or contempt for women

libel

A written (notably as handbill) or pictorial statement which unjustly seeks to damage someone's reputation.

belabor

. Argue or elaborate (a subject) in excessive detail: "they belabored the obvious". 2. Attack or assault (someone) physically or verbally

heuristic

Relating to general strategies or methods for solving problems.

smite

To strike down or kill with godly force.

probity

integrity

indict

To accuse of wrongdoing; charge.

wimp

someone who lacks confidence, is irresolute and wishy-washy

fractious

irritable; argumentative; quarrelsome

belligerent

Eager to go to war, warlike.

Levant

The countries bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea variously:

feckless

Without skill, ineffective, incompetent.

penchant

taste, liking, or inclination (for)

salve

Any thing or action that soothes or heals.

incivility

Any act of rudeness or ill breeding.

rebuke

To criticise harshly; to reprove.

chide

to loudly admonish in blame; to angrily reproach

rhetoric

The art of using language, especially public speaking, as a means to persuade.

purloin

To commit theft; to thieve.

succor

Aid, assistance or relief given to one in distress; ministration.

reprehensible

Blameworthy, censurable, guilty.

profligate

Inclined to waste resources or behave extravagantly.

civitas

A body of people constituting an organized community; city-state

nihilist

An absolute skeptic; a person who believes in the truth of nothing.

pillory

A framework on a post, with holes for the hands and head, used as a means of punishment and humiliation.

verbiage

Overabundance of words

roil

To render turbid by stirring up the dregs or sediment of; as, to roil wine, cider, etc, in casks or bottles; to roil a spring.

spiel

A fast excuse or sales pitch.

cachet

A special characteristic or quality. a seal

nuance

Subtlety or fine detail.

banal

Common in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh.

precarious

dangerously insecure or unstable; perilous

baritone

The male voice between tenor and bass

tenor

musical range or section higher than bass and lower than alto. Also a person, instrument, or group that performs in that range.

alto

musical part or section higher than tenor and lower than soprano. Originally called contratenor altus, high countertenor, the part that performed a countermelody above the tenor or main melody.

soprano

Musical part or section higher in pitch than alto and other sections.

raison d'etre

Anglicized spelling of raison d'être; a reason for living.

caucus

A meeting, especially a preliminary meeting, of persons belonging to a party, to nominate candidates for public office, or to select delegates to a nominating convention, or to confer regarding measures of party policy; a political primary meeting.

sicc

to incite or urge to an attack, pursuit, or harassment : set

clobber

To hit or bash severely.

bootstrap

To help (oneself) without the aid of others.

debutante

a young woman who makes her first formal appearance in society

verite

the art or technique of filming (as a motion picture) so as to convey candid realism

hustle

A rush or hurry.

gawked

to gape or stare stupidly

cliché

Something, most often a phrase or expression, that is overused or used outside its original context, so that its original impact and meaning are lost. A trite saying; a platitude.

reprise

A recurrence or resumption of an action.

jurisdiction

the power, right, or authority to interpret and apply the law

emancipation

The act of setting free from the power of another, from slavery, subjection, dependence, or controlling influence

impunity

Being outside of the rule of law, without risk of retribution.

status quo

The state of things; the way things are, as opposed to the way they could be; the existing state of affairs.

ante

To make an investment in money, effort, or time before knowing one's chances.

implausible

Not plausible; unlikely; dubious.

repugnant

offensive or repulsive; arousing disgust or aversion

ingratiating

Which ingratiates; which attempts to bring oneself into the favour of another. The implication is often of flattery or insincerity.

quaint

Strange or odd in an interesting, pleasing, or amusing way.

stodgy

dull old fashioned

apophthegm

A short, witty, instructive saying; an aphorism or maxim.

acrimonious

Of words, arguments, quarrels: bitter; mean-spirited; sharp in language or tone.

rendition

The surrender or handing-over of a person or thing, especially from one jurisdiction to another.

subpoena

A writ requiring someone to appear in court to give testimony.

strident

Loud; shrill, piercing, high-pitched; rough-sounding

gubernatorial

Related to a governor.

persuasive

able to persuade; convincing

ersatz

Made in imitation; artificial, especially of an inferior quality.

despot

A ruler with absolute power; a tyrant.

tyrant

An absolute ruler who governs without restriction.

mire

An undesirable situation, a predicament.

predicament

An unfortunate or trying position or condition; a tight spot.

