Browse GRE, SAT & IELTS Vocabulary Words A-Z

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Click on any letter to see all vocabulary words starting with that letter. Each word links to a detailed page with definition, usage examples, and study tools.

Vocabulary Words A-Z (250 sample)

A

• aberration — A departure from what is normal or expected
• abound — [{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"text":"Plenty."}]}]
• abound — [{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"text":"To abound is to exist in great numbers or quantities, like mistakes …
• abundant — Existing in large quantities; more than enough
• abundant — Existing in large quantities; more than enough
• achieve — To successfully reach a desired objective or result through effort
• achieve — To successfully reach a desired objective or result through effort
• amorphous — lacking structure; unclear
• amorphous — lacking structure; unclear
• abstract — Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical existence
• abstract — Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical existence
• accumulate — To gather or collect over time
• accumulate — To gather or collect over time
• analyze — To examine something in detail in order to understand it better
• analyze — To examine something in detail in order to understand it better
• austere — (of a person) strict and stern in character
• austere — (of a person) strict and stern in character
• acclaim — Enthusiastic and public praise
• acclaim — Enthusiastic and public praise
• acknowledge — To accept or admit the existence or truth of something
• acknowledge — To accept or admit the existence or truth of something
• adapt — To adjust to new conditions or environment
• adapt — To adjust to new conditions or environment
• adversary — One's opponent in a contest or conflict
• adversary — One's opponent in a contest or conflict
• adequate — Sufficient for a specific requirement
• adequate — Sufficient for a specific requirement
• advocate — A person who publicly supports or recommends a cause or policy
• advocate — A person who publicly supports or recommends a cause or policy
• advocate — To publicly support or recommend a cause or policy
• advocate — To publicly support or recommend a cause or policy
• aesthetic — Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty
• alleviate — To make suffering or a problem less severe
• alleviate — To make suffering or a problem less severe
• allocate — To distribute resources for a particular purpose
• allocate — To distribute resources for a particular purpose
• alternative — One of two or more available possibilities
• alternative — One of two or more available possibilities
• ambiguous — Open to more than one interpretation; not clear
• ambiguous — Open to more than one interpretation; unclear
• ambitious — Having a strong desire and determination to succeed
• ambitious — Having a strong desire and determination to succeed
• ample — Enough or more than enough; plentiful
• ample — Enough or more than enough; plentiful
• analyze — To examine something in detail to understand it better
• analyze — To examine something in detail to understand it better
• analogous — Comparable in certain respects; similar
• apparent — Clearly visible or understood; obvious
• apparent — Clearly visible or understood; obvious
• analyze — To examine something methodically and in detail
• analyze — To examine something methodically and in detail
• appreciate — To recognize the full worth or significance of something
• appreciate — To recognize the full worth or significance of something
• animosity — Strong hostility or ill will
• animosity — Strong hostility or ill will
• approach — A way of dealing with a situation or problem
• approach — A way of dealing with a situation or problem
• anomaly — Something that deviates from what is standard or expected
• appropriate — Suitable or proper in the circumstances
• appropriate — Suitable or proper in the circumstances
• antagonist — A person who actively opposes someone or something
• approximately — Close to an exact amount but not completely accurate
• approximately — Close to an exact amount but not completely accurate
• apathy — Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern
• apathy — Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern
• assess — To evaluate or estimate the nature, quality, or ability of
• assess — To evaluate or estimate the nature, quality, or ability of
• apprehensive — Anxious or fearful about the future
• assume — To suppose something to be true without proof
• assume — To suppose something to be true without proof
• articulate — Having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently
• articulate — Having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently
• attribute — To regard something as being caused by
• attribute — To regard something as being caused by
• adequate — Sufficient or satisfactory for a particular purpose
• adequate — Sufficient or satisfactory for a particular purpose
• aspire — To direct one's hopes or ambitions toward achieving something
• assert — To state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully
• assert — To state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully
• attribute — A quality or feature regarded as characteristic of someone or something
• attribute — A quality or feature regarded as characteristic of someone or something
• authentic — Of undisputed origin; genuine
• authentic — Of undisputed origin; genuine
• aversion — A strong dislike or disinclination
• aversion — A strong dislike or disinclination
• adulterate — damage the quality of; corrupt
• adulterate — damage the quality of; corrupt
• advocate — support; be in favor of

