1. abate (v) reduce, diminish2. abdicate (v) formally give up the throne (or some other

power or responsibility)3. aberrant (adj) abnormal, deviant4. abhor (v) detest, regard with disgust5. abjure (v) give up, renounce; repudiate, recant, or shun

(especially formally or under oath)6. abrasive (adj) rough, suitable for grinding or polishing

(such as sandpaper); causing irritation orannoyance

7. abridge (v) reduce or lessen; shorten by omitting partsthroughout while retaining the main idea

8. abstain (v) hold back, refrain (especially from somethingbad or unhealthy); decline to vote

9. acme (n) summit, peak, highest point10. activism (n) the practice of pursuing political or other

goals through vigorous action, often includingprotests and demonstrations

11. adhere (v) stick (to), such as with glue, or to a plan orbelief

12. admonish (v) mildly scold; caution, advise, or remind to dosomething

13. adverse (adj) opposing, harmful14. advocate (v, n) speak or argue in favor of (verb); a person

who pleads for a cause or on behalf of anotherperson (noun)

15. aesthetic (adj, n) concerning the appreciation of beauty orgood taste, pertaining to the science of what isbeautiful (adj); a sense of beauty and taste of aparticular time and place (noun)

16. affable (adj) warm and friendly, pleasant, approachable17. affectation (n) fake behavior (such as in speech or dress)

adopted to give a certain impression18. aggrandize (v) make greater; exaggerate19. aggregate (v, adj) gather together, amount to (verb);

constituting a whole made up of constituentparts (adj)

20. alacrity (n) cheerful or speedy willingness21. alienate (v) cause to become unfriendly, hostile, or

distant22. alleviate (v) lessen, make easier to endure23. ambiguous (adj) not clear, hard to understand, open to

having several meanings or interpretations24. ambivalent (adj) uncertain; unable to decide, or wanting to

do two contradictory things at once

25. analogous (adj) comparable, corresponding in someparticular way (making a good analogy)

26. anarchy (n) absence of law or government; chaos,disorder

27. anoint (v) rub or sprinkle oil on; make sacred, such asby ceremony that includes applying oil tosomeone

28. anomaly (n) deviation from what is common;inconsistency

29. antagonize (v) make hostile or unfriendly30. antipathy

(n.)deep dislike, aversion, or repugnance, somtimeswithout reason

31. apathy (n) not caring; absence of feeling; lack ofinterest or concern

32. apocryphal (adj) of questionable authenticity; false33. appease

(v.)pacify, satisfy, relieve; concede to be belligerentdemands, sometimes at the expense ofprinciples

34. appreciable(adj.)

enough to be perceived, considerable

35. arbitrary(adj.)

based entirely on one's discretion; capricious,unreasonable, or having no basis

36. arcane (adj) known or understood by only a few;obscure, secret

37. archaic (adj) characteristic of an earlier period, ancient,primitive

38. arduous (adj) very difficult, strenuous; severe, hard toendure

39. articulate (adj, verb) using language in a clear, fluent way(adj); speak distinctly or give clarity to an idea(verb)

40. artifact (n) any object made by humans, especiallythose from an earlier time, such as thoseexcavated by archaeologists

41. artless (adj) free of deceit or craftiness, natural,genuine; lacking skill or knowledge, crude,uncultured

42. ascertain (v) find out with certainty43. ascetic (adj, n) abstinent or austere in lifestyle (adj); a

person who leads an austere and simple likewithout material pleasures, esp. someone whodoes this for religious reasons

44. assuage (v) make milder, relieve; soothe, pacify, or calm45. audacious (adj) very bold or brave, often in a rude or

reckless way; extremely original46. augment (v) make larger

Manhattan GRE 500 Essential WordsStudy online at quizlet.com/_rfbfi

47. austere (adj) severe in manner or appearance; veryself-disciplined, ascetic; without luxury orease; sober or serious

48. autonomous (adj) self-governing, independent49. aver (v) declare or affirm with confidence50. avid (adj) enthusiastic, dedicated, passionate;

excessively desirous51. balk (v) refuse to proceed or to do something52. base (adj) morally low, mean, dishonorable; of little

or no value; crude and unrefined; counterfeit53. belie (v) contradict or misrepresent54. benign (adj) harmless; favorable; kindly, gentle, or

beneficial; not cancerous55. bogus (adj) fake, fraudulent56. bolster (v) strengthen or support57. boor (n) rude, ill-mannered, or insensitive person; a

peasant or country bumpkin58. buffer (n) something that shields, protects, absorbs

shock, or cushions59. bureaucracy (n) government characterized by many bureaus

and petty administrators or by excessive,seemingly meaningless requirements

60. burgeon (v) grow or flourish rapidly; put forth buds orshoots (of a plant)

61. buttress (v, n) support or encourage (verb); a support orprop, esp. projecting from and supporting thewall of a building (noun)

62. bygone (adj, n) past, former (adj); that which is in thepast (usually plural noun)

63. cacophony (n) harsh, discordant, or meaningless mixtureof sounds

64. candid (adj) open, sincere, honest65. canonical (adj) authorized, recognized; pertaining to the

canon, or body of accepted rules, standards orartistic works

66. capricious (adj) acting on impulse, erratic67. cartography (n) mapmaking68. castigate (v) criticize severely; punish in order to correct69. catalyst (n) causer of change70. caustic (adj) capable of corroding metal or burning the

skin; very critical or sarcastic71. censure (n, v) strong disapproval or official reprimand

(noun); to issue such disapproval or reprimand(verb)

72. cescendo (n) steady increase in force, intensity, orthe loudness of a musical passage; aclimactic moment or peak

73. chauvinism (n) fanatical patriotism or blindenthusiasm for military glory; undue orbiased devotion to any group, cause, etc.

74. chronological (adj) arranged in or relating to time order75. clamor (v) noisy uproar or protest, as from a

crowd; a loud, continuous noise76. clinch (v) make final or settle conclusively; to

fasten or hold together77. coalesce (v) come together, unite; fuse together78. cogent (adj) very convincing, logical79. commensurate (adj) the same in size, extent, etc.,

equivalent; proportional80. complacent (adj) self-satisfied, smug; overly content

(and therefore lazy, neglectful, or someother bad quality)

81. complementary (adj) completing; fitting together well;filling mutual needs

82. compliant (adj) obeying, submissive; following therequirements

83. concede (v) give in, admit, yield; acknowledgereluctantly; grant or give up (such as givingup land after losing a war)

84. conciliatory (adj) reconciling, appeasing, attempting tomake the peace

85. concur (v) approve, agree86. condone (v) overlook, tolerate, regard as harmless87. confer (v) consult, compare views; bestow or give88. connoisseur (n) expert, especially in the fine arts;

person of educated, refined tastes89. console (v, n) lessen the suffering or grief of (verb);

a control panel, or small table or cabinet(noun)

90. consolidate (v) unite, combine, solidify, make coherent91. constrict (v) squeeze, compress; restrict the freedom

of92. construe (v) interpret or translate93. contentious (adj) controversial; prone to causing

arguments, especially gratuitous or pettyones

94. contextualize (v) place in context, such as by giving thebackground or circumstances

95. conundrum (n) riddle, the answer to which involves aplay on words; any mystery

96. converge (v) move towards one another ortowards a point; unite

97. conversant (adj) knowledgeable about orexperienced with

98. conversely (adv) in an opposite way; on the otherhand

99. convoluted (adj) twisted; very complicated100. copious (adj) plentiful, bountiful101. corroborate (v) support, add evidence to102. cosmopolitan (adj) belonging to the entire world, at

home globally; free from local ornational prejudices or attachments

103. countenance (n, v) facial expression or face (noun);approve or tolerate (verb)

104. counterintuitive (adj) against what one wouldintuitively expect

105. counterpoint (n) contrasting item, opposite; acomplement; the use of contrast orinterplay in a work of art

106. counterproductive (adj) defeating the purpose; preventingthe intended goal

107. covert (adj) secret, veiled, undercover108. crafty (adj) cunning, skillful in deception or

underhanded schemes109. craven (adj) very cowardly, lacking courage110. credibility (n) believability, trustworthiness111. credulous (adj) gullible; prone to believing or

trusting too easily or without enoughevidence

112. culminate (v) reach the highest point or finalstage

113. cynical (adj) thinking the worst of others'motivations; bitterly pessimistic

114. daunt (v) discourage, dishearten, lessen thecourage of

115. debase (v) degrade; lower in quality, value,rank, etc.; lower in moral quality

116. debunk (v) expose, ridicule, or disprove false orexaggerated claims

117. decorous (adj) behaving with propriety and goodtaste; polite

118. deem (v) judge; consider119. deface (v) vandalize, mar the appearance of120. defamatory (adj.) slanderous, injurious to someone's

reputation

121. default (n, v) failure to act, neglect (noun); fail tofulfill an obligation, esp. a financial one(verb)

122. deference (n) respectful submission; yielding to theauthority or opinion of another

123. deflect (v) cause to curve; turn aside, esp. from astraight course; avoid

124. deleterious (adj) harmful, unhealthy125. delineate (v) mark the outline of; sketch; describe in

detail126. denigrate (v) belittle, attack the reputation of127. denote (v) be a name or symbol for128. deride (v) mock, scoff at, laugh at contemptuously129. derivative (adj) derived from something else; not

original130. desiccate (v) thoroughly dried up, dehydrated131. detached (adj) impartial, disinterested;

unconcerned, distant, aloof132. deterrent (n) something that restrains or

discourages133. diatribe (n) bitter, abusive attack or criticism; rant134. didactic (adj) intended to instruct; teaching, or

teaching a moral lesson135. digress (v) go off-topic when speaking or writing136. din (n) loud, confused noise, esp. for a long

period of time137. disabuse (v) free someone from a mistake in

thinking138. discerning (adj) having good judgment or insight;

able to distinguish mentally139. discredit (v) injure the reputation of, destroy

credibility of or confidence in140. discrepancy (n) difference or inconsistency141. discriminating (adj) judicious, discerning, having good

judgment or insight142. disingenuous (adj) insincere, not genuine143. disinterested (adj) unbiased, impartial; not interested144. disjointed (adj) disconnected, not coherent, jerky;

having the joints separated145. dismiss (v) allow to disperse or leave; fire from a

job; put aside or reject, esp. after only abrief consideration

146. dispassionate (adj) unbiased, not having a selfish orpersonal motivation; calm, lackingemotion

147. dispatch (n, v) speed, promptness; send off or deal within a speedy way

148. disperse (v) scatter, spread widely, cause to vanish149. disposition (n) a person's general or natural mood;

tendency150. disquieting (adj) disturbing, causing anxiety151. disseminate (v) scatter, spread about, broadcast152. dissent (v, n) disagree or take an opposing view, esp.

in relation to a formal body such as agovernment, political party, or church; such aview

153. dissonance (n) harsh, inharmonious sound; cacophony;disagreement

154. distill (v) purify; extract the essential elements of155. diverge (v) differ, deviate; branch off or turn aside, as

from a path156. Divest (v) deprive or strip of rank, title, etc., or of

clothing or gear; to sell off holdings (oppositeof invest)

157. Divine (v) discover through divination orsupernatural means; perceive by insight

158. Document (v) support with evidence, cite sources in adetailed way, create documentary evidence of

159. Dogma (n) a system of principles laid down by anauthority; established belief

160. Dormant (adj) asleep, inactive, on a break161. Dubious (adj) doubtful, questionable, suspect162. e.g. (abbre.) for example, such as163. eccentric (adj) peculiar, odd, deviating from the norm

esp. in a whimsical way164. Eclectic (adj) selecting the best of everything or from

many diverse sources165. Eclipse (n, v) the obscuring of one thing by another,

such as the sun by the moon or a person by amore famous or talented person (noun); toobscure, darken, make less important (verb)

