Essential GRE Vocabulary Words: Your Complete Guide to GRE Verbal Success

Mastering GRE vocabulary is crucial for achieving a high score on the GRE verbal section. This comprehensive guide covers 52 essential GRE vocabulary words that frequently appear on the test, complete with definitions, examples, and memory techniques to help you excel.

Why GRE Vocabulary Matters for Test Success

The GRE verbal reasoning section heavily tests your vocabulary knowledge through text completion, sentence equivalence, and reading comprehension questions. Students who master high-frequency GRE words typically see significant score improvements in their verbal performance.

Strategic Approach to GRE Vocabulary Building

Effective GRE vocabulary preparation requires more than simple memorization. Focus on understanding word relationships, context clues, and root words to maximize your learning efficiency and retention.

52 Essential GRE Vocabulary Words

Level 1: Foundation GRE Vocabulary (Words 1-13)

1. Abate (verb) - to reduce in intensity or amount
The storm began to abate after midnight, allowing rescue operations to resume.

2. Aberrant (adjective) - departing from normal or expected behavior
The scientist noted several aberrant results that contradicted the hypothesis.

3. Abscond (verb) - to leave quickly and secretly to avoid detection
The treasurer absconded with company funds before the audit.

4. Acumen (noun) - keen insight or shrewdness
Her business acumen helped the startup secure major investors.

5. Admonish (verb) - to warn or scold gently
The teacher would admonish students who arrived late to class.

6. Aesthetic (adjective) - relating to beauty or artistic taste
The museum's aesthetic appeal attracts visitors from around the world.

7. Alacrity (noun) - eagerness and enthusiasm
She accepted the challenging assignment with remarkable alacrity.

8. Amalgamate (verb) - to combine or unite
The two companies decided to amalgamate their resources for the project.

9. Ambiguous (adjective) - having multiple possible meanings
The contract's ambiguous language led to disputes between parties.

10. Ambivalent (adjective) - having mixed feelings about something
He felt ambivalent about moving to a new city for the job.

11. Ameliorate (verb) - to make better or improve
New policies were designed to ameliorate working conditions.

12. Anachronism (noun) - something out of its proper time period
Using a typewriter in a modern office would be an anachronism.

13. Analogous (adjective) - comparable in certain respects
The human heart is analogous to a mechanical pump.

Level 2: Intermediate GRE Vocabulary (Words 14-26)

14. Antipathy (noun) - strong dislike or aversion
There was clear antipathy between the rival political candidates.

15. Apathy (noun) - lack of interest or concern
Voter apathy contributed to the low election turnout.

16. Arbitrary (adjective) - based on random choice rather than reason
The judge's decision seemed completely arbitrary and unfair.

17. Archaic (adjective) - very old or outdated
Many consider handwritten letters an archaic form of communication.

18. Arduous (adjective) - involving great effort and difficulty
The arduous climb to the summit tested their endurance.

19. Artless (adjective) - without skill or natural and sincere
Her artless honesty was refreshing in a world of calculated responses.

20. Ascetic (adjective/noun) - practicing severe self-discipline
The monk lived an ascetic lifestyle, owning only basic necessities.

21. Audacious (adjective) - showing bold willingness to take risks
The startup's audacious plan revolutionized the entire industry.

22. Austere (adjective) - severe or strict in manner
The austere principal maintained strict discipline throughout the school.

23. Avarice (noun) - extreme greed for wealth
His avarice ultimately destroyed his relationships with family and friends.

24. Banal (adjective) - lacking originality; common and ordinary
The movie's banal plot failed to engage audiences.

25. Belie (verb) - to contradict or give a false impression
Her calm demeanor belied the anxiety she felt inside.

26. Benevolent (adjective) - well-meaning and kindly
The benevolent donor funded scholarships for underprivileged students.

Level 3: Advanced GRE Vocabulary (Words 27-39)

27. Bombastic (adjective) - high-sounding but with little meaning
The politician's bombastic speech impressed few voters.

28. Cacophony (noun) - harsh, discordant mixture of sounds
The construction site created a cacophony of drilling and hammering.

29. Candor (noun) - honesty and straightforwardness of expression
Her candor about the company's problems gained investor respect.

30. Capricious (adjective) - given to sudden changes of mood or behavior
The capricious weather made planning outdoor activities difficult.

31. Caustic (adjective) - sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way
His caustic remarks hurt his colleague's feelings.

32. Censure (verb/noun) - to express disapproval or criticism
The committee voted to censure the member for ethical violations.

33. Chastise (verb) - to rebuke or reprimand severely
The coach would chastise players who didn't follow team rules.

34. Chicanery (noun) - trickery used to deceive
The lawyer exposed the chicanery behind the fraudulent contracts.

35. Coalesce (verb) - to come together and form one mass
Various protest groups began to coalesce around the common cause.

36. Cogent (adjective) - clear, logical, and convincing
She presented a cogent argument for increasing the education budget.

37. Complacent (adjective) - showing smugness or uncritical satisfaction
The team became complacent after their early success.

38. Connoisseur (noun) - expert judge in matters of taste
As a wine connoisseur, he could identify vintages by taste alone.

39. Contentious (adjective) - causing or likely to cause argument
The contentious proposal sparked heated debate in the committee.

Level 4: Expert GRE Vocabulary (Words 40-52)

40. Corroborate (verb) - to confirm or give support to
New evidence helped corroborate the witness's testimony.

41. Credulity (noun) - willingness to believe too readily
Con artists often exploit people's credulity for personal gain.

42. Cursory (adjective) - hasty and superficial
A cursory examination revealed several obvious errors.

43. Dearth (noun) - scarcity or lack of something
There was a dearth of qualified candidates for the position.

44. Deference (noun) - respectful submission to another's wishes
She showed deference to her mentor's experience and wisdom.

45. Delineate (verb) - to describe or portray precisely
The report clearly delineated the steps needed for implementation.

46. Denounce (verb) - to publicly declare to be wrong or evil
Human rights groups denounced the government's actions.

47. Dichotomy (noun) - division into two contrasting parts
There's often a dichotomy between what people say and do.

48. Diffident (adjective) - modest or shy due to lack of confidence
Despite her talent, she remained diffident about her abilities.

49. Discordant (adjective) - disagreeing or in conflict
The discordant voices in the choir needed better coordination.

50. Disdain (noun/verb) - feeling that something is unworthy
She looked upon the offer with obvious disdain.

51. Disparate (adjective) - essentially different in kind
The team combined disparate skills to solve complex problems.

52. Dogmatic (adjective) - inclined to lay down principles as truths
His dogmatic approach stifled creative discussion.