B

• belie — give a false impression of; mask
• beneficial — Resulting in good; favorable or advantageous
• beneficial — Resulting in good; favorable or advantageous
• bias — Prejudice in favor of or against something; unfair preference
• bias — Prejudice in favor of or against something; unfair preference
• benevolent — Well-meaning and kindly
• benevolent — Well-meaning and kindly
• bias — Prejudice in favor of or against a thing, person, or group
• bias — Prejudice in favor of or against a thing, person, or group
• bolster — To support or strengthen
• bolster — To support or strengthen

C

• contribute — To give something such as money, time, or ideas to help achieve something
• contribute — To give something such as money, time, or ideas to help achieve something
• capricious — having varying moods; fickle
• capricious — having varying moods; fickle
• cerebral — related to the brain
• cerebral — related to the brain
• congenial — (of a person) likable and friendly, often due to shared interests
• congenial — (of a person) likable and friendly, often due to shared interests
• conspicuous — easily noticed; obvious
• conspicuous — easily noticed; obvious
• cursory — lacking effort; without care
• cursory — lacking effort; without care
• comprehensive — Including or dealing with all or nearly all aspects of something
• capable — Having the ability or qualities necessary to do something
• capable — Having the ability or qualities necessary to do something
• crucial — Of great importance; critical
• crucial — Of great importance; critical
• cease — To come or bring to an end; stop
• cease — To come or bring to an end; stop
• challenge — A task or situation that tests someone's abilities
• challenge — A task or situation that tests someone's abilities
• circumstance — A condition or fact that affects a situation
• circumstance — A condition or fact that affects a situation
• coincide — To occur at the same time or place
• coincide — To occur at the same time or place
• collaborate — To work jointly with others on an activity or project
• collaborate — To work jointly with others on an activity or project
• candid — Truthful and straightforward; frank
• candid — Truthful and straightforward; frank
• commence — To begin or start
• commence — To begin or start
• catalyst — A person or thing that precipitates an event or change
• communicate — To share or exchange information, ideas, or feelings
• communicate — To share or exchange information, ideas, or feelings
• circumspect — Wary and unwilling to take risks
• community — A group of people living in the same area or sharing interests
• community — A group of people living in the same area or sharing interests
• cite — To quote as evidence for or justification of an argument
• cite — To quote as evidence for or justification of an argument
• compensate — To give something in recognition of loss or suffering
• compensate — To give something in recognition of loss or suffering
• coerce — To persuade someone by using force or threats
• coerce — To persuade someone by using force or threats
• complex — Consisting of many different and connected parts
• complex — Consisting of many different and connected parts
• cohesive — Characterized by unity; forming a united whole
• cohesive — Characterized by unity; forming a united whole
• component — A part or element of a larger whole
• component — A part or element of a larger whole
• collaborate — To work jointly on an activity or project
• collaborate — To work jointly on an activity or project
• comprehensive — Including all or nearly all elements or aspects
• comprehensive — Including all or nearly all elements or aspects
• compelling — Evoking interest or attention in a powerfully irresistible way
• comprise — To consist of; be made up of
• compensate — To give something in recognition of loss, suffering, or effort
• compensate — To give something in recognition of loss, suffering, or effort
• concentrate — To focus all one's attention or efforts on something
• concentrate — To focus all one's attention or efforts on something
• complacent — Showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself
• conclude — To bring or come to an end; to reach a judgment
• conclude — To bring or come to an end; to reach a judgment

D

• demonstrate — To show or prove something clearly by giving evidence or examples
• demonstrate — To show or prove something clearly by giving evidence or examples
• daunting — scary or frightening; (of a task) seeming impossible
• daunting — scary or frightening; (of a task) seeming impossible
• deify — look up to someone or something as a god
• deify — look up to someone or something as a god
• didactic — meant for teaching; educational, sometimes in a condescending manner
• didactic — meant for teaching; educational, sometimes in a condescending manner
• disseminate — distribute or circulate broadly
• disseminate — distribute or circulate broadly
• diverse — Showing a great deal of variety; very different
• diverse — Showing a great deal of variety; very different