bigotry

The characteristic qualities of a bigot; intolerance or prejudice, especially religious or racial.

hackneyed

Repeated too often.

smirk

An uneven crooked smile.

innards

The internal organs of a human or animal; especially viscera, intestines.

oeuvre

A work of art.

smidgen

A very small quantity or amount.

transmogrify

To completely alter one's form.

procumbent

That trails along the ground

recumbent

Inactive; idle.

compunction

a pricking of conscience, a slight regret

debacle

An event or enterprise that ends suddenly and disastrously, often with humiliating consequences.

edify

To build, construct.

eyrie

Any high and remote but commanding place.

wrest

To pull or twist violently.

wheedle

To obtain something by guile or trickery.

canard

A false or misleading report or story, especially if deliberately so.

recalcitrant

marked by a stubborn unwillingness to obey figures of authority

welter

general confusion; disorderly mixture; aimless effort; as, a welter of papers and magazines

avarice

Excessive or inordinate desire of gain; greediness after wealth; covetousness; cupidity.

eulogise

To praise, celebrate or pay homage to someone, especially in an eloquent formal eulogy.

reticent

Keeping one's thoughts and opinions to oneself; reserved or restrained.

lugubrious

gloomy, mournful or dismal, especially to an exaggerated degree.

impudent

Not showing due respect; impertinent; bold-faced

reproach

To criticize or rebuke or bring shame on someone.

petulant

easily irritated or annoyed

mollycoddle

To be overprotective and indulgent toward; to pamper.

peremptory

Positive in opinion or judgment; decided; dictatorial; dogmatic.

sycophant

One who uses compliments to gain self-serving favor or advantage from another.

coterie

An exclusive group of people, who associate closely for a common purpose; a clique.

clique

A small, exclusive group of individuals; cabal

poseur

One who affects some behaviour, style, attitude or other condition, often to impress or influence others.

nave

The middle or body of a church, extending from the transepts to the principal entrances.

desultory

Jumping, or passing, from one thing or subject to another, without order or rational connection; without logical sequence; disconnected; immethodical; aimless.

diffident

Lacking confidence in others; distrustful.

scrawny

Thin, malnourished and weak.

wizened

withered; lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness

cogitation

The process of cogitating; thought, deliberation or meditation

interlude

An intervening episode, etc.

hubris

Unchecked arrogance

VITIATE

to spoil, make faulty; to reduce the value, quality, or effectiveness of something

LEER

To look sideways or obliquely; now especially with sexual desire or malicious intent.

LARGESS

Generosity in the giving of gifts or money.

impropriety

The condition of being improper.

complacent

Uncritically satisfied with oneself or one's achievements; smug.

profligacy

shameless and immoral behaviour careless wasting

bequeath

To give or leave by will; to give by testament; especially of personal property.

encumber

to load down something with a burden

yokel

An unsophisticated person. rural

necropolis

A large cemetery, especially one of elaborate construction in an ancient city.

sophisticate

Make less natural or innocent..sophistry has a meaning as deceive

doff

To remove a hat as a greeting or mark of respect. also used for removing clothing

tote

To carry a heavy load. also means add up?

primp

To become formal or affected in dress or manners.

promulgate

To make known or public. to make into effect as a regulation

mollify

To ease a burden; make less painful; to comfort..gain good will

tipple

To sell alcoholic liquor by retail. [from earlier 16th c.]..to drink too much noun: area where unloading of freight cars is done

belay

The general command to stop or cease. other use: relates to securing a rope to a rock ( noun )

nosegay

A small bunch of fragrant flowers or herbs, tied in a bundle, often presented as a gift on meeting, and originally intended to be put to the nose for the pleasant sensation, or to mask unpleasant odours.

affectation

An attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real; false display; artificial show.

encomium

Warm praise, especially a formal expression of such praise; a tribute...a category of oration

duress

Being constrained by threat.

furor

A general uproar or commotion

parsimony

Great reluctance to spend money unnecessarily.use less resources or explanation to solve a problem

prescient

Having knowledge of events before they take place; possessing or exhibiting prescience.

trepidation

A fearful state; a state of hesitation or concern.

ire

Great anger; wrath; keen resentment. verb: to anger or iritate

epitome

The embodiment or encapsulation of.

inept

Not able to do something; not proficient; displaying incompetence, unfit, unsuitable

jingoism

Excessive patriotism or aggressive nationalism especially with regards to foreign policy.

