GRE/CAT VOCABULARY LIST 45
sundry = miscellaneous; various; several; N. sundries:
small miscellaneous items
scurry = move hastily; hurry; move briskly
ineffectual = not effective; not having a desired effect;
weak
potent = powerful; convincing; persuasive; greatly influential
barrage = barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelming
profusion; large number of questions or statements;
Ex. a barrage of criticism
anchor = secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place; N. anchorage
graphic = pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly described
cunning = clever in deceiving; sly; N: cleverness in deceiving;
deceit
subjugate = conquer; bring under control
turgid = swollen; distended (as from liquid)
scabbard = case for a sword blade; sheath
reactionary = strongly opposed to social or political
change; opposing progress; politically ultraconservative;
N. OP. radical
illimitable = infinite; limitless
undulating = moving with a wavelike motion; V. undulate;
CF. und: wave
pass = off present falsely; represent falsely to be
interloper = intruder; one who interferes
concord = harmony; accord
wade = walk through a substance, such as water, that impedes
movement
delusion = false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions
of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that
sublime = causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect,
etc.; exalted; noble and uplifting; utter
convoke = call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation
effective = effectual; producing a strong response;
striking; in operation; in effect; Ex. effective
speech/photograph
hortatory = encouraging; exhortive; marked by exhortation;
CF. exhort
squalor = condition of being squalid; filth; degradation;
dirty neglected state; ADJ. squalid: dirty; sordid;
morally repulsive; Ex. squalid story
bivouac = temporary encampment; camp without tents;
V.
anguish = acute pain; extreme suffering
severity = harshness; intensity; sternness; austerity; ADJ.
severe: harsh; strict; extremely violent or intense
omnivorous = eating both plant and animal food; devouring
everything
smear = spread or cover with a sticky substance; N: mark
made by smearing
edifice = building (of imposing size)
hydrophobia = fear of water; rabies
grouch = bad-tempered complaint; person who keeps
complaining; V: complain; grumble
tedium = boredom; weariness; ADJ. tedious
carcinogenic = causing cancer; N. carcinogen
adage = wise saying; proverb
obsidian = black volcanic rock
pulpit = raised platform used in preaching (in a church)
luxuriate = take pleasure in great comfort
skim = read or glance through quickly; touch lightly in
passing; brush; remove from the surface of a liquid
belligerent = quarrelsome
vise = vice; tool for holding work in place; clamping device
dissipate = squander; waste foolishly; scatter
cascade = small waterfall
tart = sharp to the taste; acid-tasting; caustic; sarcastic; Ex.
tart apple/reply
miscreant = wretch; wrongdoer; villain; Ex. kindness to
the miscreant; CF. believe
doggerel = poor verse
atheistic = denying the existence of God; N. atheism
uninhibited = having no inhibitions; free in behavior and
feelings
frolicsome = prankish; gay; playful; merry; frisky
inexorable = relentless; unyielding; implacable; not capable
of being changed by entreaty or efforts; Ex. inexorable
price rises
surge = powerful movement of or like a wave; V.
surrogate = substitute; person or thing used in place of
another; Ex. surrogate mother; ADJ.
hue = and cry outcry; loud cry or clamor; strong protest;
Ex. hue and cry against the new rule
pachyderm = thick-skinned animal
emetic = substance causing vomiting; ADJ.
ironic = expressing irony; occurring in an unexpected and
contrary manner
discrete = separate; unconnected
problematic = causing a problem; open to doubt; doubtful;
unsettled; questionable; Ex. Whether the arena will
ever be completed is problematic.
purgatory = place of spiritual expiation; temporary state
or place in which the souls must expiate their sins
insalubrious = unwholesome; not healthful; Ex. insalubrious
place
meddlesome = interfering; V. meddle: interfere
cadet = student at a military school
