Top 52 GRE Vocabulary Words

You will see GRE® vocabulary on test day in a variety of ways. Your verbal score is generated from 27 questions that are split up into two sections. The first section consists of 12 questions and the second section consists of 15 questions. You will have 18 minutes to complete the first section and 23 minutes for the second section, so be ready to tackle Sentence Equivalence, Text Completion, and Reading Comprehension questions.

Knowing how to decipher difficult vocabulary by using the context is extremely helpful in maximizing your GRE verbal score. Take the quiz below to test your understanding of some of the 52 top GRE vocabulary words, and then review the examples and definitions of each word at the bottom of the page.

[ READ NEXT: 48 More Top GRE Vocabulary Words ]

1. anomaly – noun – something that is unusual or unexpected
   • The student’s poor performance on the latest test was an anomaly since she had previously earned excellent grades.
2. equivocal – adj. – not easily understood or explained
   • Politicians have been known to provide equivocal answers to reporters’ questions.
3. lucid – adj. – very clear and easy to understand
   • The lecture was lucid and straightforward, allowing the students to fully grasp the concepts presented.
4. precipitate – verb – to cause (something) to happen quickly or suddenly
   • Unforeseen costs can precipitate a budget crisis.
5. assuage – verb – to make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense
   • A massage can assuage the soreness in your muscles.
6. erudite – adj. – having or showing great knowledge
   • High school students often struggle with novels that are more erudite than they are entertaining.
7. opaque – adj. –  not able to be seen through; not easily understood
   • Medical jargon includes many opaque terms like macrosomic, which describes a newborn who weighs more than 4,000 grams.
8. prodigal – adj. – wastefully extravagant
   • The prodigal prince bought lavish gifts and planned expensive events.
   • Not to be confused with a prodigy is an exceptionally talented person, often a child. Prodigal describes wasteful extravagance, while prodigious means remarkably large in size, amount, or degree. A musical prodigy might have a prodigious talent without being prodigal with money.
9. enigma – noun – a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand
   • Scientists continue to research cancer to solve the enigma of its primary cause, which will hopefully lead to a cure.
10. fervid – adj. – intensely enthusiastic or passionate
    • The child showed a fervid fascination for superheroes, pouring over comic books for hours.
11. placate – verb – to make (someone) less angry or hostile
    • A parent may decide to placate a baby with a pacifier.
12. zeal – noun – a strong feel of interest and enthusiasm that makes someone very eager or determined to do something
    • The great emperor’s crusading zeal led him to conquer many lands.
13. abstain – verb – to restrain oneself for doing or enjoying something
    • Doctors encourage their patients to abstain from smoking cigarettes.
14. audacious – adj. – a willingness to take bold risks / adj. –  showing a lack of respect
    • The new CEO pursued audacious initiatives to save the company from bankruptcy. / The student’s audacious remark earned her a seat in afternoon detention.
15. desiccate – verb – remove the moisture from (something)
    • The heat and energy from the sun can desiccate even the most hearty plants.
16. gullible – adj. – easily persuaded to believe something
    • The gullible little boy gave his older sister all of his allowance because she told him she would buy a pony for him.
17. laudable – adj. – deserving praise and commendation
    • Providing affordable healthcare for all citizens is a laudable goal.
18. pedant – noun – a person who makes an excessive display of learning
    • Professor Blackwell, a well-known pedant, required his pre-med students to speak in Latin throughout the entire semester.
19. vacillate – verb – to waver between different opinions or actions
    • Undergraduate students often vacillate among various majors before deciding which degree to pursue.
20. adulterate – verb – to make (something) impure or weaker by adding something of inferior quality
    • Many chefs use fresh produce and refuse to adulterate their dishes with canned ingredients.
21. capricious – adj. – given to sudden changes of mood or behavior
    • The capricious supervisor would hand out raises one day and fire his entire staff the next.
22. engender – verb – to produce, cause, or give rise to (something)
    • Political debates can engender controversy regarding the subjects discussed.
23. homogenous – adj. – of the same or similar kind
    • There are very few truly homogenous cultures since social diversity is increasingly widespread.