E

• emphasize — To give special importance or attention to something
• emphasize — To give special importance or attention to something
• establish — To create or set up something on a permanent or official basis
• establish — To create or set up something on a permanent or official basis
• efficient — Achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort
• efficient — Achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort

F

• feasible — likely to be achieved; practical
• feasible — likely to be achieved; practical
• flout — break a rule without guilt
• flout — break a rule without guilt
• fundamental — Forming a necessary base or core; of central importance
• fundamental — Forming a necessary base or core; of central importance

G

• generate — To cause something to exist or develop
• generate — To cause something to exist or develop
• genuine — Truly what something is said to be; authentic
• genuine — Truly what something is said to be; authentic

H

• homogeneous — composed of similar parts; alike
• homogeneous — composed of similar parts; alike
• humdrum — boring; unlikely to excite
• humdrum — boring; unlikely to excite

I

• identify — To recognize or be able to name someone or something
• identify — To recognize or be able to name someone or something
• implement — To put a plan or system into operation
• implement — To put a plan or system into operation
• indicate — To show or point out something
• indicate — To show or point out something
• insipid — without flavor; lacking energy
• insipid — without flavor; lacking energy
• innovative — Featuring new methods or ideas; advanced and original
• innovative — Featuring new methods or ideas; advanced and original

L

• loquacious — likely to talk a lot; wordy
• loquacious — likely to talk a lot; wordy
• legitimate — Conforming to the law or to rules; justifiable
• legitimate — Conforming to the law or to rules; justifiable

M

• maintain — To continue to have or keep something in existence
• maintain — To continue to have or keep something in existence
• misanthropic — having a distaste for humans and society
• misnomer — a misleading or inaccurate name
• misnomer — a misleading or inaccurate name

N

• negligent — lacking care or attention
• negligent — lacking care or attention

O

• obtain — To get or acquire something
• obtain — To get or acquire something
• obsequious — excessively submissive to authority
• obsequious — excessively submissive to authority
• ongoing — Continuing; still in progress
• ongoing — Continuing; still in progress

P

• participate — To take part in an activity or event
• participate — To take part in an activity or event
• placate — decrease someone's anger or other negative emotion
• placate — decrease someone's anger or other negative emotion
• proclivity — a fondness or liking for something
• proclivity — a fondness or liking for something
• puerile — immature and childish
• puerile — immature and childish
• predominant — Present as the strongest or main element
• predominant — Present as the strongest or main element

Q

• quixotic — excessively visionary; unfeasible
• quixotic — excessively visionary; unfeasible

R

• require — To need something or make something necessary
• require — To need something or make something necessary
• relevant — Closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand
• relevant — Closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand

S

• summarize — To give a brief statement of the main points of something
• summarize — To give a brief statement of the main points of something
• spendthrift — someone who spends money recklessly
• spendthrift — someone who spends money recklessly
• substantial — Of considerable importance, size, or worth
• substantial — Of considerable importance, size, or worth

T

• taciturn — of few words; speaking little
• taciturn — of few words; speaking little

U

• underlying — Being the real or basic cause of something, though not immediately obvious
• underlying — Being the real or basic cause of something, though not immediately obvious

W

• wary — exercising caution; careful
• wary — exercising caution; careful
• widespread — Found or distributed over a large area or among many people
• widespread — Found or distributed over a large area or among many people

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Popular GRE Vocabulary Words

• Aberrant — deviating from the normal or expected
• Benevolent — well-meaning and kindly
• Capricious — given to sudden changes of mood or behavior
• Deleterious — causing harm or damage
• Ephemeral — lasting for a very short time
• Fastidious — very attentive to accuracy and detail
• Garrulous — excessively talkative
• Hackneyed — lacking originality; overused
• Indictment — a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime
• Loquacious — tending to talk a great deal
• Mendacious — not telling the truth; lying
• Nefarious — wicked or criminal
• Obfuscate — make unclear or confusing
• Pedantic — excessively concerned with minor details
• Querulous — complaining in a petulant manner
• Recalcitrant — having an obstinately uncooperative attitude
• Sycophant — a person who acts obsequiously toward those in power
• Tenacious — holding fast; persistent
• Ubiquitous — present, appearing, or found everywhere
• Vacuous — having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence