Gargantuan Vocabulary List: GRE word-5

GRE Word of The Day Team — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 16:51:22 +0000

quagmire Soft, miry land that shakes or yields under the foot
quaint Attractively old-fashioned (�houses with quaint thatched roofs�)
qualities Peculiar and essential characteristics
quandary A state of perplexity or doubt
quarantine A state of enforced isolation
quarrel A usually verbal conflict between antagonists
quarrelsome Exhibiting a tendency to dispute
quell To be subdued or abated; to yield; to abate
querulous Habitually complaining (�a querulous child�)
query A question in the mind
quest An act or instance of seeking
quiescence A state of quiet
quill A stiff, hollow, protective spine on a porcupine or hedgehog
radiant Giving off or as if giving off light; beaming; effulgent (�a radiant
sunrise�)
radiation 1: The physical phenomenon of radiating energy in the form of
waves or particles; 2: the act of radiating
radical Tending or disposed to make extreme changes in existing views
radically In an extreme manner
rakish Dashingly or carelessly unconventional
rally A mass meeting intended to arouse group enthusiasm
rancor Bitter, deep-seated ill will
rancorous Showing deep-seated resentment
range To change or be different within limits
ranger An official who is responsible for managing and protecting an area
of forest
rank Degree of dignity, eminence, or excellence; position in civil or
social life; station; degree; grade
rant To talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner
rare Seldom done, found, or occurring; uncommon
rarely Not often
rascal A deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
rash Requiring sudden action; pressing; urgent
raspy Unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound
rational Consistent with, based on, or using reason
rationalize To bring into accord with reason, or cause something to seem
reasonable
raucous Unpleasantly loud and harsh
ravage To affect destructively
ravenous Very eager or greedy for food, satisfaction, or gratification
raw In the natural unprocessed condition; having the surface exposed
and painful (�a raw wound�)
razing The event of a structure being completely demolished and leveled
reaction The act or process or an instance of responding; a response
reactionary Extremely conservative
realism Fidelity in art and literature to nature or to real life
reality A real event, entity, or state of affairs
reasonable Not extreme or excessive
rebate A refund of some fraction of the amount paid
rebellion Refusal to accept some authority, code, or convention
rebellious Resisting treatment or management
rebels Participants in a rebellion
rebuff To reject or criticize sharply; to snub
rebuke To criticize sharply; to reprimand
recalling Bringing back to mind
recipient One that receives
reciprocate To act, feel, or give in return
reciprocity A mutual exchange of privileges
reclamation The conversion of waste land into land suitable for habitation or
cultivation
reclusive Withdrawn from society; seeking solitude
recognize To acknowledge formally
reconcile To bring into consonance or accord; to make peace
reconciliation The action of restoring to friendship or harmony
reconstructing Establishing or assembling again
reconstruction The act of establishing or reassembling
recovery The act, process, or an instance of regaining, reclaiming, or
recuperating
recrimination Retaliatory accusation
recuperate To get over an illness or shock
recursive Of, relating to, or constituting a procedure that can repeat itself
indefinitely or until a specified condition is met
redoubtable Formidable; inspiring fear
redundancy Superfluous repetition
redundant Exceeding what is normal or necessary
reef A submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water
refinement A highly developed state
reflect To express a thought or opinion resulting from reflection
reflection 1: The return of light or sound waves from a surface; 2: a
thought, idea, or opinion formed as a result of meditation
reform A removal or correction of an abuse, a wrong, or an error
reformer One that works for or urges change for the better
refrain A recurring phrase or number of lines, esp. at the ends of stanzas
refurbish To restore and redecorate; to brighten up
refute To prove wrong by argument or evidence; to show to be false or
erroneous
regale Provide with sumptuous or abundant food or drink; to entertain
lavishly
regard To consider and appraise, usually from a particular point of view
regeneration Renewal or restoration of a body or bodily part after injury or as a
normal process
region An administrative area, division, or district
regret Sorrow aroused by circumstances beyond one�s control or power
to repair
regulation A principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
rehabilitate To help to restore to a former state (e.g., of health or good repute)
rehearse To recite or repeat in private for experiment and improvement
prior to public performance
reign The time during which a king, queen, or emperor possesses the
supreme authority
reintegrate To restore; to bring again together into a whole
reject To throw away; to discard; to refuse to accept or consider
relative Not absolute or independent; comparative
relevance The relation of something to the matter at hand