24. loquacious – adj. – tending to talk a great deal
    • The loquacious professor was known for his five-hour lectures.
25. pragmatic – adj. – dealing with the problems that exist in a reasonable and logical way instead of depending on theories
    • A pragmatic approach to legislation can be difficult given the complexities of politics.
26. volatile – adj. – likely to change rapidly and unpredictably
    • It is possible for a country’s political climate to remain volatile for decades.
27. apathy – noun – lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern
    • Political parties try to engage young voters who are more prone to apathy than older citizens.
28. corroborate – verb – to confirm or make more certain
    • The scientist was able to corroborate his hypothesis with data gathered from multiple sources.
29. ephemeral – adj. – lasting for a very short time
    • An ephemeral moment of victory may last mere seconds, but it can remain as a triumphant memory for decades.
30. laconic – adj. – using few words
    • The director’s laconic reply, “Approved,” communicated the decision in a single word.
    • Related words: Laconic emphasizes using few words. Taciturn describes someone habitually quiet, while reticent describes someone reluctant to share thoughts or feelings. Pithy describes language that is brief but meaningful or forceful.
    • Memory aid: Laconic comes from Laconia, the region of ancient Greece associated with Sparta and its reputation for brief, direct speech.
31. mitigate – verb – make less severe, serious, or painful
    • We want to mitigate students’ GRE stress by offering helpful study tools.
32. propriety – noun – the state or quality of being correct or proper
    • The students were instructed to behave with the utmost propriety while on their class field trip.
33. advocate – verb – publicly recommend or support
    • The governor chose to advocate for a higher minimum wage rather than a tax incentive.
34. cacophony – noun – a harsh, unpleasant mixture of sounds
    • The cacophony of the middle school band warming up was nearly unbearable for the audience.
35. enervate – verb – cause (someone or something) to feel drained of energy; weaken
    • The boxer used a swift left uppercut to the jaw to enervate his opponent.
36. ingenuous – adj. – innocent and unsuspecting
    • The scam artist preyed on ingenuous nursing home residents.
37. misanthrope – noun – a person who dislikes humankind
    • The neighborhood misanthrope surrounded his yard with barbed wire to keep people away.
38. paradox – noun – a statement that contradicts itself but might be true
    • The fact that the retired teacher claimed to hate all pets but adopted seven cats is an intriguing paradox.
39. venerate – verb – regard with great respect
    • To venerate the fire chief’s forty years of service, the department held a special banquet.
40. antipathy – noun – a strong feeling of dislike
    • The students voiced their antipathy for homework very loudly.
41. deride – verb – to express contempt for; ridicule
    • The unreasonable supervise was known to deride his employees on a daily basis.
42. eulogy – noun – a speech that praises someone, typically some who has recently died
    • The rabbi’s eulogy was both heartfelt and inspiring.
43. lethargic – adj. – lacking energy
    • It’s not uncommon to feel lethargic for weeks or even months after major surgery.
44. obdurate – adj. – stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion
    • The obdurate three-year-old refused to eat any vegetables, no matter how they were prepared.
45. philanthropic – adj. – seeking to promote the welfare of others
    • The students were grateful to receive financial support from philanthropic organizations that promote education.
46. waver – verb – to go back and forth between choices or opinions
    • Some citizens vote solely along party lines and never waver in their political decisions.
47. bolster – verb – to support or strengthen
    • The prosecutor worked to find evidence that would bolster her case against the defendant.
48. dissonance – noun – a lack of harmony or agreement
    • The school board’s meeting lasted for hours due to the length debate fueled by dissonance among opinions.
49. garrulous – adj. – excessively talkative
    • The garrulous hair stylist talked to each customer for hours at a time.
50. malleable – adj. – easily influenced; pliable
    • Children’s moods are often malleable since children are greatly affected by their surroundings.
51. ostentation – noun – excessive display of wealth
    • Owning a mansion doesn’t imply ostentation, but traveling exclusively by private jet certainly can.
52. prevaricate – verb – avoid telling the truth by not directly answering a question
    • During the trial, the lead witness was willing to prevaricate in order to protect his friend.

