GRE Vocabulary Explorer

1,000+ essential GRE words with definitions, synonyms, and examples. Free to browse.

Word of the Day

contemporary

kun-TEM-puh-rer-ee

Living or occurring at the same time; modern or current

1003 words found

abate

medium

To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity

verb

aberrant

hard

Deviating from what is normal or expected

adjective

aberration

hard

A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected

noun

abeyance

hard

a state of temporary suspension or inactivity

noun

abiding

medium

Lasting for a long time; enduring and unchanging

adjective

abscond

hard

To leave secretly and hide, especially to avoid arrest or prosecution

verb

abstemious

hard

Moderate in eating and drinking; self-restrained

adjective

abstract

medium

Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence

adjective

abstruse

hard

Difficult to understand; obscure

adjective

abundant

easy

Existing or available in large quantities; plentiful

adjective

accept

easy

To receive willingly; to agree to or consent to something

verb

acclaim

medium

Enthusiastic public praise or approval

noun

accolade

medium

An award or privilege granted as a special honor; high praise

noun

accomplished

easy

Highly trained or skilled; completed successfully

adjective

accord

medium

An official agreement or treaty; harmony or accordance

noun

acrimonious

hard

Bitter and sharp in language or tone; caustic

adjective

acute

medium

Having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight; sharp or severe

adjective

adage

medium

A proverb or short statement expressing a general truth

noun

adamant

medium

Refusing to be persuaded or to change one's mind; unyielding

adjective

adept

medium

Very skilled or proficient at something

adjective

admonish

medium

To warn or reprimand someone firmly

verb

adulation

hard

Excessive admiration or praise

noun

adulatory

hard

Excessively praising or admiring; fawning

adjective

adulterate

medium

To make something poorer in quality by adding another substance

verb

advantageous

easy

Involving or creating favorable circumstances; beneficial

adjective

adverse

medium

Preventing success or development; harmful or unfavorable

adjective

advocate

easy

To publicly recommend or support a particular cause or policy

verb

aesthetic

easy

Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty

adjective

affect

medium

To have an influence on; to produce a change in (verb); emotional expression (noun in psychology)

verb

aggrandize

hard

To increase the power, status, or wealth of; to make appear greater

verb

alacrity

hard

Brisk and cheerful readiness

noun

alleviate

medium

To make suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe

verb

allude

medium

To suggest or call attention to indirectly; to hint at

verb

allusion

medium

An indirect reference, especially to something in literature or history

noun

amalgamate

medium

To combine or unite to form one structure or organization

verb

amateur

easy

A person who engages in an activity for pleasure rather than professionally; lacking expertise

noun

ambiguous

easy

Open to more than one interpretation; unclear

adjective

ambivalent

medium

Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something

adjective

ameliorate

hard

To make something bad or unsatisfactory better

verb

anachronism

hard

Something that is out of place in terms of historical or chronological context

noun

anachronistic

hard

Belonging to a period other than that being portrayed; out of place in time

adjective

analogous

medium

Comparable in certain respects; similar

adjective

animate

medium

To give life, energy, or spirit to

verb

animated

easy

Full of life or excitement; lively

adjective

animosity

medium

Strong hostility or hatred

noun

anomaly

medium

Something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected

noun

antagonistic

medium

Showing or feeling active opposition or hostility toward someone or something

adjective

antagonize

easy

To cause someone to become hostile or angry

verb

antediluvian

hard

Of or belonging to the time before the biblical Flood; ridiculously old-fashioned

adjective

antipathy

medium

a deep, settled feeling of dislike or aversion

noun

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