relief Removal or lightening of something oppressive
relieve To free from a burden; to give aid or help to
relishing Appreciating with taste and discernment
reluctance The quality of feeling or showing aversion, hesitation, or
unwillingness
reluctant Feeling or showing aversion, hesitation, or unwillingness
remarkable Worthy of being or likely to be noticed, especially as being
uncommon or extraordinary
remedial Tending or intended to rectify or improve
remedy That which corrects or counteracts an evil of any kind, e.g., a
cure for a disease
remorseful Motivated by a sense of guilt for past wrongs
remote Located far away
remuneration The act of paying for goods or services; recompense for losses
render To cause to be; to become
renounce To refuse to follow, obey, or recognize any further
renowned Widely known and esteemed
renunciation The rejection of something or someone as invalid
repeal To recall; to call back
repel To cause aversion in; to repulse
repetition A doing or saying again
replenish To fill or build up again
replica A copy exact in all details
replicate To make, do, or perform again
reprehensible Bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
representation An artistic likeness or image
reprieve A temporary relief from harm or discomfort
reprimand A severe or formal reproof
reprisal The regaining of something (as by recapture)
reprise To repeat the performance of
repudiated Disowned; disavowed; rejected; denied
repulsive Cold; forbidding; offensive (�he has repulsive manners�)
reputable Having a good reputation; held in esteem
reputation Overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general
requested Asked for
resentful Full of or inclined to feel indignant or ill will
resentment Strong displeasure; anger; hostility provoked by a wrong or injury
experienced
resigned Having come to accept
resilient Recovering readily from adversity or depression
resistance An opposing or retarding force
resisted Withstood the force or effect of
resolute Firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and
determination
resolution A formal expression of opinion, will, or intent, agreed to by a vote
respectability The quality of being decent or correct in character or behavior
resplendent Having great beauty and splendor
restitution A sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury
restive Being in a tense state; marked by restlessness
restoration A bringing back to a former position or condition
restrain To prevent from doing, exhibiting, or expressing something
restrict To confine within bounds
resuscitation Revival from apparent death or from unconsciousness
retain To keep in mind or memory; to keep in possession or use
retaliation Action taken in return for an injury or offense
retention The act of keeping in one�s possession
retiree Someone who has concluded or withdrawn from one�s working or
professional career
retract To draw back or in
retreat To move back or away
retribution The dispensing or receiving of punishment or reward
retroactive Made effective as of a date prior to enactment
revel To celebrate noisily; to engage in wild festivities
revelation An act of revealing to view or making known
revere To regard with profound respect and affection, mingled with awe
or fear
reverence Profound respect and esteem mingled with fear and affection, as
for a holy being or place
revile To subject to verbal abuse
revise To look over again in order to correct or improve
revision The act of rewriting or altering something
revolt To renounce allegiance or subjection
revolution The overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the
substitution of another by the governed
revolutionary Markedly new or introducing radical change
revolutionize To fundamentally change the way of thinking about or visualizing
something
rhapsodize To say with great enthusiasm
rhythm An ordered, recurrent alternation of strong and weak elements in
the flow of sound and silence in speech
ridicule To subject to laughter
rigid Incapable of or resistant to bending
rigorously Strictly; harshly; precisely
ritual The established form for a ceremony
rival One who is in pursuit of or striving for the same object or goal as
another; a competitor
rivals Those striving for competitive advantage
role A part played by an actor, singer, or dancer
romantic Marked by expressions of love or affection
rooted Fixed or implanted by or as if by roots
route A traveled way
rural Of or relating to the country, country people or life, or agriculture
ruse A crafty trick
sadden To make or become unhappy
sagacious Acutely insightful and wise
salutation A word or phrase of greeting used to begin a letter
salve Anything that remedies, heals, or soothes
salvo A spirited verbal attack
sanctimonious Affecting piousness; hypocritically devout
sanction A formal decree
sanctioned Given official authorization or approval to
sanguine Marked by sturdiness, high color, and cheerfulness
sarcasm Witty language used to convey insults or scorn
satirize To censure or ridicule by means of sarcasm; to humorously
expose and discredit vice or folly
savory Pleasing to the organs of taste or smell
scandal Loss of or damage to reputation caused by actual or apparent
violation of morality or propriety
scapegoat Someone punished for the errors of others
scarcest Least plentiful or abundant
