Top 52 GRE Vocabulary Words

6/7/2020 Top 52 GRE Vocabulary Words - Kaplan Test Prep
About the GRE® Studying for the GRE
Free GRE Practice Questions GRE Prep
TOP 52 GRE VOCABULARY WORDS

You will see GRE® vocabulary
[https://www.kaptest.com/blog/prep/gre/how-to-study-for-gre-
vocabulary/] on test day
[https://www.kaptest.com/blog/prep/gre/what-to-expect-on-gre-
test-day/] in a variety of ways. Your verbal score
[https://www.kaptest.com/blog/prep/gre/gre-score-predictor-
whats-your-gre-score/] is generated from your answers to 40
questions that are split up among two separate sections of 20
questions each. You will have 30 minutes to complete each
section, so be ready to tackle Sentence Equivalence
[https://www.kaptest.com/blog/prep/gre/gre-verbal-sentence-
equivalence/] , Text Completion
[https://www.kaptest.com/blog/prep/gre/gre-text-completion-tips-
strategies/] , and Reading Comprehension
[https://www.kaptest.com/blog/prep/uncategorized/gre-reading-
comprehension-types-of-questions-and-tips/] questions.
[ RELATED: GRE Vocabulary – Using Root Words

[https://www.kaptest.com/study/gre/gre-vocabulary-using-word-
roots/] ]
Knowing how to decipher di cult vocabulary by using the context

is extremely helpful in maximizing your GRE verbal score
[https://www.kaptest.com/blog/prep/gre/gre-score-predictor-
whats-your-gre-score/] . Take the quiz below to test your
https://www.kaptest.com/study/gre/top-52-gre-vocabulary-words/ 1/8
understanding of some of the 52 top GRE vocabulary words, and

then review the examples and de nitions of each word at the
bottom of the page.
TOP 52 GRE WORDS DEFINITIONS AND EXAMPLES

1. anomaly – noun – something that is unusual or unexpected
The student’s poor performance on the latest test was

an anomaly since she had previously earned excellent
grades.
2. equivocal – adj. – not easily understood or explained
Politicians have been known to provide equivocal

answers to reporters’ questions.
3. lucid – adj. – very clear and easy to understand
The lecture was lucid and straightforward, allowing the

students to fully grasp the concepts presented.
4. precipitate – verb – to cause (something) to happen quickly or

suddenly
Unforeseen costs can precipitate a budget crisis.
5. assuage – verb – to make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense
A massage can assuage the soreness in your muscles.
6. erudite – adj. – having or showing great knowledge
High school students often struggle with novels that

are more erudite than they are entertaining.
7. opaque – adj. – not able to be seen through; not easily

understood
Medical jargon includes many opaque terms like

macrosomic, which describes a newborn who weighs
more than 4,000 grams.
8. prodigal – adj. – wastefully extravagant
The prodigal prince bought lavish gifts and planned

expensive events.
9. enigma – noun – a person or thing that is mysterious,

puzzling, or di cult to understand
Scientists continue to research cancer to solve the

enigma of its primary cause, which will hopefully lead
to a cure.
10. fervid – adj. – intensely enthusiastic or passionate
The child showed a fervid fascination for superheroes,

pouring over comic books for hours.
11. placate – verb – to make (someone) less angry or hostile
A parent may decide to placate a baby with a paci er.
12. zeal – noun – a strong feel of interest and enthusiasm that

makes someone very eager or determined to do something
The great emperor’s crusading zeal led him to conquer

many lands.
13. abstain – verb – to restrain oneself for doing or enjoying

something
Doctors encourage their patients to abstain from

smoking cigarettes.
14. audacious – adj. – a willingness to take bold risks / adj. –

showing a lack of respect
The new CEO pursued audacious initiatives to save the

company from bankruptcy. / The student’s audacious
remark earned her a seat in afternoon detention.
15. desiccate – verb – remove the moisture from (something)
The heat and energy from the sun can desiccate even
the most hearty plants.
16. gullible – adj. – easily persuaded to believe something
The gullible little boy gave his older sister all of his
allowance because she told him she would buy a pony
for him.
17. laudable – adj. – deserving praise and commendation
Providing a ordable healthcare for all citizens is a