166. Efficacy (n) the quality of being able to produce theintended effect

167. Egalitarian (adj) related to the belief in the equality of allpeople, esp. in political, economic, or socialspheres

168. Egregious (adj) extraordinarily or conspicuously bad;glaring

169. Elated (adj) very happy, in high spirits170. Elevate (v) raise, lift up; lift the spirits of; move up to a

higher rank or status or raise up to a higherspiritual or intellectual plane

171. Elicit (v) call forth, bring out, evoke172. Eloquent (adj) marked by forceful, fluid, apt speech;

expressive, emotionally moving173. Embellish (v) decorate, add ornamentation; enhance (a

story) with fictional or fanciful details174. Eminent (adj) prominent, distinguished, of high rank175. Empirical (adj) coming from, based on, or able to be

verified by experience or experimentation; notpurely based on theory

176. Emulate (v) copy in an attempt to equal or be better than177. Enervate (v) weaken, tire178. Enhance (v) raise to a higher value, desirability, etc.179. Enigma (n) puzzle, mystery, riddle; mysterious or

contradictory person180. Entitlement (n) having the right to certain privileges;

believing, sometimes without cause, that onedeserves or has a right to certain privileges

181. Enumerate (v) count or list; specify one-by-one182. Ephemeral (adj) lasting only a short time, fleeting183. Equitable (adj) fair, equal, just184. Erratic (adj) inconsistent, wandering, having no fixed

course185. Erroneous (adj) mistaken, in error; improper, morally

incorrect186. Erudite (adj) scholarly, knowledgeable; possessing a

deep, often systematic, knowledge187. Eschew (v) shun, avoid, abstain from188. Esoteric (adj) understood by or intended for only a few;

secret189. Estimable (adj) worthy of esteem, admirable; able to be

estimated190. Eulogy (n) speech of praise or written work of praise,

esp. a speech given at a funeral191. Exacerbate (v) make worse (more violent, severe, etc.),

inflame; irritate or embitter (a person)192. Exacting (adj) very severe in making demands; requiring

precise attention193. Exculpate (v) clear from guilt or blame194. Exhaustive (adj) comprehensive, thorough, exhausting a

topic or subject, accounting for all possibilities;draining, tending to exhaust

195. Explicit (adj) direct, clear, fully revealed; clearlydepicting sex or nudity

196. Exponent (n) person who expounds or explains;champion, advocate, or representative

197. Extraneous (adj) irrelevant; foreign, coming from without,not belonging

198. Extrapolate (v) conjecture about an unknown byprojecting information about somethingknown; predict by projecting past experience

199. Facetious (adj) joking, humorous, esp. inappropriately;not serious, concerned with frivolous things

200. Facilitate (v) make easier, help the progress of201. Fallacious (ad) containing a fallacy, or mistake in logic;

logically unsound; deceptive202. Fanatical (adj) excessively devoted, enthusiastic, or

zealous in an uncritical way203. Fanciful (adj) whimsical, capricious; imaginary; freely

imaginative rather than based on reason orreality

204. Fathom (v) measure the depth of (usually of water) aswith a sounding line; penetrate and discoverthe meaning of, understand

205. Feasible (adj) possible; logical or likely; suitable206. Fidelity (n) faithful, loyalty; strict observance of duty;

accuracy in reproducing a sound or image207. Figurative (adj) metaphorical, based on figures of

speech; containing many figures of speech (asfancy-sounding writing); related to portrayinghuman or animals figures

208. Finesse (n, v) extreme delicacy, subtlety, or diplomacyin handling a sensitive situation or in aperformance or skill (noun); use tact ordiplomacy; employ a deceptive strategy (verb)

209. Flag (v) get tired, lose enthusiasm; hang limply ordroop

210. Fleeting (adj) passing quickly, transitory211. Foment (v) incite, instigate, stir up, promote the

growth of; apply medicated liquid to a bodypart

212. Foreshadow (v) indicate or suggest beforehand, presage213. Forfeit (v) surrender or lose as a result of an error,

crime, or failure to fulfill an obligation214. Fortify (v) strengthen, invigorate, encourage215. Fringe (n, adj) on the margin, periphery (adj); the

people in a group who hold the most extremeviews (noun)

