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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| # | Word | Details | Meaning | Sample sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 526 | amenable | adjective StudyField: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Suffix focus: -able means capable of, suitable for, or worthy of an action. | 1. 수용적인 2. 기꺼이 동의하는 | The board was amenable to a compromise supported by both groups. |
| 527 | antipathy | noun StudyField: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Prefix focus: anti- means against or opposed to. | 반감 | Her antipathy toward dishonesty shaped every hiring decision. |
| 528 | astute | adjective StudyField: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Base-form focus: astute is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 기민한 | An astute editor recognized the argument's hidden assumption. |
| 529 | circumvent | verb StudyField: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Base-form focus: circumvent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 우회하다 | The company tried to circumvent the ban by changing the product's name. |
| 530 | intermittent | adjective StudyField: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Base-form focus: intermittent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 간헐적인 | Intermittent rain delayed the excavation throughout the week. |
| 531 | nominal | adjective StudyField: GRE transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Base-form focus: nominal is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 명목상의 2. 이름뿐인 | She remained the nominal leader while advisers made every decision. |
| 532 | nostalgia | noun StudyField: GRE transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Base-form focus: nostalgia is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 향수(鄕愁) 2. 노스탤지어 3. 회향(懷鄕) | The advertisement uses nostalgia to sell a modern product. |
| 533 | novel | adjective StudyField: GRE transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Base-form focus: novel is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 기발 | The researchers proposed a novel method of filtering seawater. |
| 534 | noxious | adjective StudyField: GRE transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 유해한 | The factory released noxious fumes into the valley. |
| 535 | obdurate | adjective StudyField: GRE transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Base-form focus: obdurate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 완고한 | The obdurate ruler rejected every appeal for mercy. |
| 536 | redistribute | verb StudyField: GRE science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: redistribute is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 재분배 | The tax is designed to redistribute some wealth toward public services. |
| 537 | oblique | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: oblique is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 간접적인 2. 에두른 | Her oblique reference to the scandal puzzled new readers. |
| 538 | obsequious | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 아첨하는 | The manager's obsequious praise made the visiting official uncomfortable. |
| 539 | obstinate | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: obstinate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 완고하다 | The obstinate negotiator ignored every compromise. |
| 540 | obviate | verb StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: obviate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 제거하다 | Remote sensors may obviate the need for daily site visits. |
| 541 | occlude | verb StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: occlude is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 막다 | A blood clot can occlude a narrow artery. |
| 542 | odious | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: odious is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 추악한 | The law's odious discrimination provoked widespread resistance. |
| 543 | officious | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 참견 잘하는 | An officious clerk demanded forms that the policy did not require. |
| 544 | onerous | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 번거로운 | Small charities struggled with the onerous reporting rules. |
| 545 | opulent | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: opulent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 호화로운 2. 사치스러운 | The ruler's opulent palace contrasted with nearby hunger. |
| 546 | orthodox | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: orthodox is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 전통적인 | The discovery challenged the orthodox explanation of migration. |
| 547 | oscillate | verb StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: oscillate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 진동하다 | Public opinion may oscillate as new evidence appears. |
| 548 | ostentatious | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 허식적인 | The donor avoided an ostentatious ceremony. |
| 549 | ostracize | verb StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ize commonly forms a verb meaning to make, become, or apply. | 따돌리다 | Classmates began to ostracize anyone who questioned the rumor. |
| 550 | pacify | verb StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: pacify is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 진정시키다 | The agreement failed to pacify communities that lacked representation. |
| 551 | palliative | noun StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: palliative is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 완화(緩和) | The subsidy was a temporary palliative, not an economic solution. |
| 552 | panacea | noun StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: panacea is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 만병통치약(萬病通治藥) | Technology is not a panacea for unequal access to education. |
| 553 | paradigmatic | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: paradigmatic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 전형적인 2. 대표 사례가 되는 | The case became paradigmatic of failures in corporate oversight. |
| 554 | parody | noun StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: parody is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 패러디 2. 희화 3. 개사 | The sketch is a parody of solemn campaign advertisements. |
| 555 | patent | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: patent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 명백한 2. 뻔한 | The claim's patent absurdity drew immediate criticism. |
| 556 | pedantic | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: pedantic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 현학적인 | The pedantic review corrected commas but ignored the argument. |
| 557 | penchant | noun StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: penchant is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 강한 기호 2. 특별히 좋아하는 경향 | The director has a penchant for adapting obscure novels. |
| 558 | penitent | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: penitent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 참회하는 | The penitent official returned the money and resigned. |
| 559 | perennial | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: perennial is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 다년생 | Water access remains a perennial concern in the region. |
| 560 | perfidious | adjective StudyField: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 1. 배신적인 2. 불성실한 | The allies condemned the secret agreement as perfidious. |
Vocabulary reading and practice
A Difficult Negotiation
Reading practice for pages 16–18. Five relevant words are highlighted.
English reading
Months of intermittent talks had produced more antipathy than progress. An astute mediator noticed that both sides feared the same supply shortage, although neither had said so directly. She refused to circumvent the disputed issue; instead, she divided it into smaller decisions with clear deadlines. Neither delegation welcomed every condition, but both became more amenable to compromise because the agreement protected their most important interests.
Korean translation
몇 달 동안 간헐적으로 이어진 협상은 진전보다 더 큰 반감을 낳았다. 기민한 중재자는 양측 모두 같은 공급 부족을 두려워하고 있지만 어느 쪽도 직접 말하지 않았다는 점을 알아차렸다. 그는 쟁점을 우회하지 않고, 명확한 기한을 둔 작은 결정들로 나누었다. 어느 대표단도 모든 조건을 반기지는 않았지만, 합의가 가장 중요한 이익을 보호했기 때문에 타협에 더 수용적인 태도를 보였다.
Reading comprehension
1. What common concern does the mediator identify?
She identifies a shared fear of a supply shortage.
2. How does she handle the disputed issue?
She divides it into smaller decisions instead of trying to circumvent it.
3. Why do both delegations become more amenable to compromise?
The agreement protects their most important interests.
Vocabulary quiz
Choose the dictionary equivalent for each of 5 selected words.
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.
Sources and curriculum references
These references guide selection and calibration. Definitions, sample sentences, readings, questions, and teaching notes are independently written and reviewed.
- ETS: GRE General Test Verbal Reasoning Overview
- Magoosh: GRE Vocabulary eBook
- Kaplan Test Prep: Top 52 GRE Vocabulary Words
- Kaplan Test Prep: 48 More GRE Vocabulary Words
- Magoosh: Free GRE Vocabulary Flashcards
- Vocabulary.com: 900+ Essential GRE Words
- Reddit r/GRE: community 2,000-word cross-check
- WikDict downloadable bilingual dictionaries
- Kaikki.org / Wiktextract machine-readable Wiktionary data
- Language-Learning-decks public flashcard datasets
- SBBIC English-to-Khmer Dictionary
- English–Khmer Dictionary Dataset (machine-generated Khmer fallback; human review required)
- PanLex meanings snapshot (direct CC0 gap candidates; human review required)
- Cambridge bilingual dictionaries (individual editorial sense checks)
- Collins English–Hindi Dictionary (individual editorial checks)
- Hindwi and Rekhta dictionaries (individual Hindi/Urdu checks)
- National Institute of Korean Language: Basic Korean Dictionary
- JMdict/EDRDG Japanese dictionary project
- CC-CEDICT Chinese dictionary project
- VDict Vietnamese Dictionary (individual editorial check)
- Google Translate (machine-assisted lesson-reading draft; fluent review required)
- Kuperman et al.: Age-of-acquisition ratings for 30,000 English words

