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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 246–280 of 800
#WordDetailsMeaningSample sentence
246mundaneadjective
Study

Field: GRE words in context and precision

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

1. обыкнове́нный 2. земно́й 3. ску́чныйThe poet finds beauty in mundane routines.
247nebulousadjective
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Field: GRE words in context and precision

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

1. неопределённый 2. неотчётливый 3. нея́сныйThe candidate offered a nebulous plan with no timetable.
248nuancedadjective
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Field: GRE words in context and precision

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

1. глубокий 2. тщательныйHer nuanced argument recognizes benefits as well as risks.
249obscureverb
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Field: GRE words in context and precision

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

1. непоня́тный 2. нея́сный 3. туманныйTechnical jargon can obscure a simple idea.
250ostensibleadjective
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Field: GRE words in context and precision

Word study: Suffix focus: -ible means capable of, suitable for, or able to be affected.

формальныйThe meeting's ostensible purpose was planning, though everyone expected a vote.
251paradigmnoun
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Field: GRE words in context and precision

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

1. паради́гма 2. образе́ц 3. приме́рThe discovery challenged the prevailing paradigm in astronomy.
252paramountadjective
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Field: GRE words in context and precision

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

1. вы́сший 2. первостепе́нныйPatient safety is paramount during a clinical trial.
253partisanadjective
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Field: GRE words in context and precision

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

парти́йныйThe report avoids partisan language and presents evidence from both groups.
254perfunctoryadjective
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Field: GRE words in context and precision

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

1. небре́жный 2. пове́рхностный 3. машина́льныйThe inspector's perfunctory review missed a dangerous defect.
255peripheraladjective
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Field: GRE words in context and precision

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

вспомога́тельныйThe debate focused on a peripheral detail rather than the proposal itself.
256pragmaticadjective
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Field: GRE words in context and precision

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

1. практичный 2. прагматичный 3. практическийThe mayor adopted a pragmatic approach to the budget shortfall.
257precedentnoun
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Field: GRE words in context and precision

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

1. предше́ствующий 2. предыду́щий 3. прецеде́нтThe ruling established a precedent for protecting digital privacy.
258precipitateverb
Study

Field: GRE words in context and precision

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

1. ускорить 2. ускорятьThe bank's collapse could precipitate a wider financial crisis.
259precludeverb
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Field: GRE words in context and precision

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

1. исключать 2. мешать 3. предотвращатьA prior commitment may preclude her attendance.
260prescientadjective
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Field: GRE words in context and precision

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

дальновидныйThe author's prescient warning anticipated the later shortage.
261profoundadjective
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. глубо́кий 2. основательный 3. му́дрыйThe invention had a profound effect on daily communication.
262prolificadjective
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. плодови́тый 2. продукти́вныйThe prolific historian published more than twenty books.
263reconcileverb
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. помири́ть 2. помири́ться 3. примири́тьThe theory must reconcile the two apparently contradictory results.
264hermeticadjective
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. гермети́чный 2. герметичныйThe critic objected to the novel's hermetic world of private symbols.
265hierarchynoun
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

Word study: Root and suffix focus: -archy relates to rule, rank, or a governing system.

1. иера́рхия 2. иерархияThe organization replaced a rigid hierarchy with shared leadership.
266tenableadjective
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

разу́мныйThe explanation is no longer tenable after the new discovery.
267tentativeadjective
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. предположи́тельный 2. предвари́тельный 3. предполага́емыйThe committee reached a tentative agreement.
268underscoreverb
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. подчёркивать 2. подчеркну́тьThe outage will underscore the need for backup power.
269unequivocaladjective
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. недвусмы́сленный 2. однозначныйThe laboratory issued an unequivocal denial of data manipulation.
270viableadjective
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. возмо́жный 2. осуществи́мыйThe pilot study suggests that the method is viable.
271abnegationnoun
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

самоотрече́ниеHer abnegation of personal credit kept attention on the relief effort.
272abortiveadjective
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

недоразвитыйAn abortive rescue attempt ended when the weather worsened.
273abstinencenoun
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

воздержа́ниеMedical advice led him to choose abstinence from alcohol.
274acclimateverb
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

акклиматизи́роватьThe climbers paused to acclimate before ascending farther.
275accostverb
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. обраща́ться 2. загова́ривать 3. приставатьA reporter tried to accost the actor outside the courthouse.
276acerbicadjective
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. саркастический 2. язви́тельныйThe columnist's acerbic wit delighted some readers and offended others.
277acridadjective
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. о́стрый 2. ре́зкийAcrid smoke drifted from the burned warehouse.
278adherentnoun
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. приве́рженец 2. приве́рженка 3. сторо́нникEach adherent signed a pledge to defend peaceful protest.
279adulterateverb
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. разбавля́ть 2. подме́шиватьDishonest merchants would adulterate the spice with colored powder.
280adverseadjective
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

вражде́бныйThe medicine produced no serious adverse effects.

Vocabulary reading and practice

Page 8 vocabulary review

Review five selected words from page 8.

Vocabulary quiz

Choose the dictionary equivalent for each of 5 selected words.

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.