375

The Most Important/Frequently Used GRE Words and Their

Opposites

Following is a list of popular GRE words and their opposites. Note: These words fit into specific categories, and it may be a little easier memorizing the meaning of these important words knowing what category they fit into.

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

TO PRAISE TO BELITTLE

acclaim admonishapplaud assailcommend berateeulogize calumniateexalt castigateextol censureflatter chastisehail chidelaud decrypanegyrize denigrateresound denouncetout disparage excoriate execrate flay lambaste malign reprimand reproach scold upbraid vilify

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

TO CALM OR MAKE TO MAKE WORSEBETTER OR RUFFLE

abate alienateaccede antagonizeaccommodate contradictallay disputeameliorate embitterappease estrangeassuage incensecomply infuriateconcede nettleconciliate opposegratify oppugnmitigate repulsemollify snubpacify palliate placate propitiatequellsatiate

376 • GRUBER’S COMPLETE GRE GUIDE 2014

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

PLEASANT UNPLEASANT

affable callousagreeable cantankerousamiable captiouscaptivating churlishcongenial contentiouscordial gruffcourteous irascibledecorous irefulengaging obstinategracious orneryobliging peevishsportive perverseunblemished petulantundefiled querulous testy vexing wayward

GENEROUS CHEAP

altruistic frugalbeneficent miserlybenevolent niggardlycharitable paltryeffusive parsimonioushospitable penurioushumanitarian skinflintymagnanimous spartanmunificent tight-fistedphilanthropic thrifty

ABUNDANT OR RICH SCARCE OR POOR

affluent dearthbounteous deficitcopious destituteluxuriant exiguousmultifarious impecuniousmultitudinous impoverishedmyriad indigentopulent insolventpecunious meagerplenteous paltryplentiful paucityplethoric penuriousprofuse scantyprosperous scarcitysuperabundant sparseteemingwealthy

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

YIELDING NOT YIELDING

accommodating adamantamenable determinatecompliant immutabledeferential indomitabledocile inflexibleflexible intractablehospitable intransigentinclined recalcitrantmalleable relentlessobliging resolutepliant steadfastsubmissive tenacioussubservienttractable

COURAGEOUS TIMID

audacious diffidentdauntless indisposedgallant laconicintrepid reservedstalwart reticentundaunted subduedvaliant timorousvalorous

LIVELY BLEAK

brisk dejecteddynamic dismalebullient forlornexhilarating lacklusterexuberant lugubriousinspiring melancholyprovocative mutedscintillating prostratestimulating sombertitillating tenebrous

VOCABULARY BUILDING THAT IS GUARANTEED TO RAISE YOUR GRE SCORE • 377

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

CAREFUL CARELESS

chary culpablecircumspect feloniousconscientious indifferentdiscreet insouciantexacting lackadaisicalfastidious laxgingerly negligentheedful perfunctoryjudicious rashmeticulous remissprovident reprehensibleprudent temerariouspunctiliousscrupulousscrutinouswary

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

HUMBLE HAUGHTY

demure affecteddiffident aristocraticindisposed arrogantintroverted audaciouslaconic authoritarianplebeian autocraticreluctant condescendingrestrained disdainfulreticent egotisticalsubdued flagrantsubservient flippanttaciturn imperioustimid impertinenttimorous impudentunassuming insolentunostentatious ostentatiousunpretentious pompous proud supercilious vainglorious

Note: In many cases you can put the prefix im- or un- in front of the word to change its meaning to its opposite.

EXAMPLE: Pecunious. Opposite: Impecunious Ostentatious. Opposite: Unostentatious