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GRE Vocabulary Words

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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800 words
Words 736–770 of 800
#WordDetailsMeaningSample sentence
736multifacetedadjective
Study

Field: GRE transitions and expression of ideas

Word study: Prefix focus: multi- means many.

facettenreichPoverty is a multifaceted problem requiring more than one solution.
737provisionaladjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

Word study: Base-form focus: provisional is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. provisorisch 2. vorläufigThe committee issued a provisional schedule.
738obfuscateverb
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

Word study: Base-form focus: obfuscate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. verdunkeln 2. verschleiernDense terminology can obfuscate a weak argument.
739parsimoniousadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by.

1. geizig 2. karg 3. sparsamThe parsimonious board delayed necessary repairs.
740relinquishverb
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

Word study: Base-form focus: relinquish is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. aufgeben 2. abtretenThe ruler refused to relinquish emergency powers.
741sequestrationnoun
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Suffix focus: -ation commonly forms a noun naming an action, process, or result.

BeschlagnahmungForest conservation supports carbon sequestration.
742stratifyverb
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Suffix focus: -ify commonly forms a verb meaning to make or become.

(in Schichten) aufschlüsselnUnequal access can stratify a society by wealth.
743subsistencenoun
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Suffix focus: -ence commonly forms a noun naming an action, quality, or state.

1. Auskommen 2. LebensunterhaltThe family relied on subsistence farming.
744symbioticadjective
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: symbiotic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

symbiotischThe fungi and tree roots form a symbiotic partnership.
745systemicadjective
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: systemic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. systemisch 2. System- 3. SystemThe audit identified systemic failures in oversight.
746thresholdnoun
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: threshold is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

SchwelleThe signal must cross a threshold before the alarm sounds.
747trajectorynoun
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: trajectory is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

EntwicklungsverlaufThe policy changed the city's economic trajectory.
748viscositynoun
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Suffix focus: -ity commonly forms a noun naming a quality, state, or condition.

ViskositätCooling increases the oil's viscosity.
749abrogateverb
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: abrogate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. zunichte machen 2. aufheben 3. rückgängig machenThe legislature voted to abrogate the outdated treaty.
750acquisitiveadjective
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Suffix focus: -ive commonly forms an adjective meaning having a quality or tendency.

besitzgierigThe satire mocks an acquisitive society that measures worth by ownership.
751adventitiousadjective
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by.

UnkrautAn adventitious discovery redirected the entire investigation.
752appriseverb
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: apprise is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. benachrichtigen 2. in Kenntnis setzenThe attorney promised to apprise the family of every development.
753arrogateverb
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: arrogate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

an sich reißenThe governor cannot arrogate powers reserved for the courts.
754atonementnoun
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Suffix focus: -ment commonly forms a noun for an action, process, state, or result.

1. Wiedergutmachung 2. Sühneleistung 3. SühneHis public service became an attempt at atonement.
755attenuationnoun
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Suffix focus: -ation commonly forms a noun naming an action, process, or result.

VerminderungThe wall produced measurable attenuation of the sound.
756bifurcateverb
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: bifurcate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

zweizackigThe trail will bifurcate near the ridge.
757broachverb
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: broach is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. ansprechen 2. aufbringenShe waited until dinner ended to broach the funding dispute.
758buttressverb
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: buttress is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. Stützpfeiler 2. Strebepfeiler 3. GewölbepfeilerThe newly found letters buttress the historian's interpretation.
759cadgeverb
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: cadge is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

schnorrenThe traveler tried to cadge a meal from the innkeeper.
760capitulationnoun
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Suffix focus: -ation commonly forms a noun naming an action, process, or result.

KapitulationThe treaty marked the army's complete capitulation.
761cogitateverb
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: cogitate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

nachdenkenThe philosopher would cogitate for hours before writing a paragraph.
762complicitynoun
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Suffix focus: -ity commonly forms a noun naming a quality, state, or condition.

1. Mitschuld 2. Komplizenschaft 3. KomplizitätThe documents revealed the bank's complicity in the fraud.
763concordnoun
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: concord is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. Eintracht 2. ÜbereinstimmungThe settlement restored a measure of concord between the communities.
764conduitnoun
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: conduit is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. Kanal 2. Leitung 3. LeitungsrohrThe river served as a conduit for trade and ideas.
765conundrumnoun
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: conundrum is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. Rätsel 2. Scherzfrage 3. FrageThe need for growth without more pollution presents a conundrum.
766corporealadjective
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: corporeal is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

materiellThe poem contrasts corporeal desire with spiritual aspiration.
767cossetverb
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: cosset is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

1. verhätscheln 2. verwöhnenThe program should support students without trying to cosset them.
768dauntverb
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Base-form focus: daunt is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.

überwältigenThe scale of the archive did not daunt the researcher.
769denouementnoun
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Suffix focus: -ment commonly forms a noun for an action, process, state, or result.

AuflösungThe mystery's denouement reveals why the witness lied.
770depredationnoun
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

Word study: Suffix focus: -ation commonly forms a noun naming an action, process, or result.

AnflugThe forest still bears signs of wartime depredation.

Vocabulary reading and practice

The Cost of an Unclear Contract

Reading practice for pages 22–23. Five relevant words are highlighted.

English reading

A small publisher received a provisional distribution offer, but the contract was unusually multifaceted. Its repeated cross-references seemed designed to obfuscate the true royalty rate. The distributor also proved parsimonious about production support while demanding broad control over future editions. After legal review, the publisher refused to relinquish those rights. Walking away sacrificed immediate income, but it preserved the freedom to negotiate a clearer and fairer agreement.

German translation

Ein kleiner Verlag erhielt ein vorläufiges Vertriebsangebot, doch der Vertrag war ungewöhnlich vielschichtig. Seine wiederholten Querverweise schienen darauf ausgelegt zu sein, den tatsächlichen Lizenzsatz zu verschleiern. Der Vertriebspartner erwies sich zudem als knauserig bei der Produktionsunterstützung, während er umfassende Kontrolle über künftige Ausgaben verlangte. Nach rechtlicher Prüfung weigerte sich der Verlag, diese Rechte aufzugeben. Der Verzicht bedeutete den Verlust unmittelbarer Einnahmen, bewahrte jedoch die Freiheit, eine klarere und gerechtere Vereinbarung auszuhandeln.

Reading comprehension

1. Why is the provisional offer difficult to evaluate?

The contract is multifaceted and appears to obfuscate the true royalty rate.

2. In what way is the distributor parsimonious?

The distributor offers very little production support.

3. What does the publisher refuse to relinquish?

The publisher refuses to relinquish control over future editions.

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.