brisling

A sprat (small herring)

bridle

To check, restrain, or control with, or as if with, a bridle; as , bridle your tongue. noun : head gear to direct a horse

ingrained

Being an element; present in the essence of a thing..fixed

convivial

Of or relating to a feast or entertainment, or to eating and drinking, with accompanying festivity; festive; social; gay; jovial.

baneful

Exceedingly harmful; causing harm, death, ruin. deadful

comely

Pleasing or attractive to the eye.

contrite

Sincerely penitent or feeling regret or sorrow, especially for one’s own actions; apologetic.

purport

To convey, imply, or profess outwardly, often falsely.

cede

To give up, give way, give away.

jostle

To move through by pushing and shoving.

quorum

..select group..The minimum number of members required for a group to officially conduct business and to cast binding votes, often but not necessarily a majority or supermajority...

recondite

Hidden from the mental or intellectual view; secret; abstruse. profound

torrid

Full of intense emotions arising from sexual love; ardent and passionate. very hot and dry

lassitude

Lethargy or lack of energy; fatigue. langour..listlessness

languor

a state of the body or mind caused by exhaustion or disease and characterized by a languid feeling: lassitude

rampart

A defensive structure; a protective barrier; a bulwark.

bristling

Having bristles.

burnish

To make smooth or shiny by rubbing; to polish; to shine.

acrid

Sharp and harsh, or bitter and not to the taste; pungent.

consternation

Amazement or horror that confounds the faculties, and incapacitates for reflection; causing confusion

embolden

To render (someone) more bold or courageous.

epicurean

pursuing pleasure, especially in reference to food or comfort...a person of epicurean tastes

churlish

Rude, surly, ungracious. serf, peasant rustic..lack of civility..difficult to work with ...it will be curlish not to congratulate him

serf

A semifree peasant of a low hereditary class, slavishly attached to the land owned by a feudal lord and required to perform labour, enjoying minimal legal or customary rights

surly

Lordly, arrogant, ....surly receptionist...threatening as in surly weather...surly mood..irritable,curlish

supercilious

Arrogantly superior; showing contemptuous indifference; haughty....the supercilious art dealer rolled her eyes when we asked if she had anything for under $1,000>

haughty

Conveying in demeanour the assumption of superiority; disdainful, supercilious....He rejected their offer with a tone of haughty disdain.

disdain

A feeling of contempt or scorn.: a feeling of contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior : scorn ...He regarded their proposal with disdain.

simper

To smile in a frivolous, self-conscious, often coy manner...to smile in a silly manner

coy

bashful, shy

bashful

Showing shyness....backward, shy, coy, demure, diffident, introverted, modest, recessive, retiring, self-effacing, sheepish, withdrawn

blatant

1 : noisy especially in a vulgar or offensive manner : clamorous 2 : completely obvious, conspicuous, or obtrusive especially in a crass or offensive manner : brazen

vignette

a : a short descriptive literary sketch b : a brief incident or scene (as in a play or movie)

enamor

to cause to feel a strong or excessive interest or fascination —usually used in the passive with of or with

pilloried

to expose to public contempt, ridicule, or scorn.. The press pilloried the judge for her decision

excoriate

To strongly denounce or censure. related to skin chafing flaying...He was excoriated as a racist.

stymie

An obstacle or obstruction. verb...thwart to cause to fail.to leave confused or puzzled....

approbation

an act of approving formally or officially b : commendation, praise The company has even received the approbation of its former critics.

circumscribe

To limit narrowly; to restrict. ....

grandiloquent

overly wordy, pompous, flowery, or elaborate.

truculence

: feeling or displaying ferocity : cruel, savage. deadly, destructive: aggressively self-assertive : belligerent

qualm

1: a sudden attack of illness, faintness, or nausea 2: a sudden access of usually disturbing emotion (as doubt or fear) 3: a feeling of uneasiness about a point especially of conscience or propriety He accepted their offer without a qualm.

aphrodisiac

substance that increases desire

unscrupulous

Without scruples, immoral unprincipled

Unrequited

not reciprocated or returned in kind

saccharine

Excessively sweet in action or disposition; syrupy.

paroxysm

A random or sudden outburst (of activity).