laudable goal.
18. pedant – noun – a person who makes an excessive display of

learning
Professor Blackwell, a well-known pedant, required his

pre-med students to speak in Latin throughout the
entire semester.
19. vacillate – verb – to waver between di erent opinions or

actions
Undergraduate students often vacillate among various

majors before deciding which degree to pursue.
20. adulterate – verb – to make (something) impure or weaker by

adding something of inferior quality
Many chefs use fresh produce and refuse to adulterate

their dishes with canned ingredients.
21. capricious – adj. – given to sudden changes of mood or

behavior
The capricious supervisor would hand out raises one

day and re his entire sta the next.
22. engender – verb – to produce, cause, or give rise to

(something)
Political debates can engender controversy regarding

the subjects discussed.
23. homogenous – adj. – of the same or similar kind
There are very few truly homogenous cultures since

social diversity is increasingly widespread.
24. loquacious – adj. – tending to talk a great deal
The loquacious professor was known for his ve-hour

lectures.
25. pragmatic – adj. – dealing with the problems that exist in a

reasonable and logical way instead of depending on theories
A pragmatic approach to legislation can be di cult

given the complexities of politics.
26. volatile – adj. – likely to change rapidly and unpredictably
It is possible for a country’s political climate to remain

volatile for decades.
27. apathy – noun – lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern
Political parties try to engage young voters who are

more prone to apathy than older citizens.
28. corroborate – verb – to con rm or make more certain
The scientist was able to corroborate his hypothesis

with data gathered from multiple sources.
29. ephemeral – adj. – lasting for a very short time
An ephemeral moment of victory may last mere

seconds, but it can remain as a triumphant memory for
decades.
30. laconic – adj. – using few words
The student’s laconic response suggested that she did

not know very much about the topic the professor was
discussing.
31. mitigate – verb – make less severe, serious, or painful
We want to mitigate students’ GRE stress by o ering

helpful study tools.
32. propriety – noun – the state or quality of being correct or

proper
The students were instructed to behave with the

utmost propriety while on their class eld trip.
33. advocate – verb – publicly recommend or support
The governor chose to advocate for a higher minimum

wage rather than a tax incentive.
34. cacophony – noun – a harsh, unpleasant mixture of sounds
The cacophony of the middle school band warming up

was nearly unbearable for the audience.
35. enervate – verb – cause (someone or something) to feel

drained of energy; weaken
The boxer used a swift left uppercut to the jaw to

enervate his opponent.
36. ingenuous – adj. – innocent and unsuspecting
The scam artist preyed on ingenuous nursing home

residents.
37. misanthrope – noun – a person who dislikes humankind
The neighborhood misanthrope surrounded his yard

with barbed wire to keep people away.
38. paradox – noun – a statement that contradicts itself but might

be true
The fact that the retired teacher claimed to hate all pets
but adopted seven cats is an intriguing paradox.
39. venerate – verb – regard with great respect
To venerate the re chief’s forty years of service, the

department held a special banquet.
40. antipathy – noun – a strong feeling of dislike
The students voiced their antipathy for homework very

loudly.
41. deride – verb – to express contempt for; ridicule
The unreasonable supervise was known to deride his

employees on a daily basis.
42. eulogy – noun – a speech that praises someone, typically

some who has recently died
The rabbi’s eulogy was both heartfelt and inspiring.
43. lethargic – adj. – lacking energy
It’s not uncommon to feel lethargic for weeks or even

months after major surgery.
44. obdurate – adj. – stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion
The obdurate three-year-old refused to eat any

vegetables, no matter how they were prepared.
45. philanthropic – adj. – seeking to promote the welfare of

others
The students were grateful to receive nancial support

from philanthropic organizations that promote
education.
46. waver – verb – to go back and forth between choices or