216. Frugal (adj) economically, thrifty, not wasteful withmoney; inexpensive

217. Futile (adj) producing no useful result, ineffective;trivial unimportant

218. Gainsay (v) declare false, deny; oppose219. Garrulous (adj) talkative, wordy, rambling

220. Gauche (adj) tactless, lacking social grace,awkward, crude

221. Gawky (adj) physically awkward (esp. of a tall,skinny person, often used to describeteenagers)

222. Germane (adj) relevant and appropriate, on topic223. Gist (n) main idea, essence224. Glib (adj) fluent and easy in a way that suggests

superficiality or insincerity225. Goosebumps (n) the bumps created by hairs standing up

on the skin in response to cold, fear, etc.226. Gradation (n) a progression, a process taking place

gradually, in stages; one of these stages227. Gregarious (adj) sociable, pertaining to a flock or

crowd228. Guile (n) clever deceit, cunning, craftiness229. Hackneyed (adj) so commonplace as to be stale; not

fresh or original230. Hardy (adj) bold, brave, capable of enduring

hardship, fatigue, cold, etc.231. Haven (adj) harbor or port; refuge, safe place232. Hearken (v) listen, pay attention to233. Hedonist (n) person devoted to pleasure234. Heterogeneous (adj) different in type, incongruous;

composed of different types of elements235. Hierarchy (n) a ranked series; a classification of

people according to rank, ability, etc.; aruling body

236. Hodgepodge (n) mixture of different kinds of things,jumble

237. Homogeneous (adj) of the same kind; uniform throughout238. Hyperbole (n) deliberate exaggeration for effect239. Idiosyncrasy (n) characteristic or habit peculiar to an

individual; peculiar quality, quirk240. illiberality (n) narrow-mindedness, bigotry; strictness

or lack of generosity241. imminent (adj) ready to occur, impending242. Impair (v) make worse, weaken243. Impartial (adj) unbiased, fair244. Impede (v) hold back, obstruct the progress of245. Implication (n) act of implying or that which is

implied; close connection, esp. in anincriminating way

246. Implicit (adj) implied, not stated directly; involvedin the very essence of something,unquestionable

247. Implode (v) burst inward248. Inadvertent (adj) unintentional; characterized by a

lack of attention, careless249. Inasmuch (adv) in like manner, considering that

(contradiction of "in as much," generallyfollowed by "as")

250. Incendiary (adj) setting on fire, pertaining to arson;arousing strife, rebellion, etc.;"inflaming" the senses

251. Incentive (n) something that encourages greateraction or effort, such as a reward

252. Inchoate (adj) just begun, undeveloped,unorganized

253. Incipient (adj) just beginning; in a very early stage254. Incongruous (adj) out of place, inappropriate, not

harmonious255. Inconsequential (adj) insignificant, unimportant; illogical256. Incorporate (v) combine, unite; form a legal

corporation; embody, give physical formto

257. Indeterminate (adj) not fixed or determined, indefinite;vague

258. Indifferent (adj) not caring, having no interest;unbiased, impartial

259. Inform (v) inspire, animate; give substance,essence, or context to; be thecharacteristic quality of

260. Ingenuous (adj) genuine, sincere, not holding back;naive

261. Ingrained (adj) deep-rooted, forming part of the veryessence; worked into the fiber

262. Inherent (adj) existing as a permanent, essentialquality; intrinsic

263. Innocuous (adj) harmless, inoffensive264. Intelligible (adj) able to understood, clear265. Intractable (adj) difficult to control, manage, or

manipulate; hard to cure; stubborn266. Intrepid (adj) fearless, brave, enduring in the face

of adversity267. Intrinsic (adj) belonging to the essential nature of

a thing268. Jargon (n) vocabulary specific to a group or

occupation; convoluted or unintelligiblelanguage

269. Jocular (adj) joking or given to joking all thetime; jolly, playful

270. Judicious (adj) using good judgment; wise, sensible

271. Juncture (n) critical point in time, such as a crisis or atime when a decision is necessary; a placewhere two things are joined together

272. Keen (adj) sharp, piercing; very perceptive ormentally sharp; intense (of a feeling)

273. Kudos (n) praise, honor, congratulations274. Lackluster (adj) not shiny; dull, mediocre, lacking

brilliance or vitality275. Laconic (adj) using few words, concise276. Lament (v, n) mourn; express grief, sorrow, or regret

(verb); an expression of grief, esp. as a song orpoem (noun)

277. Lampoon (n, v) a harsh satire (noun); ridicule or satirize(verb)

278. Landmark (n, adj) object (such as a building) that standsout and can be used to navigate by; veryimportant place, event, etc.

