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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 386–420 of 800
#WordDetailsMeaningSample sentence
386embellishverb
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

掩盖The witness admitted that he had begun to embellish the story.
387eminentadjective
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

显赫的An eminent biologist chaired the independent review.
388encroachverb
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. 侵犯 2. 侵害 3. 侵入New construction began to encroach on the protected wetland.
389endemicadjective
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. 地方特有的 2. 地方性流行The disease is endemic to several tropical regions.
390enfranchiseverb
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

授予选举权The amendment helped enfranchise millions of citizens.
391entrenchedadjective
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

根深蒂固的The reform challenged entrenched patterns of discrimination.
392enumerateverb
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. 枚举 2. 列举The report will enumerate the costs before recommending a plan.
393euphemismnoun
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. 委婉語 2. 婉辭 3. 婉詞“Downsizing” can be a euphemism for eliminating jobs.
394evanescentadjective
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

消逝The rainbow's evanescent colors vanished within minutes.
395superficialadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

1. 表面的 2. 肤浅的A superficial comparison ignores important historical differences.
396exigentadjective
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. 緊急 2. 迫切 3. 急Exigent circumstances forced the hospital to open an emergency ward.
397exonerateverb
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

放DNA evidence may exonerate the convicted man.
398expedientadjective
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

便宜The shortcut was expedient, yet it undermined public trust.
399expoundverb
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. 闡述 2. 闡明The professor paused to expound the theory's central principle.
400extemporaneousadjective
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. 即興的 2. 不用講稿的 3. 自发Her extemporaneous remarks were more persuasive than the prepared speech.
401facetiousadjective
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

詼諧His facetious answer frustrated residents seeking real information.
402fatuousadjective
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

傻子The commentator's fatuous comparison ignored every relevant difference.
403ferventadjective
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

虔诚A fervent appeal persuaded donors to support the shelter.
404fiscaladjective
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

检察院The proposal combines environmental goals with fiscal restraint.
405flagrantadjective
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

公然的The referee penalized the flagrant violation immediately.
406floutverb
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. 公然 2. 藐視 3. 違背Factories that flout pollution limits face substantial fines.
407fomentverb
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

煽動False rumors helped foment unrest in the capital.
408forestallverb
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

先Early repairs may forestall a complete structural failure.
409formidableadjective
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

Word study: Suffix focus: -able means capable of, suitable for, or worthy of an action.

1. 可畏 2. 令人生畏的The mountain presented a formidable challenge to the rescue team.
410furtiveadjective
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

鬼鬼祟祟A furtive exchange in the hallway drew the guard's attention.
411gainsayverb
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

否定No reliable witness could gainsay the engineer's account.
412gaucheadjective
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

粗魯的His gauche joke offended guests at the memorial.
413grandiloquentadjective
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

夸夸其谈The proposal's grandiloquent promises concealed a modest plan.
414grandioseadjective
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

宏伟的The committee rejected a grandiose project that the town could not afford.
415gratifyverb
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. 使/讓(……)高興 2. 满足The strong response will gratify organizers who feared public indifference.
416guilenoun
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

騙局The fraudster relied on guile rather than force.
417hallowedadjective
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

神圣的The ceremony took place in a hallowed hall of learning.
418harbingernoun
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

前兆The first migrating birds are a harbinger of spring.
419hedonismnoun
Study

Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

享樂主義The novel contrasts hedonism with a life of public service.
420hegemonynoun
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Field: GRE evidence and rhetorical analysis

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

1. 霸權 2. 領導權The empire maintained regional hegemony through trade and military power.

Vocabulary reading and practice

Page 12 vocabulary review

Review five selected words from page 12.

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.