Gargantuan Vocabulary List: GRE word-2

dam A barrier to prevent the flow of a liquid
dandy A man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance
dapper Neat and trim in appearance
dash A small usually distinctive addition
data Factual information used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or
calculation
database One or more large structured sets of persistent data, usually
associated with software
dated Old-fashioned; outmoded
daunt To lessen the courage of
deadline A date or time before which something must be done
debased 1: mixed with impurities; 2: lowered in value
debt The state of owing
debtor One who owes a debt
debunkers Those who expose the falseness or sham of something
deceit An attempt or disposition to deceive or lead into error
deceive To cause someone to believe an untruth
deception A misleading falsehood; false representation; a trick or sham
decibel A unit of sound intensity
decision A report of a conclusion
decisive Having the power or quality of resolving a question or controversy
decorous Marked by propriety and good taste
decorum Propriety and good taste in conduct or appearance
decry To censure as faulty, mean, or worthless; to express strong
disapproval of
dedicate To commit to a goal or way of life
deduction Something that is inferred from something else; something
removed or taken away
deed A usually illustrious act or action; feat
deems Thinks or judges; believes
defeat Frustration by nullification or by prevention of success
defeated Beaten or overcome
defective Imperfect in form or function
defendant A person against whom an action is brought in a court of law
defensive Attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing
deferment The act of postponing or delaying
defiance Willingness to contend or fight
defiant Boldly resisting authority or an opposing force
deficit A loss; a lacking; an impairment; a disadvantage
defied Rejected, refused, or renounced
definable Capable of being defined, limited, or explained
defining Determining or explaining the shape of something
definitive Decisive; unconditional; final
defraud To deprive of by deceit
defunct No longer in force or use; inactive
defuse To make less harmful, potent or tense
defy To resist or confront with resistance
delegate To entrust to the management of another; to transfer
deleterious Harmful often in a subtle or unexpected manner
deliberate To think about or discuss issues and decisions carefully
deliberately With forethought; purposely; with awareness of the consequences
delineate To determine the essential quality of; to trace the shape of
delinquency Conduct that is out of accord with accepted behavior or the law
delusion A persistent false psychotic belief regarding the self or persons or
objects
demagogue An orator who appeals to the passions and prejudices of his
audience
demeanor Behavioral attributes
democracy Government by the people; rule of the majority
democratic Relating to, appealing to, or available to the broad masses of the
people
democratizing Making democratic
demolish To throw or pull down; to raze; to destroy the fabric of; to pull to
pieces; to ruin
demonstrative Given to or marked by the open expression of emotion
demure Affectedly modest or shy, especially in a playful or provocative
way
demystify To make less mysterious or remove the mystery from; to reveal or
clarify
denigrated Belittled; charged falsely or with malicious intent; defamed
deny To disclaim connection with or responsibility for
deodorize To eliminate the odor from
depict To represent by or as if by a picture
depleted Lessened markedly in quantity, content, power, or value
depose To force to leave an office, such as a king
deprecate To disapprove of strongly
depreciate To lessen in price or estimated value; to lower the worth of; to
undervalue
depression A psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by
sadness and inactivity
deprive To withhold something from
depth Extent downward or backward or inward
derelict Deserted or abandoned as by an owner; failing in what duty
requires
deride To laugh at with contempt; to laugh; to scorn; to turn to ridicule
or make sport of; to mock; to scoff at
deriding Subjecting to usually bitter or contemptuous ridicule
derivative That which is derived; anything obtained or deduced from
another
derived Formed or developed from something else; not original
descent A downward movement
description The act of giving a verbal or written account
desert An arid, barren, often sand-covered area of land,
characteristically desolate and without much vegetation
desiccated Dried up; dehydrated
designated Indicated and set apart for a specific purpose
designed Done or made or performed with purpose and intent
desirability The quality of having pleasing qualities or properties
desirous Impelled or governed by desire
desolate Deserted; uninhabited; sorrowful through or as if through
separation from a loved one
despair Utter loss of hope
despondent Feeling or showing extreme discouragement, dejection, or
depression
destination Place where something (e.g., a journey or race) ends; the ultimate
goal for which something is done
destined Headed or intending to head in a certain direction
destitute Lacking possessions and resources
destitution A state without friends or money or prospects
detailed Marked by abundant thoroughness in treating small items or
parts
deter To discourage; to inhibit
detergent A cleansing agent
determine To fix conclusively or authoritatively
detour A roundabout road (especially one that is used temporarily while
a main route
is blocked)
detract To take away a part from; to diminish
detractor One who disparages or belittles the worth, importance, or
effectiveness of something
devaluation The reduction of worth (as in currency)
devastated Made uninhabitable; ravaged; ruined; wasted
developed Changed over time so as to be stronger or more complete or more
useful
development Advancement or growth through progressive changes
devious Characterized by insincerity or deceit; evasive; deviating from a
straight course
devise To form in the mind by new combinations or applications of ideas
or principles; to invent
devoid Completely lacking
devotion Religious fervor; fidelity
dew Moisture condensed upon the surfaces of cool bodies especially at
night
dexterity Mental skill or quickness
diagnosis Investigation or analysis of the cause or nature of a problem,
condition, or situation
dialect The language usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a
specific group of people
dichotomy A division or the process of dividing into two especially mutually
exclusive or contradictory groups or entities
dictatorship Autocratic rule, control, or leadership
didactic Excessively instructive
differentiate To mark or show a difference in
diffidence Lack of self-confidence; shyness, unassertiveness
diffidently In a reserved, unassertive, or shy manner
diffuse Spread out; not concentrated in one place
dignified Having or expressing dignity; formal or stately in bearing or
appearance
dignitary One who possesses exalted rank or holds an office or position of
honor
digress To divert from the main subject; to wander from a direct or
straight course
digression A turn aside from the main subject of attention or course of
argument
dilatory Characterized by procrastination; tending to cause delay
dilemma An argument presenting two or more equally conclusive
alternatives against an opponent
dilettante Showing frivolous or superficial interest; amateurish (“his
dilettantish efforts at painting”)
diligence The attention and care legally expected or required of a person
diligent Careful and steady in application to one’s work or duties
dim Not bright; lacking in intensity
diminish To decrease in size, extent, or range; to lessen the authority,
dignity, or reputation of
diminutive Below the average size; very small; little
dingy Thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot; depressing in
character or appearance
director Someone who supervises and conducts the action and the
performers in the production of a staged or filmed dramatic work
dirge A song or hymn of mourning
disapprobation The act or state of disapproving
discard To throw away; to lay aside
discarding Getting rid something that is regarded as useless or undesirable
discern To perceive clearly with the mind or the senses; to recognize; to
distinguish; to tell apart
discernible Perceptible by the senses or intellect
discharge To relieve of a charge, load, or burden
discipline Control gained by enforcing obedience or order
disclosed Made known (especially something secret or concealed); no longer
concealed
disclosure The act of exposing; something revealed
discolored Changed in color; stained; faded
discomfited Put into a state of perplexity and embarrassment; disconcerted
disconcert To throw into confusion; to disturb the composure of
discouraged Made less hopeful or enthusiastic
discourse An extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some
particular topic
discourteous Showing no courtesy; rude; lacking social graces
discredit To damage the reputation of; to reject as false; to refuse to accept
discreet Marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint
discrepancy A conflict between facts, claims, or opinions
discrete Constituting a separate entity or part; individual
discrimination Noting and marking differences; discernment
discursive Tending to depart from the main point or cover a wide range of
subjects
disdain To look upon with scorn and contempt
disfigured Spoiled the beauty of; deformed; defaced
disheveled Marked by disorder or disarray
disingenuous Not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of
frankness
disinterested Not having the mind or feelings engaged
dismiss To reject serious consideration of
dismissed Removed from position or service; discharged
disparage To lower in rank or reputation; to degrade
disparate Fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
disparity Inequality or difference in some respect
dispassionate Not influenced by strong feeling
dispatch To send off or away promptly
dispel To cause to vanish; to clear away
disperse To cause to break up, spread, evaporate or vanish
displace To expel or force to flee from home or homeland
display Something done in order to communicate a particular impression
disposal The act or means of getting rid of something
disposition Usual or prevailing mood
disprove To overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
disproved Proved to be false or wrong
disputant One who argues; a reasoner in opposition to another
dispute To contend in argument
disregard To treat as unworthy of regard or notice
disreputable Lacking respectability in character or behavior or appearance
disrupt To throw into disorder
disruptive Characterized by unrest, disorder, or insubordination
disseminate To spread; to diffuse
dissenting Differing in opinion
dissipate To cause to separate and go in different directions
dissolution The act or process of dissolving; separation into component parts
dissonance A mingling of discordant sounds, esp. those that seem musically
unharmonious
distant Separated in space or by time
distaste A feeling of intense dislike
distinguish To perceive a difference in
distinguished Of high standing; eminent; famous
distortion The act of twisting out of natural or regular shape
distracted Mentally confused, troubled, or remote
distressed Worried or troubled
disturb To interfere with
disturbing Interfering with
diverge To move or extend in different directions from a common point
divergent Differing; deviating from each other
diverse Differing from one another
diversion An activity that diverts, amuses, or stimulates; a turning aside (of
one’s course or attention or concern)
divert To occupy in an agreeable, entertaining, or pleasant fashion
divination A prediction uttered under divine inspiration
divine Of, relating to, or proceeding directly from God or a god
divining Foreseeing or foreknowing
divisive Creating disunity or dissension
divulge To make known to the public information that was meant to be
kept a secret
docile Submissive; easily managed
doctrinal Pertaining to, or having to do with, teaching
doctrine A principle of law established through past decisions; something
that is taught
documented Furnished documentary evidence of
dodo 1: (informal) someone whose style is out of fashion; 2: extinct
heavy flightless bird of Mauritius related to pigeons
dogged Stubbornly unyielding; obstinately determined; persistent
dogmatic Characterized by arrogant assertion of unproved or unprovable
principles
domestic Of or relating to the household or the family
dominance The fact or state of commanding, controlling, or prevailing over
others
dossier A file containing detailed records on a particular person or
subject
downpour A pouring or streaming downward; a heavy rain
downright Given without reservation; outright
drabness Lacking stylishness or brightness; dullness
draft A preliminary sketch, outline, or version
draftee An individual who is engaged to enter the army
drama A state, situation, or series of events involving interesting or
intense conflict of forces
dramatic Striking in appearance or effect
dramatist A writer of plays
drawback A loss of advantage, or deduction from profit, value, success, etc.;
a discouragement or hindrance
drawing (in) Causing or enticing to enter or participate
dread Fearful expectation or anticipation
dreary Depressing in character or appearance
drench To steep in moisture; to wet thoroughly; to soak; to saturate with
water or other liquid; to immerse
drill A tool that cuts with its end, by revolving or by a succession of
blows
drive An urgent, basic, or instinctual need
drivel Words or language having no meaning or conveying no intelligible
ideas
drought The continuous absence of rain
drubbed Beaten with a stick; thrashed
dual Consisting of or involving two parts or components, usually in
pairs
dubious Of questionable value or truth
dupe To deceive; to trick; to mislead
duplicate An exact copy of the original
durable Able to exist for a long time without significant deterioration
duress Compulsory force or threat
dynamic Marked by usually continuous and productive activity or change
earnestness An intense and serious state of mind; seriousness
easel A frame for supporting something (as an artist’s canvas)
eccentric Deviating from conventional or accepted usage or conduct,
especially in odd or whimsical ways
echo A repetition or imitation of another
eclectic Composed of elements drawn from various sources
ecology The branch of biology concerned with the relations between
organisms and their environment
economics Analysis of the production, distribution, and consumption of
goods and services
ecstatic Feeling great rapture or delight
edition The form or version in which a text is published
editor A person who prepares, superintends, revises, and corrects a
book, magazine, or newspaper, etc., for publication
effect An outward sign
effective Producing a decided, decisive, or desired effect
efficacious Having the power to produce an intended effect
efficiency The quality or degree of being the immediate agent in producing
an effect
effort A serious attempt
effrontery Impudent aggressiveness; shameless boldness
effusive Unrestrained in enthusiasm; excessively demonstrative
egoism An ethical theory that treats self-interest as the foundation of
morality
egotist A conceited and self-centered person
egregious Conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
elated Exultantly proud and joyful; in high spirits
elation A state marked by high spirits
elders Aged persons; persons having authority by virtue of age and
experience
election An act or process of choosing or selecting, as in a political contest
elegy A mournful poem; a lament for the dead
element A constituent part; something connoting irreducible simplicity; a
basic component
elevated Brought from a lower place to a higher one
elicit To draw forth or bring out (something latent or potential)
elliptical Characterized by extreme economy of expression or omission of
superfluous
elements
elocutionist A public speaker trained in voice production, gesture and delivery
eloquence Discourse marked by force and persuasiveness
eloquent Marked by forceful and fluent expression
elucidate To make free from confusion or ambiguity; to make clear
elude To escape, either physically or mentally; to be incomprehensible
to
elusive Tending to evade grasp or pursuit
embellish To make beautiful or elegant with ornamentation
embellishment A superfluous ornament; the act of adding extraneous
decorations to something
embezzle To take fraudulently for one’s own use
embittered Caused to feel cynical and rancorous
embody To represent or express something abstract in tangible form
embrace To include in scope; to include as part of something broader; to