279. Languid (adj) drooping from exhaustion, sluggish,slow; lacking in spirit

280. Lassitude (n) tiredness, weariness; lazy indifference281. Laudable (adj) worthy of praise282. Lavish (adj, v) abundant or giving in abundance;

marked by excess (adj); give very generously(verb)

283. Layperson (n) a person who is not a member of the clergyor not a member of a particular profession(such as medicine, law, etc.)

284. Levity (n) lightness (of mind, spirit, or mood) or lackof seriousness, sometimes in an inappropriateway

285. Levy (v, n) collect tax from, wage war on, or enlistfor military service (verb); act of collecting taxor amount owed, or the drafting of troops intomilitary service (noun)

286. Liberal (adj, n) favorable to progress or reform;believing in maximum possible individualfreedom; tolerant, open-minded; generous(adj); a person with such beliefs or practices(noun)

287. Libertine (n) morally or sexually unrestrained person;freethinker (regarding religion)

288. Likewise (adv) also, in addition to; similarly, in thesame way

289. Log (v, n) keep a record of, write down; travel for orat a certain distance or speed (verb); a writtenrecord (noun)

290. Loquacious (adj) talkative, wordy291. Lucid (adj) clear, easy to understand; rational, sane

292. Lull (n, v) soothe or cause to fall asleep (as ina lullaby); quiet down; make to feel secure,sometimes falsely (verb); a period of calmor quiet (noun)

293. Makeshift (n, adj) a temporary, often improvised,substitute (noun); improvised fortemporary use (adj)

294. Malleable (adj) able to be bent, shaped, or adapted295. Maverick (n) rebel, individualist, dissenter296. Mendacious (adj) lying, habitually dishonest297. Mercurial (adj) quickly unpredictably changing

moods; fickle, flighty298. Metamorphosis (n) a complete change or transformer (in

biology, a change such as a caterpillarbecoming a pupa and then a butterfly)

299. Meticulous (adj) taking extreme care in regards todetails; precise, fussy

300. Mitigate (v) make less severe; lessen or moderate(damage, grief, pain, etc.)

301. Modest (adj) humble; simple rather than showy;decent (esp. "covering up" in terms ofdress); small, limited

302. Mollify (v) calm or soothe (an angry person);lessen or soften

303. Monotony (n) sameness or repetitiousness to thepoint of being boring; lack of variation,uniformity, esp. repetition in sound

304. Moreover (adv) besides; in addition to what was juststated

305. Mores (n) customs, manners, or morals of aparticular group

306. Mundane (adj) common, ordinary, everyday307. Naive (adj) simple and unsophisticated,

unsuspecting, lacking worldly experienceand critical judgment

308. Nascent (adj) coming into existence, stilldeveloping

309. Negate (v) deny or refute; make void or cause to beineffective

310. Net (adj, v) remaining after expenses or otherfactors have been deducted; ultimate (adj);to bring in as profit or to catch as in a net(verb)

311. Nevertheless/Nonetheless (adv) however, even so,despite that

312. Notoriety (n) ill fame; the state of beingwell-known for a disgracefulreason

313. Novel (adj) new, fresh, original314. Nuance (n) a subtle difference in tone,

meaning, and expression315. Objective (adj) factual, related to reality

or physical objects; notinfluenced by emotions,unbiased

316. Obsequious (adj) servile, very compliant,fawning

317. Obsolete (adj) out of date, no longer inuse

318. Obstinate (adj) stubborn or hard tocontrol

319. Obviate (v) prevent, eliminate, or makeunnecessary

320. Occult (n, adj, v) the supernatural(noun); pertaining to magic,astrology, etc.; mysterious,secret or hidden (adj); to hide,to shut off from view

