Eclectic
mediumPositive toneih-KLEK-tik
adjective
Definition
drawing from a diverse range of sources or styles
Memory hook
ecLECTic sounds like 'a-LICK-tick': you take a LICK of this and a tick of that, picking from many sources.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“Her eclectic playlist jumped from baroque opera to West African funk.”
“The professor's eclectic approach blended psychology, art history, and economics.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“Her ______ playlist jumped from baroque opera to West African funk.”
Show answer
eclectic
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Eclectic is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "diverse" or "varied" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "uniform".
Related GRE Words
disparate
Essentially different in kind; distinct and not able to be compared directly
convoluted
extremely complex and intricate; hard to follow
salient
most noticeable, prominent, or important
stringent
strict, precise, and demanding in requirement or standard
subtle
delicately complex, faint, or not obvious
delineate
to describe or portray precisely; to outline in detail
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