English Vocabulary · GRE Live Review Preview

GRE Vocabulary Words

The GRE Verbal Reasoning measure asks test takers to understand and evaluate written material, analyze relationships among ideas, and use evidence within a sentence or passage. Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence all reward careful attention to connotation, contrast, logic, and precise word choice—not isolated memorization alone.

This independently authored 800-word beta curriculum prioritizes vocabulary identified in Magoosh’s official public GRE vocabulary ebook, then draws on advanced KSSR entries that have already passed English safety and structure audits. Additional official and public GRE references guide test alignment and editorial review. Overlap with SAT and advanced school-level vocabulary is intentional because the tests share academic language. Pages containing words 1–500 include five cloze questions; every word remains visible, editable in Vocabulary Studio, and available for private difficult/learned tracking. This unofficial resource is not endorsed by or affiliated with ETS.

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Words 1–35 of 800
#	Word	Details	Meaning	Sample sentence
1	advocate	verb Study Field: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Base-form focus: advocate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	to publicly support a cause or policy	Several physicians advocate earlier screening for the disease.
2	aesthetic	adjective Study Field: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Base-form focus: aesthetic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	concerned with beauty or artistic effect	The architect balanced aesthetic goals with practical safety needs.
3	alleviate	verb Study Field: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Base-form focus: alleviate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	to make pain or a problem less severe	Shade trees can alleviate extreme heat on city streets.
4	paucity	noun Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ity commonly forms a noun naming a quality, state, or condition.	a shortage or small amount	A paucity of evidence makes the conclusion uncertain.
5	contrite	adjective Study Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: contrite is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	sincerely sorry for wrongdoing	The contrite official apologized and returned the misused funds.
6	laconic	adjective Study Field: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Base-form focus: laconic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	using very few words	His laconic reply revealed nothing about his intentions.
7	pugnacious	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by.	eager to argue or fight	The pugnacious spokesperson turned every interview into a confrontation.
8	disparate	adjective Study Field: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Base-form focus: disparate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	fundamentally different and difficult to compare	The essay connects disparate examples through one central idea.
9	egregious	adjective Study Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by.	outstandingly bad or shocking	The audit uncovered an egregious misuse of public money.
10	innocuous	adjective Study Field: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by.	harmless and unlikely to offend	The innocuous question unexpectedly revealed a deeper disagreement.
11	candid	adjective Study Field: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Base-form focus: candid is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	honest and direct, even when the truth is uncomfortable	Her candid assessment revealed serious flaws in the project.
12	erratic	adjective Study Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: erratic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	unpredictable and lacking a consistent pattern	Erratic rainfall made planting decisions difficult.
13	extant	adjective Study Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: extant is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	still existing, especially when most examples have disappeared	Only three extant copies of the map are known.
14	contentious	adjective Study Field: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by.	likely to cause disagreement or argument	Housing policy became the election's most contentious issue.
15	auspicious	adjective Study Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by.	suggesting favorable future results	A peaceful transfer of power was an auspicious beginning.
16	enervate	verb Study Field: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Base-form focus: enervate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	to drain someone of energy or strength	Weeks of extreme heat can enervate even experienced fieldworkers.
17	ambivalent	adjective Study Field: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Base-form focus: ambivalent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	having conflicting feelings about something	She felt ambivalent about leaving home for a distant university.
18	sedulous	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by.	showing steady and careful effort	Through sedulous research, she reconstructed the lost manuscript.
19	galvanize	verb Study Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Suffix focus: -ize commonly forms a verb meaning to make, become, or apply.	to spur someone into taking action	The shocking images helped galvanize public support for reform.
20	hedge	verb Study Field: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Base-form focus: hedge is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	to limit or soften a claim to avoid overstatement	Careful scientists hedge conclusions when the sample is small.
21	qualify	verb Study Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Suffix focus: -ify commonly forms a verb meaning to make or become.	to limit a statement by adding conditions or exceptions	The researcher must qualify the conclusion because the sample was small.
22	zeitgeist	noun Study Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Suffix focus: -ist often names a person associated with a field, belief, or practice.	the dominant ideas and mood of a historical period	The novel captures the anxious zeitgeist of the decade.
23	demur	verb Study Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: demur is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	to raise an objection or show reluctance	Two members began to demur when the vote was rushed.
24	hector	verb Study Field: Grade 11 precise interdisciplinary word Word study: Base-form focus: hector is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	to bully or intimidate through forceful speech	The supervisor tried to hector employees into unpaid overtime.
25	quixotic	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: quixotic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	idealistic in a way that is impractical	The plan to end all traffic within a week was quixotic.
26	malapropism	noun Study Field: Grade 9 literature, rhetoric, and language term Word study: Suffix focus: -ism often names a belief, system, movement, or practice.	the humorous mistaken use of a word that sounds similar to the intended one	Saying “dance a flamingo” instead of “dance a flamenco” is a malapropism.
27	byzantine	adjective Study Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: byzantine is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	excessively complicated and difficult to navigate	Applicants struggled with the agency's byzantine rules.
28	supercilious	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by.	behaving as though one is superior to others	The critic's supercilious tone alienated ordinary readers.
29	mercurial	adjective Study Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: mercurial is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	changing mood or behavior suddenly and unpredictably	The mercurial director praised the plan one day and rejected it the next.
30	bilious	adjective Study Field: Grade 11 precise interdisciplinary word Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by.	bad-tempered, unpleasant, or nauseated	The bilious columnist attacked every proposal without offering an alternative.
31	choleric	adjective Study Field: Grade 10 precise high-utility word Word study: Base-form focus: choleric is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	easily angered and habitually irritable	The choleric supervisor responded to small delays with disproportionate fury.
32	sanguine	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: sanguine is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	optimistic, especially in a difficult situation	Analysts remain sanguine about the economy's long-term prospects.
33	parochial	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: parochial is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	narrowly limited to local concerns or viewpoints	A parochial approach ignored the river's importance across borders.
34	catholic	adjective Study Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis Word study: Base-form focus: catholic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	broad and inclusive in interests or sympathies	Her catholic taste in music ranged from opera to electronic dance.
35	iconoclast	noun Study Field: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Base-form focus: iconoclast is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	a person who challenges established beliefs or traditions	The composer became an iconoclast by rejecting every accepted form.

