Gre Sample Words

arrogate (verb): To assume, or claim as one's own; to take over without due cause. augur (verb): To predict or foretell; to conjecture from signs or omens. avocation (noun): An occupation of lesser importance that is typically pursued for pleasure not income. baleful (adj): Menacing, portending evil; having a harmful or malignant influence. cozen (verb): To deceive; to cheat; to act deceitfully. cupidity (noun): Eager or inordinate desire, especially for wealth; greed of gain. Had they not wanted too much, they may have survived; cupidity brought down the dot.com entrepreneurs. denigrate (verb): To defame; to tarnish the reputation of. efface (verb): To rub out; to erase. extant (adj): Still existing; not destroyed or lost; outstanding. facetious (adj): Joking, witty – especially at an inappropriate time. fallow (adj): Left untilled or unsowed after plowing; uncultivated. febrile (adj): Indicating fever, or derived from it. finagle (verb): To get or maneuver through cleverness or craftiness. She was able to finagle her way out of a rent increase by lying to the landlord about her financial situation. fulsome (adj): Offending or disgusting by overfullness, excess, or grossness; cloying. hibernal (adj): Belonging or relating to winter; wintry. impetuous (adj): Marked by impulsive anger or violence, as in a hasty and forceful expression of anger. impugn (verb): To contradict; to assail; to call in question; to make insinuations against. influx (noun): A streaming together, or continual incoming; a place where two rivers join. After advertising their programs in a Tokyo newspaper, the language school received an influx of students from Japan. injurious (adj): Causing harm; offensive. insolent (adj): Rude and lacking in respect; bold. languid (adj): Drooping or flagging from exhaustion; weak; without animation. nubile (adj): Marriable; sexually mature. pall (noun): An overspreading of darkness or gloom. The recent death of their old coach cast a pall over the team's celebration of their victory in the championship game. pastiche (noun): A composition made up of bits from various sources. probity (noun): Virtue; integrity; moral excellence. purvey (verb): Supply, generally in a business context. recondite (adj): Learned, profound and difficult to understand, abstruse. remonstrance (noun): A pointing out; manifestation; proof; demonstration. respite (noun): Temporary intermission or suspension. The weekend skiing was a wonderful respite for Susan, who had been overwhelmed by deadlines at work. ribald (adj): Base; filthy; obscene. Alice thought her friend's ribald jokes distasteful, and so was nervous about introducing him to her mother. seditious (adj): Disposed to arouse, or take part in, violent opposition to lawful authority. serendipitous (adj): Having good luck; favorable. trenchant (adj): Keen, biting, severe (as in wit). untoward (adj): Inconvenient or unexpected. veneer (noun): Thin outer coating, often referring to a thin layer of wood.