take up readily or gladly; to hug
embroidery Decorative needlework
emend To make improvements or corrections
emerge To come out into view, as from concealment; to happen or occur
as a result of something
emigrate To leave one’s country of residence for a new one
emissary Someone sent on a mission to represent the interests of someone
else
emollient Having a softening or soothing effect, especially to the skin
empathetic Showing empathy or ready comprehension of others’ states
empathy Understanding and entering into another’s feelings
emperors Sovereigns or supreme male monarchs of an empire
emphasis Special importance or significance
emphasize To place force or intensity of expression on
empire A major political unit having a territory under a single sovereign
authority
empirical Derived from experiment and observation rather than theory (“an
empirical basis for an ethical theory”)
employee One who provides work or service for a wage or salary
emulate To strive to equal or match
enable To provide with the means or opportunity
enabling Giving strength or ability to
enact To order by virtue of superior authority
enamored Marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness
encapsulate To put in a short or concise form; to reduce in volume
enchanting Capturing interest as if by a spell
enclosed Closed in or surrounded or included within
encompassing Broad in scope or content; all-inclusive; closely encircling;
surrounding
encore An extra or repeated performance, usually given in response to
audience demand
encounter A meeting, especially between hostile parties
encourage To inspire with courage, spirit, or hope
encroaching Gradually intrusive without right or permission
encyclopedia A work that contains information on all branches of knowledge
encyclopedic Broad in scope or content
endangered In imminent danger of extinction (said of plants or animals)
endeavor To attempt (as the fulfillment of an obligation) by exertion of effort
endorse To be behind; to support or vote for; to give support or one’s
blessing to
endurance The power to withstand hardship or stress; a state of surviving;
remaining alive
endure To undergo (as a hardship) especially without giving in
enervated Weakened mentally or morally; unnerved
enforce To ensure observance of laws and rules; to compel or impose
enfranchised Endowed with the rights of citizenship, especially the right to vote
engaged Attracted and held by influence
engendered Caused to exist; brought forth; produced; sowed the seeds
engine A mechanical tool
engineering The practical application of science to commerce or industry
engross To take or engage the whole attention of
enhance To advance; to augment; to increase or improve in value, quality,
desirability, or attractiveness
enlighten To give spiritual insight to; to make free from confusion or
ambiguity; to make clear
enlightening Tending to increase knowledge or dissipate ignorance
enlightenment The act or means of furnishing knowledge
enmity Positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will
enraged Filled with rage or anger; infuriated
enrich To make rich or richer especially by the addition or increase of
some desirable quality, attribute, or ingredient
enrichment Improvement of the nutritive value by adding nutrients
enroll To register formally as a participant or member
ensemble A cast other than the principals; the chorus of a musical; a group
of supporting players, singers, or dancers
ensure To make sure, certain, or safe
entangle To make complicated
enthrall To hold spellbound; to enrapture
enthusiasm A feeling of excitement
enticement The art of attracting artfully or adroitly, or by arousing hope or
desire
entitlement A right to benefits specified especially by law or contract
entry A person, thing, or group entered in a contest
entrust To commit to another with confidence
enviable Causing envy; highly desirable
ephemeral Enduring a very short time (“the ephemeral joys of childhood”)
epidemic A widespread outbreak of an infectious disease
epilogue A short speech (often in verse) addressed directly to the audience
by an actor at the end of a play
episode A usually brief unit of action in a dramatic or literary work
equality The quality or state of being equal or of the same measure
equanimity Steadiness of mind under stress
equate To treat, represent, or regard as equal, equivalent, or comparable
equivocal Subject to two or more interpretations and usually used to
mislead or confuse
equivocation A use of obscure language especially with intent to deceive
era An event or point in time from which a series of years is reckoned;
the succession of years from that point in time
eradication The complete destruction of every trace of something;
extermination
erratically In an unpredictable manner (“Economic changes are proceeding
erratically”)
erroneous Containing or characterized by error
eruption A bursting from limits or restraint
escapism Habitual diversion of the mind to purely imaginative activity
espionage The practice of spying or using spies
espousal A taking up or adopting of a cause or belief
espouse To choose and follow, as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or
plans (“She espoused the feminist movement”)
essential Of the utmost importance; necessary
establish To bring into existence
established Made firm or stable
establishing Instituting (as a law) permanently by enactment or agreement
esteem To set a high value on; to regard highly and prize accordingly
estimation The act or an instance of forming an opinion about; evaluation
estrangement The arousement of mutual enmity or indifference where there had
formerly been love
etching A pattern or design produced on a hard material by eating into
the material’s surface
eternal Continuing forever or indefinitely
ethical Involving or expressing moral approval or disapproval
ethos Guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution
etymology The history of a word; the study of the sources and development
of words
eulogize To speak or write in high praise of
euphoric Exaggerated feeling of well-being or elation
evade To slip away; to avoid; to elude
evaluate To determine or fix the value or worth of
evanescence The property of lasting for a very short time
evanescent Tending to vanish like vapor
evasive Elusive; shuffling; avoiding by artifice
evergreens Trees and shrubs including forms (as pines) with true cones
everlasting Continuing forever or indefinitely
evidence That which furnishes, or tends to furnish, proof
evolution A process of change in a certain direction
evolve To undergo a change or development; to come up with; to
gradually acquire new traits or characteristics
ewe Female sheep
exacerbate To make worse (“This drug exacerbates the pain”)
exaggerate To enlarge beyond bounds or the truth
examined Inspected closely
exasperate To cause irritation or annoyance to
exasperation A feeling of annoyance; the act of causing great irritation or even
anger
excavation The act of digging; the site of an archeological exploration
exceeding Going beyond a set limit
excel To go beyond or surpass in good
exception A case to which a rule does not apply
excerpted Selected (as a passage) for quoting
excessive Beyond normal or necessary limits
excitability The quality of being readily excited or roused; proneness to be
affected by exciting causes
exclude To bar from participation, consideration, or inclusion
exclusive Not divided or shared; excluding much or all but a particular
group or minority; belonging only to a few
excruciating Agonizing; torturous
exculpate To clear from alleged fault or guilt
excursion A journey taken for pleasure (“many summer excursions to the
shore”)
execution The act or result of performance; a putting to death as a legal
penalty; the
process of enforcing a legal judgment
exemplary Fit to be imitated; outstandingly good; commendable
exemplify To show or illustrate by example
exempt To release or deliver from some liability or requirement to which
others are subject
exert To put forth force, ability, or anything of the nature of an active
faculty
exhibit n: Something shown to the public; v: to show or display
outwardly especially by visible signs or actions
exhilarating Giving life, action, or spirit to; enlivening; refreshing; stimulating
existing Having real being whether material or spiritual
exonerate To relieve, in a moral sense, as of a charge, obligation, or
hardship; to clear from accusation or blame
exorbitant Greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation
expand To increase the extent, number, volume, or scope of; to open
wide; to spread out
expansive Impressive in scale; extensive, wide-ranging
expedite To accelerate the process or progress of; to speed up; facilitate
expedition An organized group of people undertaking a journey for a
particular purpose
experimentation The trying out of a new procedure, idea, or activity
expert Having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived
from training
expiate To make amends for
explanation Thought that makes something comprehensible
explanatory Serving or intended to explain or make clear
explication The act of opening, unfolding, or explaining
explode To burst forth with sudden violence or noise from internal energy
exploit A notable or heroic act
exploited Developed or used to greatest advantage
explore To become familiar with by testing or experimenting; to analyze;
to make or conduct a search
explorer A person who travels in search of information (esp. geographical
or scientific)
export To carry or send (as a commodity) to some other place
express To give or convey a true impression of
expropriated Taken out of the possession of another and transferred to your
own use, often without permission
expulsion The state of being expelled (forced out)
expunge To strike out, obliterate, or mark for deletion
extant Still in existence; not extinct or destroyed or lost
extemporaneous Composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment, or
without previous study
extensive Having wide or considerable extent
extent The range over which something extends or stretches out
extenuating Partially excusing or justifying (“extenuating circumstances”)
extenuation The act of lessening or weakening the seriousness or extent of
something
exterminator One who gets rid of something completely, usually by killing off
external Purely outward or superficial
extinct No longer existing; no longer burning; no longer active
extol To praise, glorify, or honor highly
extraordinary Going beyond what is usual, regular, or customary
extrapolate To infer, estimate, or project into an area not known or
experienced
extrasensory Seemingly outside of the normal or known senses
extravagant Exceeding the limits of reason or necessity
extremist One who advocates extreme political measures
extricate To free, as from difficulties or perplexities
extrinsic Extraneous; lying outside; not belonging (to); originating or
operating from without
extroverted Gregarious and unreserved; outgoing
exuberance Joyful enthusiasm; overflowing with enthusiasm
exuberant Joyously unrestrained and enthusiastic
exultant Joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success

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