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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Words 526–560 of 800
#	Word	Details	Meaning	Sample sentence
526	amenable	adjective Study Field: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Suffix focus: -able means capable of, suitable for, or worthy of an action.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The board was amenable to a compromise supported by both groups.
527	antipathy	noun Study Field: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Prefix focus: anti- means against or opposed to.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	Her antipathy toward dishonesty shaped every hiring decision.
528	astute	adjective Study Field: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Base-form focus: astute is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	An astute editor recognized the argument's hidden assumption.
529	circumvent	verb Study Field: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Base-form focus: circumvent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The company tried to circumvent the ban by changing the product's name.
530	intermittent	adjective Study Field: GRE words in context and precision Word study: Base-form focus: intermittent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	Intermittent rain delayed the excavation throughout the week.
531	nominal	adjective Study Field: GRE transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Base-form focus: nominal is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	She remained the nominal leader while advisers made every decision.
532	nostalgia	noun Study Field: GRE transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Base-form focus: nostalgia is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The advertisement uses nostalgia to sell a modern product.
533	novel	adjective Study Field: GRE transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Base-form focus: novel is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The researchers proposed a novel method of filtering seawater.
534	noxious	adjective Study Field: GRE transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The factory released noxious fumes into the valley.
535	obdurate	adjective Study Field: GRE transitions and expression of ideas Word study: Base-form focus: obdurate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The obdurate ruler rejected every appeal for mercy.
536	redistribute	verb Study Field: GRE science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: redistribute is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The tax is designed to redistribute some wealth toward public services.
537	oblique	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: oblique is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	Her oblique reference to the scandal puzzled new readers.
538	obsequious	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The manager's obsequious praise made the visiting official uncomfortable.
539	obstinate	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: obstinate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The obstinate negotiator ignored every compromise.
540	obviate	verb Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: obviate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	Remote sensors may obviate the need for daily site visits.
541	occlude	verb Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: occlude is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	A blood clot can occlude a narrow artery.
542	odious	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: odious is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The law's odious discrimination provoked widespread resistance.
543	officious	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	An officious clerk demanded forms that the policy did not require.
544	onerous	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	Small charities struggled with the onerous reporting rules.
545	opulent	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: opulent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The ruler's opulent palace contrasted with nearby hunger.
546	orthodox	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: orthodox is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The discovery challenged the orthodox explanation of migration.
547	oscillate	verb Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: oscillate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	Public opinion may oscillate as new evidence appears.
548	ostentatious	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The donor avoided an ostentatious ceremony.
549	ostracize	verb Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ize commonly forms a verb meaning to make, become, or apply.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	Classmates began to ostracize anyone who questioned the rumor.
550	pacify	verb Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: pacify is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The agreement failed to pacify communities that lacked representation.
551	palliative	noun Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: palliative is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The subsidy was a temporary palliative, not an economic solution.
552	panacea	noun Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: panacea is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	Technology is not a panacea for unequal access to education.
553	paradigmatic	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: paradigmatic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The case became paradigmatic of failures in corporate oversight.
554	parody	noun Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: parody is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The sketch is a parody of solemn campaign advertisements.
555	patent	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: patent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The claim's patent absurdity drew immediate criticism.
556	pedantic	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: pedantic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The pedantic review corrected commas but ignored the argument.
557	penchant	noun Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: penchant is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The director has a penchant for adapting obscure novels.
558	penitent	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: penitent is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	The penitent official returned the money and resigned.
559	perennial	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Base-form focus: perennial is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	Water access remains a perennial concern in the region.
560	perfidious	adjective Study Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by.	Reviewed Cantonese equivalent not yet available.	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.

Cantonese translation

斷斷續續嘅會談持續咗幾個月，帶來嘅敵意多過進展。一位精明嘅調解人察覺到，雙方都害怕同樣嘅供應短缺，雖然兩邊都冇直接講出嚟。她拒絕迴避有爭議嘅問題；相反，她將問題拆分成較細嘅決定，每項都有清晰嘅期限。兩個代表團都唔歡迎每一項條件，但由於協議保障咗佢哋最重要嘅利益，雙方都變得更願意妥協。

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.

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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.

GRE Vocabulary Words

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A Difficult Negotiation

English reading

Cantonese translation

Reading comprehension

Vocabulary quiz

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