scathing Marked by harshly abusive criticism
scenery A picturesque view or landscape
scheme To make a scheme of; to plan; to design; to project; to plot
scholarship A grant-in-aid to a student
scorch To burn so as to affect color or taste
script The written text of a stage play, screenplay, or broadcast
scrumptious Extremely pleasing to the sense of taste
scrupulous Careful to avoid doing wrong
scrutinize To examine closely; to inspect or observe with critical attention; to
regard narrowly
scurry To move about or proceed hurriedly
seance A meeting of spiritualists (�The seance was held in the medium�s
parlor�)
secondhand Acquired after being used by another; not new
secrete To generate and separate from cells or bodily fluids
security Freedom from danger
sedative A drug that reduces excitability and induces calm
sedentary Not migratory; settled
seedling Young plant or tree grown from a seed
segment A separate piece of something
seldom In few instances; rarely
semaphore An apparatus for visual signaling with lights or mechanically
moving arms
sense A particular sensation or kind or quality of sensation
sensitive Receptive to sense impressions; understanding of the feelings of
others
sentiment 1: Personal belief that is not founded on proof or certainty; 2: an
attitude, thought, or judgment prompted by feeling
sequential In regular succession without gaps
serenade A complimentary vocal or instrumental performance, esp. a
romantically inspired one given outdoors at night for a woman
serendipity The faculty of making fortunate discoveries of things you were not
looking for
serene Calm; peaceful
serenity The quality or state of being serene; clearness and calmness;
quietness; stillness; peace
serpentine Coiling; meandering; writhing
serviceable Fit for use
servile Submissive or fawning in attitude or behavior
setback A step backward; cessation of progress
severity Rigorous restraint, punishment, or requirement
shallow Lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension; lacking in
depth of knowledge or feeling
sharecropper A tenant farmer especially in the southern U.S.
sharpshooter A good marksman
shed To eject (as seed or spores) from a natural receptacle
sheer Complete and without restriction or qualification; pure,
unadulterated; thin or transparent
shift To change the place, position, or direction of
shoddiness Hastily or poorly done
shortsighted Lacking the ability to look forward
shroud That which clothes, covers, conceals, or protects
shun To avoid and stay away from deliberately; to stay clear of
significant Having meaning
silhouette The outline of a body viewed as circumscribing a mass
simulate To give or assume the appearance or effect of, often with the
intent to deceive
sincerity Honesty of mind
single-minded Having one driving purpose or resolve
siren A warning signal that is a loud wailing sound
sketch A rough drawing representing the chief features of an object or
scene and often made as a preliminary study
sleekness A smooth, well-groomed look; elegance; stylishness
slight Small of its kind or in amount
sluggard An habitually lazy person
smudge A blurry spot or streak
snivel To speak or act in a whining, sniffling, tearful, or weakly
emotional manner
sociologist A scientist who studies society, social institutions, and social
relationships
solemnize To observe or perform with dignity or gravity
soliciting Approaching with a request or plea
solicitous Showing interest or concern
solidarity Unity (as of a group or class) that produces or is based on
communal interests
solidify To make solid or compact
soluble Capable of being dissolved in some solvent (usually water)
solution A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances
80
somber So shaded as to be dark and gloomy
soothing Having a sedative effect
sought Tried to acquire or gain
sound Based on thorough knowledge and experience
sour To cause or permit to become harsh or unkindly
source 1: A point of origin or procurement; 2: a firsthand document or
primary reference work
spatial Pertaining to, involving, or having the nature of space
species A class of individuals having common attributes and designated
by a common name
specimen An example regarded as typical of its class
speculate To believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
speculative Marked by questioning curiosity
spirited Full of energy, animation, or courage
sponsor One who assumes responsibility for some other person or thing
spontaneity Arising from a momentary impulse
spontaneously In a manner proceeding from natural feeling or native tendency
without external constraint
sprawling Causing to spread out carelessly or awkwardly
spur A goad to action; stimulus
spurious Not genuine; false
squander To spend (money, time, etc.) wastefully; to dissipate (a fortune,
etc.) wastefully
squelch To suppress or crush completely (�Squelch any sign of dissent�)
stability The strength to stand or endure
stagnation A state of inactivity
staid Characterized by dignity and propriety
stalk The stem or main axis of a plant
stamina The ability to sustain a prolonged, stressful effort or activity
stance Intellectual or emotional attitude
standards Things set up and established by authority as a rule for the
measure of quantity, weight, value, or quality
staple A commodity for which the demand is constant
