Erudite

hardPositive tone

ER-yoo-dyt

adjective

Definition

Having or showing great knowledge; scholarly and intellectual

Memory hook

E-RUDE-ITE: polished OUT of RUDENESS through extensive learning — deeply scholarly.

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Word roots

eout of(Latin)
rudisuntrained/rough(Latin)

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Examples

The professor's erudite lectures on ancient philosophy captivated students with their depth and insight.
Her erudite writing style, filled with literary references, impressed critics and scholars alike.

Test yourself

Fill in the blank with the right word:

The professor's ______ lectures on ancient philosophy captivated students with their depth and insight.
Show answer

erudite

Synonyms

scholarlylearnedletteredknowledgeable

Antonyms

ignorantunletteredilliteratephilistine

Categories

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GRE Tip

Erudite is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "scholarly" or "learned" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "ignorant".

Read: How to Memorize GRE Words That Actually Stick

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