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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.

having many different features or aspectsPoverty 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.

temporary and subject to later confirmationThe 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.

to make something unclear or difficult to understandDense 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.

extremely unwilling to spend resourcesThe 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.

to voluntarily give up control or possessionThe 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.

the capture and long-term storage of somethingForest conservation supports carbon sequestration.
742stratifyverb
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Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

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

to arrange or divide into layers or social levelsUnequal access can stratify a society by wealth.
743subsistencenoun
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Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

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

the minimum resources needed to remain aliveThe family relied on subsistence farming.
744symbioticadjective
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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.

involving a close relationship that benefits both organismsThe fungi and tree roots form a symbiotic partnership.
745systemicadjective
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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.

affecting an entire system rather than one partThe audit identified systemic failures in oversight.
746thresholdnoun
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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.

the point at which an effect begins or a condition changesThe signal must cross a threshold before the alarm sounds.
747trajectorynoun
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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.

the path of movement or course of developmentThe policy changed the city's economic trajectory.
748viscositynoun
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Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

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

a fluid's resistance to flowingCooling increases the oil's viscosity.
749abrogateverb
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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.

to formally cancel or end a law or agreementThe legislature voted to abrogate the outdated treaty.
750acquisitiveadjective
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Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

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

eager to gain possessions or wealthThe satire mocks an acquisitive society that measures worth by ownership.
751adventitiousadjective
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Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

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

arising by chance rather than as an essential partAn adventitious discovery redirected the entire investigation.
752appriseverb
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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.

to inform someone about a situationThe attorney promised to apprise the family of every development.
753arrogateverb
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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.

to claim authority or a right without justificationThe governor cannot arrogate powers reserved for the courts.
754atonementnoun
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Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

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

an action that makes amends for wrongdoingHis public service became an attempt at atonement.
755attenuationnoun
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Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

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

a reduction in strength, force, or intensityThe wall produced measurable attenuation of the sound.
756bifurcateverb
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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.

to divide into two branches or partsThe 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.

to introduce a sensitive subject for discussionShe waited until dinner ended to broach the funding dispute.
758buttressverb
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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.

to strengthen or support an argument or structureThe newly found letters buttress the historian's interpretation.
759cadgeverb
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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.

to obtain something by persistent asking rather than paymentThe traveler tried to cadge a meal from the innkeeper.
760capitulationnoun
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Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

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

the act of surrendering or yieldingThe treaty marked the army's complete capitulation.
761cogitateverb
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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.

to think deeply and carefullyThe philosopher would cogitate for hours before writing a paragraph.
762complicitynoun
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Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

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

involvement in or responsibility for wrongdoingThe documents revealed the bank's complicity in the fraud.
763concordnoun
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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.

peaceful agreement or harmonyThe settlement restored a measure of concord between the communities.
764conduitnoun
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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.

a channel through which something passesThe river served as a conduit for trade and ideas.
765conundrumnoun
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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.

a difficult and confusing problemThe need for growth without more pollution presents a conundrum.
766corporealadjective
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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.

related to the physical body rather than the spiritThe poem contrasts corporeal desire with spiritual aspiration.
767cossetverb
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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.

to protect or indulge someone excessivelyThe program should support students without trying to cosset them.
768dauntverb
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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.

to make someone feel intimidated or discouragedThe scale of the archive did not daunt the researcher.
769denouementnoun
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Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

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

the final resolution of a story's plotThe mystery's denouement reveals why the witness lied.
770depredationnoun
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Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

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

damage caused by attack, plunder, or destructive useThe 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.

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.