Boost Your Vocabulary: 30 Essential Words to Master the GRE Exam

How is Vocabulary tested on the GRE?

The GRE verbal section has two sections. The first section has 12 questions with 18 minutes and the second has 15 questions with 23 minutes. The difficulty level of the second section depends on your performance in the first section. The final score ranges between 130-170. Both these sections test two skills – critical reading and vocabulary. Learning vocabulary for the GRE is like learning a new language. You cannot cram 1000 words in a month. However, if your exam date is catching up you can use this short list of important GRE words as a fallback option. Though the number of questions has come down, learning vocabulary is still an essential part of the GRE preparation.

Your vocabulary skills will be paid off big time in the Sentence Equivalence and the Text Completion question types. Though there are Vocab based questions in Reading Comprehension too, those questions look for the contextual meaning and not the literal meaning of the words.

Let us look at how learning GRE words can help you master the Sentence Equivalence and Text Completion Questions.

Completely impenetrable to the layperson, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity was _______ even to experts in the field.

1. Lucid
2. Omnipresent
3. Abstruse
4. Facile
5. Accessible

The answer we are looking for should mean something impenetrable or difficult to understand. The right answer is C. Even if you do not know what abstruse means, you could have eliminated the other easier words. Learning the GRE words helps not just in identifying the right words, but also in eliminating the wrong one.

Let us look at 30 GRE words which often appear on the test:

• Ambivalent

Parts of Speech- Adjective

Definition- showing simultaneous and contradictory feelings

Usage- Aaron was ambivalent about his new job; the salary was good , but he missed his old friends.

Synonyms- equivocal, conflicted

Antonyms- resolute

Root words- “Ambi” means both

• Auspicious

Parts of Speech- Adjective

Definition-  conducive to success

Usage- The shooting of the movie started at an auspicious time.

Synonyms- Propitious, Optimistic, Favorable

Antonyms- bleak. Gloomy

• Belie

Parts of Speech- Verb

Definition-

1. to give a false impression
2. to show (something) to be false or wrong

Usage-

1. John’s rude attitude belied his gentleness.
2. Emma’s actions belie her claim to be innocent.

Synonyms- misrepresent, obscure. conceal

Antonyms- betray, reveal

• Bolster

Parts of Speech- verb

Definition- To support or to give a boost

Usage- Molly did additional courses to bolster her job prospects.

Synonyms- sustain, buttress

Antonyms- undermine, weaken

• Capricious

Parts of Speech- adjective

Definition- given to sudden change in behavior

Usage- His capricious attitude ensured that no one relied on him.

Synonyms- whimsical, mercurial, volatile

Antonyms- steadfast. predictable

• Corroborate

Parts of Speech- verb

Definition- to support with evidence

Usage- Bosons corroborated the Standard Model’s predictions.

Synonyms- authenticate, substantiate

Antonyms- refute, rebut

• Dogmatic

Parts of Speech- Adjective

Definition- given to strongly believing opinions

Usage- The CEO of the organization is so dogmatic that it is pointless to argue with him

Synonyms- doctrinaire, opinionated

Antonyms- receptive, broadminded

• Disparage

Parts of Speech- Verb

Definition- to belittle

Usage- The critics disparaged the movie for its trite plot.

Synonyms- denigrate, deprecate

Antonyms- exalt, extol

• Engender

Parts of Speech- verb

Definition- to produce, cause or create

Usage- The issue of demonetization engendered several debates.

Synonyms- foster, spawn

Antonyms- impede, stifle

• Equivocate

Parts of Speech- verb

Definition- to avoid giving a clear or direct answer to a question

Usage- The politician equivocated when the journalist questioned tax reform, which made the public wonder if they will get any tax benefits.

Synonyms- elude, fudge

Antonyms- confront, encounter

• Exacerbate

Parts of Speech- verb

Definition- to make things worse

Usage- The incessant rain exacerbated the rescue operations

Synonyms- aggravate, complicate

Antonyms- alleviate, mitigate, assuage

• Fastidious

Parts of Speech- adjective

Definition- very careful and attentive

Usage- The fastidious bride hand-picked everything for her big day.

Synonyms- finicky, exacting

Antonyms- undemanding, lackadaisical

• Gullible

Parts of Speech- Adjective

Definition- easily cheated

Usage- The advertisement was targeted at gullible kids who could convince their parents into buying costly toys.

Synonyms- naive, credulous

Antonyms- cynical, Skeptical

• Hackneyed

Parts of Speech- adjective

Definition- used or heard so often as to be dull

Usage- The movie did not garner viewership as it was filled with hackneyed and boring dialogues.

Synonyms- cliche, commonplace, trite

Antonyms- original, novel, exciting

• Iconoclast

Parts of Speech- Noun

Definition- a person who attacks settled beliefs or institutions

Usage- Da Vinci was an iconoclast who was much ahead of his time.

Synonyms- heretic, maverick

Antonyms- adherent, conformist

• Inchoate

Parts of Speech- Adjective

Definition- in the beginning stage, undeveloped or not clearly formed.