[ RELATED: GRE Vocabulary – Using Root Words ]

How to Recognize Tricky GRE Vocabulary Words

Learning GRE vocabulary involves more than memorizing definitions. You also need to recognize which meaning fits the context and avoid making assumptions based on how a word looks. As you review, watch for these challenges:

• Familiar words with additional meanings: Partial can mean incomplete, but it can also mean biased or favoring one side. A “partial account” might be unfinished or biased, depending on the surrounding details.
• Words that look deceptively familiar: Restive may resemble “restful,” but it describes someone who is restless or impatient. A restive audience might begin shifting in their seats during a delay.
• Words with specific shades of meaning: Pernicious describes something harmful, often in a gradual or subtle way. Understanding that nuance helps you distinguish it from a more general description of harm.

Add these distinctions to your vocabulary flashcards, and write your own sentences to practice using each meaning. Treat any GRE word list as a starting point: it cannot predict exactly which words you’ll encounter on test day.

Familiar Words With Meanings Worth Reviewing

Recognizing a word doesn’t always mean you understand how it’s being used. Review these distinctions, and use the surrounding sentence to determine the intended meaning.

Word	Meaning to remember	Example
Abscond	To leave secretly, often to escape detection or consequences; the action is leaving, rather than stealing.	The suspect planned to abscond before investigators arrived.
Refute	To demonstrate that a claim is false; expressing disagreement alone doesn’t establish that it is wrong.	The researcher used new evidence to refute the earlier conclusion.
Chronic	Persisting over a long period or recurring frequently; it describes duration rather than necessarily indicating severity.	Chronic staffing shortages delayed the project for several years.
Redundant	Unnecessary because something is already supplied or expressed.	The editor removed a redundant paragraph that repeated the introduction.
Maintain	To assert that something is true, in addition to keeping something in its current condition.	The historian maintained that the document was authentic despite objections.
Egregious	Outstandingly bad or offensive; stronger than simply unusual.	The report contained an egregious error that undermined its conclusion.

When reviewing a familiar word, explain its meaning in your own words and check your explanation against a dictionary. Then write a sentence that makes the distinction clear.

Easily Confused GRE Vocabulary Words

Similar spelling does not guarantee similar meaning. Comparing easily confused words side by side can help test takers recognize which word fits a sentence.

Word	Meaning	Example
Indignant	Angry or offended by something perceived as unfair or insulting	The researcher was indignant when a colleague took credit for her work.
Indigent	Poor; lacking basic financial resources	The clinic provides free care to indigent patients.
Indigenous	Native to a particular place	The researchers studied plants indigenous to the island.
Knell	The sound of a bell, especially for a death or funeral; figuratively, a signal of an ending	The loss of funding sounded the death knell for the project.
Knoll	A small, rounded hill	The hikers stopped on a grassy knoll.
Gradation	A gradual change or a stage in a series of changes	The painting shows a subtle gradation from blue to green.
Graduation	The completion of a course of study; also, a division or mark on a measuring scale	The cylinder’s graduations mark the volume in milliliters.

A useful study check is to explain why one word fits an example and another does not. A person offended by an unfair decision is indignant; that reaction alone says nothing about whether the person is indigent.

Credible vs. Credulous vs. Incredible vs. Incredulous

These four words relate to belief, but they describe different things:

• Credible: Believable or trustworthy. The witness provided a credible account supported by evidence.
• Credulous: Too ready to believe something without enough evidence. The credulous buyer accepted every claim in the advertisement.
• Incredible: Difficult to believe; also used to mean extraordinary or amazing. The explorer’s incredible story initially seemed impossible.
• Incredulous: Skeptical or unwilling to believe. The audience remained incredulous despite the speaker’s assurances.

A credible explanation deserves belief. A credulous listener believes too readily. An incredible claim may be hard to believe, while an incredulous response expresses doubt. The surrounding context determines the intended meaning.

How to Study Your GRE Vocabulary List

Start by identifying which words need the most attention, then build regular review into your study schedule:

• Test yourself first. Cover each definition and try to explain the word’s meaning. Prioritize words you don’t know or struggle to use correctly.
• Personalize your flashcards. Include a definition in your own words, an example sentence, and an image or association that helps you remember the meaning.
• Space out your review. Revisit words across multiple study sessions. Review difficult words more frequently and gradually increase the time between reviews as they become familiar.
• Keep expanding your vocabulary. Add unfamiliar words you encounter in practice questions and reading, noting the context in which each appeared.

Use Word Connections and Context to Remember Meanings

Word origins, related vocabulary, and memorable sentences can give a definition more context. These connections work best when paired with an accurate meaning and an example of how the word is used.

• Adumbrate: To outline briefly or foreshadow. Its Latin root, umbra, means shadow. A shadow suggests an outline without every detail: The proposal adumbrates the research plan but leaves the methods for a later report.
• Toady: A person who flatters someone influential to gain an advantage. Connecting it with sycophant, a similar noun, and obsequious, an adjective describing excessive eagerness to please, can help clarify its meaning: The executive’s toady praised every decision in hopes of earning a promotion.
• Loquacious and laconic: Contrasting words can make their meanings easier to distinguish: The loquacious host spoke at length, while the laconic guest answered in a few words.

A short quotation from reading can also become a flashcard example. Students should record the word’s meaning in that particular sentence and then write an original example to check their understanding. A memorable association supports learning, but it does not replace a precise definition.