stature Height or size of the body
statute An act passed by a legislative body
stealth The act of avoiding detection by proceeding furtively, secretly, or
imperceptibly
stereotype A person or thing that conforms to an unjustifiably fixed, usually
standardized,
mental picture
sterilized Made incapable of germination
stevedore A laborer who loads and unloads vessels in a port
stifle To smother, muffle, cut off, or repress
stimulus Something that rouses or incites to activity
stoic Not affected by or showing passion or feeling
strain To exert to the utmost
strains Groups of presumed common ancestry with clear-cut
physiological distinctions
strategies Careful plans or methods
strenuous Marked by or calling for energy or stamina
stretches Unbroken periods of time
stride A long step
strive To exert much effort or energy
struggle To make strenuous or violent efforts against opposition
stub To strike against an object, as of one�s toe or foot
stump To cause to be perplexed or confounded
sturdy Having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
style Mode of expressing thought in language, whether oral or written
subdued Restrained in style or quality
subjective Taking place within the mind and modified by individual bias
submerge To put under water
submissiveness The trait of being willing to yield to the will of another person or a
superior force
submit To yield to governance or authority
subsequently In a successive manner
subsidize To furnish with a subsidy; to purchase the assistance of by the
payment of a subsidy; to aid or promote
substantially To a degree largely but not wholly that which is specified
substantiated Supported with proof or evidence; verified
substantive Considerable in amount or numbers
substitution The act of putting one person or thing in the place of another
subtitle Translation of foreign dialogue usually displayed at the bottom of
the screen or stage
subtle Delicately constituted or constructed; nice; fine; delicate;
tenuous; finely woven
subversive Characterized by a systematic attempt to overthrow or undermine
a government or political system
subvert To overturn or overthrow from the foundation
successor A person or thing that succeeds another; a person who inherits
some title or office
sue To seek justice or right from, by legal process
suffice To be adequate, either in quality or quantity
sufficient Enough to meet the needs of a situation or a proposed end
suggest To mention or imply as a possibility
suggestive Having a covert or special meaning
sullen Showing a brooding ill humor
sully To place under suspicion or cast doubt upon (�sully someone�s
reputation�)
summarize To tell in or reduce to a succinct covering of the main points
superficial Presenting only an appearance; without substance or significance
superficiality Lack of depth of knowledge, thought, or feeling
superfluity Extreme excess
superfluous Extra; unnecessary
superiority The quality or state of being above another in rank, station, or
office
supernatural Not existing in nature, or not subject to explanation according to
natural laws; not physical or material
superstitious Full of beliefs or practices that result from ignorance, fear of the
unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of
causation
supervisor One who supervises or has charge and direction of
supplanted Removed or displaced by stratagem; displaced and taken the
place of; superseded
supplication The act of making a humble entreaty; humble and earnest prayer,
as in worship
supportive Furnishing support or assistance
suppressed Put down by force
suppression The act of putting down by authority or force
supreme Highest in rank or authority
surfeit The quality of being overabundant; an excess
surpass To transcend the reach, capacity, or powers of
surrender To give up completely or agree to forgo; to yield
surreptitious Marked by quiet, caution, secrecy, or stealth; taking pains to
avoid being observed
surrogates People appointed to act in place of others; substitutes
survey To take a poll; to measure the size of a piece of land
surveyor One who views and examines for the purpose of ascertaining the
condition, quantity, or quality of anything
suspicion An impression that something might be the case
sustaining Bearing; upholding; supporting
swagger To walk with a lofty, proud gait, often in an attempt to impress
others
swarm To appear or collect in a crowd; to throng together
swerve The act of turning aside suddenly
swiftly With great speed
swindle To cheat or defraud grossly
syllabus A summary outline of a discourse, treatise, course of study, or
examination requirements
symbiosis The relation between two different kinds of organisms that are
interdependent (each gains benefits from the other)
symbolize To represent, express, or identify by a symbol (an image or
picture)
symmetry Correspondence in size, shape, and relative position of parts on
opposite sides of an axis or dividing line
sympathize To share in suffering or grief
symphony A large orchestra
symptom Subjective evidence of disease or physical disturbance
synopsis A condensed statement or outline
syntax The part of grammar dealing with the construction of sentences
synthetic Of, relating to, or produced by chemical or biochemical synthesis

GRE Word of The Day from GREword.com

Gargantuan Vocabulary List: GRE word-5