Your Highest Priority Vocabulary for the GRE

As they say, “forewarned is forearmed.” No one should go into the GRE without having fully memorized all 20 of these terms …

(Term) … (Working Definition) … (Some Synonyms)

1) Extol (verb) … To Praise Highly … Commend / Laud / Acclaim

2) Candid (adj.) … Sincere / Honest … Outspoken / Blunt / Frank

3) Disseminate (verb) … To scatter or spread … Disperse / Dissipate / Diffuse

4) Vigorous (adj.) … Active and energetic … Dynamic / Ebullient / Trenchant

5) Robust (adj.) … Strong and sturdy … Hearty / Hale / Stalwart

6) Ascetic (noun / adj.) … Strict way of life … Austere / Abstemious / Stern

7) Profligate (noun / adj.) … Wasteful (of money) … Spendthrift / Prodigal / Wastrel

8) Reticent (adj.) … Quiet or reluctant to speak … Subdued / Withdrawn / Recalcitrant

9) Verbose (adj.) … Wordy or talkative … Glib / Garrulous / Prolix

10) Erroneous (adj.) … Wrong or mistaken … Fallacious / Inaccurate / Amiss

11) Spurious (adj.) … False or deceptive … Bogus / Mendacious / Meretricious

12) Discrete (adj.) … Individual or separate … Disparate / Distinct / Disjointed

13) Discretion (noun) … Good judgment … Prudence / Circumspection / Tact

14) Champion (verb) … To promote or support … Propound / Promulgate / Advocate

15) Ameliorate (verb) … To soothe or improve … Allay / Alleviate / Assuage

16) Exacerbate (verb) … To make something bad worse … Aggravate / Inflame / Heighten

17) Conflagration (noun) … A firestorm (also a riot) … Tumult / Commotion / Imbroglio

18) Enigma (noun) … A puzzle or mystery … Conundrum / Quandary / Dilemma

19) Presage (verb) … To predict the future … Foretell / Augur / Divine

20) Gregarious (adj.) … Outgoing or sociable … Affable / Amiable / Congenial

I recommend you make “flip” flash cards with the main term on one side and all of the other information (part of speech, definition & synonyms) on the other. “Cramming” is an incredibly ineffective technique for retaining vocabulary, so start reviewing at least a month before the exam. Review them daily until you know them for stone cold certain, then review them some more. Practice makes perfect after all. Good Luck … !!!


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