swivet

(Also swivvet) A state of condition of haste, flutter; extreme discomposure or distress; irritation exasperation annoyance. Officials said the evacuations were precautionary but some parents went into a swivet, demanding to know why the schools had not be

draconian

Very severe, oppressive or strict. A string of draconian measures enforced by authorities has fuelled the Egyptian uprising..." – Atul Aneja, The Hindu, January 28, 2011

alacrity

promptness in response : cheerful readiness

assuage

: to lessen the intensity of (something that pains or distresses) : ease 2 : pacify, quiet

gallant

brave, valiant fashionable young man 1 : a young man of fashion 2 a : ladies' man b : suitor c : paramour Examples of GALLANT 1. 2.

intrepid

Fearless; bold; brave. characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance an intrepid explorer who probed parts of the rain forest never previously attempted>

audacious

a : intrepidly daring : adventurous b : recklessly bold : rash 2 : contemptuous of law, religion, or decorum : insolent 3 : marked by originality and verve — au·da·cious·ly adverb — au·da·cious·ness noun

unrequited

Unanswered; not returned; not reciprocated; not repaid. unrecquited love

charade

Definition of CHARADE 1 : a word represented in riddling verse or by picture, tableau, or dramatic action 2 plural : a game in which some of the players try to guess a word or phrase from the actions of another player who may not speak 3 : an empty or dec

narcissism

: egoism, egocentrism : love of or sexual desire for one's own body 1.

prevaricate

To shift or turn from direct speech or behaviour; to evade the truth; to waffle or be (intentionally) ambiguous.

suave

Charming, confident and elegant.sweet talk..effortlessly graceful social manners

debonair

suave, urbane and sophisticated politeness as in debonair performer suave as in debonair dismissal of financial problems made me underestimate the situation

austere

a : stern and cold in appearance or manner b : somber, grave 2 : morally strict : ascetic 3 : markedly simple or unadorned 4 : giving little or no scope for pleasure 5 of a wine : having the flavor of acid or tannin predominant over fruit flavors usua

axiomatic

: taken for granted : self-evident 2 : based on or involving an axiom or system of axioms 1. It is axiomatic that good athletes have a strong mental attitude. 2.

arduous

hard to accomplish or achieve : difficult b : marked by great labor or effort : strenuous He went through an long and arduous training program

aberrant

: straying from the right or normal way 2 : deviating from the usual or natural type : atypical # #

canonical

conforming to a general rule or acceptable procedure Orthodox

capricious

erratic inclined to change..capricious weather..capricious manager

censure

official strong criticism ▪ The country faces international censure for its alleged involvement in the assassination.

chicanery

deception by artful subterfuge or sophistry : trickery 2: a piece of sharp practice (as at law) : trick See chicanery defined for English-language learners » Examples of CHICANERY He wasn't above using chicanery to win votes.

connoisseur

[count] : a person who knows a lot about something (such as art, wine, food, etc.) : an expert in a particular subject ▪ wine connoisseurs ▪ She is a connoisseur of African art.

disabuse

show or convince (someone) that a belief is incorrect of ▪ He offered to disabuse us of what he called our “cherished myths.” ▪ Anyone expecting a romantic story will be quickly disabused of that notion by the opening chapter

disabuse

show or convince (someone) that a belief is incorrect of ▪ He offered to disabuse us of what he called our “cherished myths.” ▪ Anyone expecting a romantic story will be quickly disabused of that notion by the opening chapter

discordant

being at variance : disagreeing b : quarrelsome 2: relating to a discord — dis·cor·dant·ly adverb See discordant defined for English-language learners » Examples of DISCORDANT She has the difficult task of bringing together a number of d

Disparate

different from each other ▪ The conversation covered topics as disparate [=diverse] as fashion and biology. ▪ disparate cultures ▪ music that combines/blends disparate [=dissimilar] elements

effrontery

a very confident attitude or way of behaving that is shocking or rude : nerve ◊Effrontery describes the attitude of a person who does something very boldly and without shame even though it is wrong or offensive in some way. ▪ He had the effrontery to

eloquent

marked by forceful and fluent expression 2: vividly or movingly expressive or revealing an elequant writer and reader

enervate

1: to reduce the mental or moral vigor of 2: to lessen the vitality or strength of example: the surgery really enervated me week afterwards

ennui

A gripping listlessness or melancholia caused by boredom; depression.a lack of spirit, enthusiasm, or interest ▪ He suffered from a general sense of ennui. [=boredom]

equivocate

to use unclear language especially to deceive or mislead someone ▪ The applicant seemed to be equivocating when we asked him about his last job. ▪ When asked about her tax plan, the candidate didn't equivocate.