321. Offhand (adj) casual, informal; donewithout preparation orforethought; rude in a shortway, brusque

322. Officious (adj) excessively eager ingiving unwanted advice orintruding where one is notwanted; meddlesome, pushy

323. Offset (v, n) counteract, compensatefor (verb); a counterbalance(noun)

324. Onerous (adj) burdensome, oppressive,hard to endure

325. Opaque (adj) not translucent; notallowing light, hear, etc. topass through; dark, dull,unclear or stupid

326. Optimal/Optimum (adj) best, most desirable orfavorable

327. Orthodox (adj) adhering to a traditional,established faith, or toanything customary orcommonly accepted

328. Oscillate (v) swing back and forth;waver, change one's mind

329. Outstrip (v) surpass, exceed; be larger or better than;leave behind

330. Overshadow (v) cast a shadow over, darken; dominate,make to seem less important

331. Paradigm (n) model or pattern; worldview, set ofshared assumptions, values, etc.

332. Paradox (n) contradiction, or seeming contradictionthat is actually true

333. Pariah (n) social outcast, untouchable334. Partial (adj) biased, prejudiced, favoring one over

the others; having a special liking forsomething or someone (usually partial to)

335. Partisan (adj, n) devoted to a particular group, cause,etc. (adj); fervent supporter of a group, party,idea, etc.; guerilla fighter (noun)

336. Patent (adj, n) obvious, apparent, plain to see (adj);a letter from the government guaranteeing aninventor rights to his or her invention (noun)

337. Pathological (adj) relating to or caused by disease;relating to compulsive bad behavior

338. Patronizing (adj) condescending, having a superiormanner, treating as an inferior

339. Paucity (n) scarcity, the state of being small innumber

340. Peccadillo (n) small sin or fault341. Pedestrian (adj) ordinary, dull, commonplace342. Penchant (n) liking or inclination343. Perfidious (adj) disloyal, treacherous, violating one's

trust344. Peripheral (adj) relating to or making up an outer

boundary or region; not of primaryimportance

345. Permeate (v) spread or penetrate throughout346. Pervasive (adj) tending to spread throughout347. Philanthropy (n) efforts to improve the well-being of

humankind, generally through giving money348. Phony (adj) fake, counterfeit; insincere, not genuine349. Pious (adj) devout; religiously reverent and dutiful350. Pith (n) core, essence; significance or weight351. Placate (v) satisfy or calm down (angry or

dissatisfied person), esp. by conciliatorygestures

352. Placid (adj) peaceful, calm, tranquil353. Plastic (adj) able to be shaped or formed; easily

influenced354. Plausible (n) believable; having the appearance of

truth

355. Plummet (v) plunge, fall straight down356. Polarized (adj) divided into sharply opposed groups357. Ponderous (adj) heavy; bulky and unwieldy; dull,

labored358. Posthumous (adj) happening or continuing after death359. Potentate (n) ruler, person of great power360. Pragmatic (adj) practical; dealing with actual facts

and reality361. Pre-empt (v) prevent; take the place of, supplant; take

before someone else can362. Preamble (n) introductory statement, preface363. Precarious (adj) unstable, insecure, dangerous364. Precursor (n) something that comes before, esp.

something that also announces or suggestssomething on its way

365. Predisposed (adj) having an inclination or tendencybeforehand; susceptible

366. Presumptive (adj) based on inference or assumption;providing reasonable grounds for belief

367. Presumptuous (adj) too bold or forward; going beyondthat which is proper

368. Pretentious (adj) claiming or demanding a position ofimportance or dignity, esp. whenunjustified; showing off creating deceptive,false show of worth

369. Principled (adj) having high moral standards370. Pristine (adj) in an original, pure state; uncorrupted371. Probity (n) honesty, integrity372. Prodigal (adj) wasteful, extravagant; giving

abundantly, lavish373. Prodigious (adj) extraordinarily large, impressive, etc.374. Profligate (adj) completely and shamelessly immoral,

or extremely wasteful375. Profound (adj) very insightful, penetrating deeply

into a subject; pervasive intense, "down tothe very bottom;" at the very bottom

376. Profuse (adj) abundant, extravagant, giving orgiven freely

377. Prohibitive (adj) tending to forbid something, orserving to prevent something

378. Proliferate (v) increase or spread rapidly or excessively379. Prologue (n) introductory part to a book, play, etc.380. Pronounced (adj) distinct, strong, clearly indicated381. Propriety (n) conforming to good manners or