Vocabulary reading and practice

A Design Worth Defending

Reading practice for pages 1–3. Five relevant words are highlighted.

English reading

The museum’s spare aesthetic divided visitors on opening night. One architect chose to advocate for the design, explaining that the quiet rooms directed attention toward the art. Her explanation helped alleviate some concerns, but several guests remained ambivalent: they admired the clarity yet missed the warmth of the old galleries. By the end of the week, the sharpest criticism began to abate as visitors spent more time with the exhibition.

Reading comprehension

1. Why does the architect defend the design?

She says the quiet rooms direct attention toward the art.

2. Why are some visitors ambivalent?

They value the clarity but miss the warmth of the old galleries.

3. What happens to the criticism by the end of the week?

The sharpest criticism begins to abate.

Vocabulary quiz

Complete 5 review questions for this page.

1. Several physicians _____ earlier screening for the disease.

Answer: advocate

2. The architect balanced _____ goals with practical safety needs.

Answer: aesthetic

3. Shade trees can _____ extreme heat on city streets.

Answer: alleviate

4. A _____ of evidence makes the conclusion uncertain.

Answer: paucity

5. The _____ official apologized and returned the misused funds.

Answer: contrite

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About GRE Verbal Reasoning

The GRE Verbal Reasoning measure examines how well test takers understand and evaluate written material, recognize relationships among words and concepts, and analyze how parts of a sentence work together. Its three principal verbal question types are Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence.

Vocabulary matters on the GRE, but memorizing a definition is only the beginning. Strong preparation also connects each word to its connotation, common contrasts, near-synonyms, and role in an argument. Use the examples, readings, and quizzes here to practise choosing words from evidence in the sentence, then use official ETS material to learn the precise test format.

ETS test overview

Sources and curriculum references

These references guide selection and calibration. Definitions, sample sentences, readings, questions, and teaching notes are independently written and reviewed.

GRE Vocabulary Words

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A Design Worth Defending

English reading

Translation

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