erudite

having or showing knowledge that is learned by studying ▪ an erudite [=learned] scholar/professor/librarian ▪ an erudite essay

exculpate

to prove that someone is not guilty of doing something wrong .... Prosecutors said Mr. Moyer and Mr. Hayes ''deliberately mischaracterized'' an eyewitness account of what happened in an official police report in order to ''exculpate Brandon Piekarsky.''

exigent

pressing, demanding , urgent requiring immediate action or attention Example : Started his work day with flood of exigent matters that require his quick decisions

extemporaneous

done without preparation Improvised I was caught to give a extemporaneous speech in award function

filibuster

Delaying tactics, especially long, often irrelevant speeches given in order to delay progress or the making of a decision, especially on the floor of the US Senate.They engaged in a filibuster that lasted for over a week.

buccaneers

an unscrupulous adventurer especially in politics or business English buccaneer preyed over spanish ships examples: buccaneers who preyed upon treasure-laden ships in the Caribbean

buccaneer

a person who tries to become wealthy or powerful by doing things that are illegal or dishonest ▪ corporate buccaneers

pecuniary

Of, or relating to, money; monetary. Political and pecuniary motives drove the filibusters and their political supporters; so did a taste for glory

fulminate

Loudly attact or to denounce She was fulminating about the dangers of smoking. The editorial fulminated against the proposed tax increase

denounce

to pronounce especially publicly to be blameworthy or evil The government called on the group to denounce the use of violence. The film was denounced for the way it portrayed its female characters.

ingenuous

demonstrating childlike simplicity..originality and cleverlessness..unusual aptitude of discovering or contrivaning

inure

to accustom to accept something undesirable Example : Does violence on television inure children to violence in real life?

irascible

marked by hot temper and easily provoked anger Example: an irascible old football coach

paradox

something (such as a situation) that is made up of two opposite things and that seems impossible but is actually true or possible ▪ It is a paradox that computers need maintenance so often, since they are meant to save people time

nascent

Emerging; just coming into existence.“Bread, social justice and freedom seems to be driving Egypt ’s nascent revolution.

nebulous

cloud or haze; hazy.ill defined. gone from devout born-again Christian to a more nebulous, nondoctrinal set of beliefs that do not align with organized religion

neologism

A word or phrase which has recently been coined; a new word or phrase....Webinar (Web + seminar) seems like a fine neologism for a seminar offered online

obtuse

Intellectually dull or dim-witted.blunt..Israel wouldn't be so obtuse as to use lethal force on self-described peace activists in., but it turned out that Israel could be so obtuse after all

obviate

To bypass a requirement or make it unnecessary.In the secular world, molestation of a child is crime, and a heartfelt apology for it doesn't obviate jail time. In the Catholic Church, it is a sin to be forgiven.

onerous

burdensome; difficult; wearing; tiring-TAX-PREPARATION software usually makes an onerous task easier.

paean

Any loud and joyous song of triumph..he needs a positive vision to mobilize voters. His paean to American greatness (''not just a place on a map, but a light to the world'') was part of that

paean

Any loud and joyous song of triumph..he needs a positive vision to mobilize voters. His paean to American greatness (''not just a place on a map, but a light to the world'') was part of that

parody

A work or performance that imitates another work or performance with ridicule or irony...It looks like a parody of Minimalist sculpture

perennial

lasting all the time.One perennial challenge pianists face is making a percussive instrument sing

perfidy

act of violating faith or allegiance; violation of a promise or vow, or of trust reposed; faithlessness; treachery...the exiled dictator was ''lonely, depressed and brooding on the perfidy of a nation that once worshiped him

perspicacious

Of acute discernment; having keen insight; mentally perceptive...Richard M. Sudhalter won wide respect as a mellifluous trumpet player and perspicacious jazz historian

prattle

to talk incessantly and in a childish manner; to babble....the company's advocate answered candidly with no attempt to obfuscate the answers with typical lawyerly prattle.

precipitate

To make something happen suddenly and quickly; hasten...tensions escalated sectional animosities and helped precipitate the Civil War,

fetish

strong and unusual desire for something..unconventional..need of a object for sexual excitement.object with magical power..us military thinkers have a german fetish..he has a fetish for secrecy..he wore a fetish for luck