people sitting in a library

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.

Open the basic text version — works without JavaScript and is suitable for printing.

Your private study tools

Track your learning with My Vocabulary

Use the three small controls beside any word. Your choices stay attached to your account and appear in your My Vocabulary record.

  • Star a difficult word to practise it again.
  • Check a word when you have learned it.
  • Add a note with a memory clue, synonym, or reminder.

These controls work during your free visits and save privately on this browser. Sign in to move them into your account’s My Vocabulary record.

Printable study sheet

Create a PDF worksheet

Choose any start-to-end page range and meaning language, then include or omit each practice section.

Include practice sections
800 words
Words 526–560 of 800
#WordDetailsMeaningSample sentence
526amenableadjective
Study

Field: GRE words in context and precision

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

平易近人The board was amenable to a compromise supported by both groups.
527antipathynoun
Study

Field: GRE words in context and precision

Word study: Prefix focus: anti- means against or opposed to.

反感Her antipathy toward dishonesty shaped every hiring decision.
528astuteadjective
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.

精明An astute editor recognized the argument's hidden assumption.
529circumventverb
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.

1. 規避 2. 避免The company tried to circumvent the ban by changing the product's name.
530intermittentadjective
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.

1. 斷斷續續 2. 散乱Intermittent rain delayed the excavation throughout the week.
531nominaladjective
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.

命名的She remained the nominal leader while advisers made every decision.
532nostalgianoun
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.

1. 懷舊 2. 懷古 3. 怀旧The advertisement uses nostalgia to sell a modern product.
533noveladjective
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.

1. 新穎 2. 小說 3. 小说The researchers proposed a novel method of filtering seawater.
534noxiousadjective
Study

Field: GRE transitions and expression of ideas

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

有害的The factory released noxious fumes into the valley.
535obdurateadjective
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.

顽固的The obdurate ruler rejected every appeal for mercy.
536redistributeverb
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.

重新分配The tax is designed to redistribute some wealth toward public services.
537obliqueadjective
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.

1. 斜 2. 偏斜Her oblique reference to the scandal puzzled new readers.
538obsequiousadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

服从The manager's obsequious praise made the visiting official uncomfortable.
539obstinateadjective
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.

1. 頑固 2. 顽固的The obstinate negotiator ignored every compromise.
540obviateverb
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.

消除Remote sensors may obviate the need for daily site visits.
541occludeverb
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.

遮挡A blood clot can occlude a narrow artery.
542odiousadjective
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.

可憎的The law's odious discrimination provoked widespread resistance.
543officiousadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

多管闲事的An officious clerk demanded forms that the policy did not require.
544onerousadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

力Small charities struggled with the onerous reporting rules.
545opulentadjective
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.

闊綽The ruler's opulent palace contrasted with nearby hunger.
546orthodoxadjective
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.

正統The discovery challenged the orthodox explanation of migration.
547oscillateverb
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.

振盪Public opinion may oscillate as new evidence appears.
548ostentatiousadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

財大氣粗The donor avoided an ostentatious ceremony.
549ostracizeverb
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

1. 放逐 2. 流放Classmates began to ostracize anyone who questioned the rumor.
550pacifyverb
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.

平The agreement failed to pacify communities that lacked representation.
551palliativenoun
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.

1. 緩和 2. 姑息The subsidy was a temporary palliative, not an economic solution.
552panaceanoun
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.

1. 靈丹妙藥 2. 万灵药Technology is not a panacea for unequal access to education.
553paradigmaticadjective
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.

范式的The case became paradigmatic of failures in corporate oversight.
554parodynoun
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.

戏仿The sketch is a parody of solemn campaign advertisements.
555patentadjective
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.

专利The claim's patent absurdity drew immediate criticism.
556pedanticadjective
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.

卖弄学问的人The pedantic review corrected commas but ignored the argument.
557penchantnoun
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.

1. 愛好 2. 傾向 3. 趋势The director has a penchant for adapting obscure novels.
558penitentadjective
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.

忏悔The penitent official returned the money and resigned.
559perennialadjective
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.

常年Water access remains a perennial concern in the region.
560perfidiousadjective
Study

Field: GRE literature, history, and humanities

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

背信弃义的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.

Simplified Chinese translation

数月断断续续的会谈带来的敌意多于进展。一位精明的调解人注意到,双方都害怕同样的物资短缺,尽管谁都没有直接说出来。她拒绝回避有争议的问题;相反,她把它分成了几个较小的决定,并规定了明确的期限。两个代表团都不欢迎每一项条件,但由于这项协议保护了他们最重要的利益,双方都更愿意作出妥协。

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.

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.