opinions
Some citizens vote solely along party lines and never

waver in their political decisions.
47. bolster – verb – to support or strengthen
The prosecutor worked to nd evidence that would

bolster her case against the defendant.
48. dissonance – noun – a lack of harmony or agreement
The school board’s meeting lasted for hours due to the

length debate fueled by dissonance among opinions.
49. garrulous – adj. – excessively talkative
The garrulous hair stylist talked to each customer for

hours at a time.
50. malleable – adj. – easily in uenced; pliable
Children’s moods are often malleable since children

are greatly a ected by their surroundings.
51. ostentation – noun – excessive display of wealth
Owning a mansion doesn’t imply ostentation, but

traveling exclusively by private jet certainly can.
52. prevaricate – verb – avoid telling the truth by not directly

answering a question
During the trial, the lead witness was willing to

prevaricate in order to protect his friend.
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6/7/2020 Top 52 GRE Vocabulary Words - Kaplan Test Prep

About the GRE® Studying for the GRE

Free GRE Practice Questions GRE Prep

[ RELATED: GRE Vocabulary – Using Root Words

Knowing how to decipher di cult vocabulary by using the context

understanding of some of the 52 top GRE vocabulary words, and

TOP 52 GRE WORDS DEFINITIONS AND EXAMPLES

The student’s poor performance on the latest test was

2. equivocal – adj. – not easily understood or explained

Politicians have been known to provide equivocal

3. lucid – adj. – very clear and easy to understand

The lecture was lucid and straightforward, allowing the

4. precipitate – verb – to cause (something) to happen quickly or

Unforeseen costs can precipitate a budget crisis.

5. assuage – verb – to make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense

A massage can assuage the soreness in your muscles.

6. erudite – adj. – having or showing great knowledge

High school students often struggle with novels that

7. opaque – adj. – not able to be seen through; not easily

Medical jargon includes many opaque terms like

8. prodigal – adj. – wastefully extravagant

The prodigal prince bought lavish gifts and planned

9. enigma – noun – a person or thing that is mysterious,

Scientists continue to research cancer to solve the

10. fervid – adj. – intensely enthusiastic or passionate

The child showed a fervid fascination for superheroes,

11. placate – verb – to make (someone) less angry or hostile

A parent may decide to placate a baby with a paci er.

12. zeal – noun – a strong feel of interest and enthusiasm that

The great emperor’s crusading zeal led him to conquer

13. abstain – verb – to restrain oneself for doing or enjoying

Doctors encourage their patients to abstain from

14. audacious – adj. – a willingness to take bold risks / adj. –

The new CEO pursued audacious initiatives to save the

15. desiccate – verb – remove the moisture from (something)

16. gullible – adj. – easily persuaded to believe something

17. laudable – adj. – deserving praise and commendation

Providing a ordable healthcare for all citizens is a

18. pedant – noun – a person who makes an excessive display of

Professor Blackwell, a well-known pedant, required his

19. vacillate – verb – to waver between di erent opinions or

Undergraduate students often vacillate among various

20. adulterate – verb – to make (something) impure or weaker by

Many chefs use fresh produce and refuse to adulterate

21. capricious – adj. – given to sudden changes of mood or

The capricious supervisor would hand out raises one

22. engender – verb – to produce, cause, or give rise to

Political debates can engender controversy regarding

23. homogenous – adj. – of the same or similar kind

There are very few truly homogenous cultures since

24. loquacious – adj. – tending to talk a great deal

The loquacious professor was known for his ve-hour

25. pragmatic – adj. – dealing with the problems that exist in a

A pragmatic approach to legislation can be di cult

26. volatile – adj. – likely to change rapidly and unpredictably

It is possible for a country’s political climate to remain

27. apathy – noun – lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

Political parties try to engage young voters who are

28. corroborate – verb – to con rm or make more certain

The scientist was able to corroborate his hypothesis

29. ephemeral – adj. – lasting for a very short time

An ephemeral moment of victory may last mere