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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 561–595 of 800
#WordDetailsMeaningSample sentence
561peripateticadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

1. itinérant 2. nomade 3. péripatétiqueThe peripatetic lecturer spoke at universities on three continents.
562perniciousadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

1. nocif 2. malsain 3. pernicieuxThe report documents the pernicious effects of housing discrimination.
563perpetuateverb
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

1. perpétuer 2. pérenniserBiased data can perpetuate unfair decisions.
564pertinentadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

pertinentThe judge allowed only pertinent testimony.
565pervasiveadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

1. pénétrant 2. envahissantA pervasive odor indicated contamination throughout the building.
566petulantadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

1. irascible 2. pétulantThe minister's petulant response intensified the criticism.
567philanthropynoun
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

philanthropieHer philanthropy supported clinics and public libraries.
568philistinenoun
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

1. philistin 2. béotien 3. béotienneThe critic unfairly called every popular reader a philistine.
569pietynoun
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

piétéThe portrait presents the queen as a model of piety.
570placateverb
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

1. apaiser 2. calmerOfficials offered refunds to placate frustrated travelers.
571plasticitynoun
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

plasticitéBrain plasticity allows learning to alter neural pathways.
572platitudenoun
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

platitudeThe speech offered a platitude instead of a concrete policy.
573plethoranoun
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

pléthoreThe archive contains a plethora of letters but few financial records.
574poignantadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

attendrissantThe empty shoes form a poignant memorial.
575polemicaladjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

polémiqueThe author's polemical tone leaves little room for uncertainty.
576pragmatismnoun
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

Word study: Suffix focus: -ism often names a belief, system, movement, or practice.

pragmatismeFiscal pressure encouraged pragmatism over ideological purity.
577precipitousadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

1. abrupt 2. escarpé 3. raideThe company experienced a precipitous decline in sales.
578predilectionnoun
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

prédilectionThe editor's predilection for short essays shaped the journal.
579presumptuousadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

1. présomptueux 2. outrecuidantIt was presumptuous to announce the decision before the board voted.
580prodigiousadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

prodigieuxThe scholar possessed a prodigious memory for dates.
581proliferateverb
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

proliférerUnverified reports began to proliferate online.
582propensitynoun
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

1. propension 2. tendanceThe material has a propensity to crack in extreme cold.
583propitiousadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

1. favorable 2. propiceCalm weather made the morning propitious for launch.
584proponentnoun
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

1. partisan 2. avocatA leading proponent of the reform addressed the committee.
585proprietynoun
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

1. décence 2. bienséance 3. bonnes manièresThe inquiry questioned the propriety of accepting expensive gifts.
586proscribeverb
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

1. interdire 2. proscrire 3. prohiberThe treaty will proscribe the use of certain weapons.
587proselytizeverb
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

prosélytiserThe organization may inform visitors but cannot proselytize in the school.
588provincialadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

provincialThe narrator initially holds a provincial view of the wider world.
589proportionaladjective
Study

Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary

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

proportionnelFuel use is roughly proportional to distance traveled.
590heresynoun
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

hérésieAt the time, questioning the model was treated as scientific heresy.
591punctiliousadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

pointilleuxThe punctilious diplomat observed every protocol.
592quandarynoun
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

1. embarras 2. perplexité 3. incertitudeConflicting duties left the physician in a moral quandary.
593querulousadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

ronchonThe querulous narrator finds fault with every neighbor.
594rancornoun
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

rancuneThe agreement ended the lawsuit but not the rancor.
595rarefiedadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

raréfiéThe article brings rarefied theory into public discussion.

Vocabulary chart page

This page focuses on the word chart. Reading passages appear once in each three-page group, while cloze quizzes remain in the established enhanced range for this level.

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.