Usage- The youngsters worked on the inchoate ideas to build the successful startup.

Synonyms- nascent, incipient

Antonyms- mature

• Ingenuous

Parts of Speech- adjective

Definition- showing simplicity, lacking craft

Usage- The ingenuous tourist was cheated into buying overpriced souvenirs.

Synonyms- guileless, unsophisticated, artless

Antonyms- artful, pretentious

• Laconic

Parts of Speech- adjective

Definition- using few words

Usage- The usually laconic leader gave a rousing speech in the Parliament.

Synonyms- terse, succinct

Antonyms- prolix, verbose

• Loquacious

Parts of Speech- Adjective

Definition- talkative

Usage- The loquacious team lead did all the talking never letting the other members to express their views.

Synonyms- garrulous, articulate

Antonyms- Taciturn. Reticent

• Laudable

Parts of Speech- adjective

Definition- worthy of praise

Usage- The media praised the laudable efforts taken by the government to control drug trafficking

Synonyms- commendable, meritorious

Antonyms- reprehensible, meritorious

• Meticulous

Parts of Speech- Adjective

Definition- very careful

Usage- The meticulous teacher planned her sessions and delivered them to the point.

Synonyms- Diligent, Scrupulous

Antonyms- cursory, negligent

• Oblivious

Parts of Speech- adjective

Definition- lacking remembrance, memory, or mindful attention

Usage- The thief entered the house, and the family was oblivious to his presence.

Synonyms- ignorant, unconscious

Antonyms- cognizant, acquainted

• Obdurate

Parts of Speech- adjective

Definition- stubbornly persistent, hardened in feelings

Usage- The obdurate old man refused the kids to play in front of his house.

Synonyms- ruthless, callous

Antonyms- pliant, amenable

• Pragmatic

Parts of Speech- Adjective

Definition- concerned with practical matters

Usage- His pragmatic view on health insurances comes from the long experience in the medical industry.

Synonyms- realistic, rational

Antonyms- idealistic, utopian

• Propriety

Parts of Speech- Noun

Definition- the quality of being proper

Usage- Though modest, Arianne had a high sense of propriety and conduct.

Synonyms- etiquette, decorum

Antonyms- vulgarity, crudeness

• Recalcitrant

Parts of Speech- Adjective

Definition- difficult to manage or operate

Usage- The doctor and nurses found it difficult to treat the recalcitrant patient as he was not ready to cooperate.

Synonyms- obstreperous, intractable

Antonyms- amiable, acquiescent

• Sanguine

Parts of Speech- adjective

Definition- marked by hopefulness, optimistic

Usage- The Opposition party is sanguine about winning the elections this time.

Synonyms- confident, assured

Antonyms- hesitant. Dubious

• Tumultuous

Parts of Speech- adjective

Definition- marked by sudden upheaval or turbulence

Usage- The tumultuous relationship between the husband and wife had a bad impact on their kids.

Synonyms- spasmodic, cataclysmic

Antonyms- tranquil. placid

• Venerate

Parts of Speech- verb

Definition- to regard with respect, to honor

Usage- Mother Teresa is venerated for her service to humanity.

Synonyms- revere, deify

Antonyms- desecrate, scorn

• Zeal

Parts of Speech – Noun

Definition- Enthusiasm, ardent interest

Usage- The old man’s zeal for life had a positive impact on everyone around him

Synonyms- fervor, passion, vigor

Antonyms- apathy, indolence.

Tips to remember the GRE words

1. Keep a list of new words- Have a journal in which you can put down the new GRE words that you come across during the preparation. Make a note of the meaning of the word and its usage in context.
2. Look for secondary meanings – Do not just stop with the first meaning you see in the dictionary. GRE may test you on secondary meanings too.
3. Prioritize learning words that get tested on the GRE- You need not learn every word that appears in the dictionary. Focus on the frequently tested words as they may appear on the test again.
4. Carry Flashcards – Make a few flashcards and carry them with you. You can use them while you are having a break or while you are travelling.
5. Use the new GRE words you have learnt – It is easy to remember a new word if you can use it while speaking or writing. If possible, write stories using the new words you have learnt.
6. Try to visualize the words- Make wild imaginations when you are learning the words. For instance, you can imagine a slow-moving tortoise when you try to remember the word torpor which means laziness.

Sources to prepare for the GRE vocabulary

1. Manya Wordsapp – This app has close to 1500 words categorized into Easy, Medium, and Advanced. Within each category the words are further divided into smaller lists. There are assessments at every level which helps you not just learn the words but also to memorize them as an when needed.
2. Princeton Review’s Hit parade – This list contains high frequency GRE words with meaning and usage.

Conclusion

This list has been prepared with due diligence and care to help the students prepare for the GRE test. One has to remember that GRE words do not come from any specific list. So, the best bet will be to familiarize oneself with the high-frequency word lists and try to learn the new words as you come across them.