appropriate behavior; justness

382. Prosaic (adj) dull, ordinary383. Proscribe (v) prohibit, outlaw; denounce; exile or banish384. Prospective (adj) potential, in the future385. Prudent (adj) wise in practical matters, carefully

providing for the future386. Pugnacious (adj) inclined to fight, combative387. Qualified (adj) modified, limited, conditional on

something else388. Quandary (n) uncertainty or confusion about what to do,

dilemma389. Quibble (v) make trivial arguments or criticisms, find

faults in a petty way, esp. to evade somethingmore important

390. Quotidian (adj) daily; everyday, ordinary391. Ranks (n) personnel; a group of people considered all

together392. Reap (v) harvest, such as by cutting; gather; get as a

result of one's effort393. Recluse (n) person who lives in seclusion394. Refute (v) prove to be false395. Relegate (v) send or commit to an inferior place, rank,

condition, etc.; exile, banish; assign (a task)to someone else

396. Remedial (adj) providing a remedy, curative; correctinga deficient skill

397. Render (v) give, submit, surrender; translate; declareformally; cause to become

398. Replete (adj) supplied in abundance, filled, gorged(used with with)

399. Reproach (n, v) blame, disgrace (noun); criticize,express disappointment in (verb)

400. Repudiate (v) reject, cast off, deny that something hasauthority

401. Requite (v) reciprocate, repay, or revenge402. Rescind (v) annul, repeal, make void403. Resolution (n) the quality of being firmly determined;

resolving to do something; a formal judgment,esp. decided by a vote

404. Resolve (v, n) find a solution to; firmly decide to dosomething; decide by formal vote (verb);firmness of purpose (noun)

405. Respectively (adv) in the order given406. Restive (adj) impatient or uneasy under the control of

another; resisting being controlled407. Reticent (adj) not talking much; private (of a person),

restrained, reserved

408. Retrospective (adj, n) looking to the past or backward;applying to the past, retroactive (adj); an artexhibit of an artist's work over a long periodof time (n)

409. Reverent (adj) feeling or expressing very deep respectand awe

410. Rhetoric (n) the art or study of persuasion throughspeaking or writing; language that iselaborate or pretentious but actually empty,meaning little

411. Rife (adj) happening frequently, abundant,currently being reported

412. Rudimentary (adj) elementary, relating to the basics;undeveloped, primitive

413. Rustic (adj, n) relating to country life,unsophisticated; primitive; made of roughwood (adj); a rural or uncultured person(noun)

414. Sacrosanct (adj) sacred, inviolable, not to be trespassedon or violated; above any criticism

415. Sagacious (adj) wise; showing good judgment andforesight

416. Salubrious (adj) healthful, promoting health417. Sanction (n, v) permission or approval, something

that gives support or authority to somethingelse (noun); to allow, confirm, ratify (verb);OR a legal action against another country toget it to comply (noun); to place sanctions orpenalties on (verb)

418. Sanguine (adj) cheerfully optimistic, hopeful; reddish,ruddy (as in rosy-red cheeks indicatinghealth or vitality)

419. Sap (n, v) the inner fluid of a plant or anyessential body fluid; energy, vitality; a persontaken advantage of (noun); undermine,weaken, tire out (verb)

420. Satiate orSate

(v) to fully satisfy; to go beyond satisfying tothe point of excess (possibly inducingdisgust, tiredness, etc.)

421. Saturate (v) soak or imbue thoroughly; cause asubstance to unite with the greatest possibleamount of another substance

422. Savor (v) appreciate fully, taste or smell withpleasure

423. Scant (adj) not enough or barely enough424. Scathing (adj) severe, injurious; bitterly harsh or

critical (as a remark)425. Secular (adj) not religious or holy; pertaining to

worldly things

426. Sedulous (adj) persevering, persistent, diligent inone's efforts

427. Sentient (adj) conscious; experiencing sensation orperceiving with the senses

428. Simultaneous (adj) at the same time429. Skeptic (adj) person inclined to doubting or

questioning generally accepted beliefs430. Skirt (v) border, lie along the edge of , go around;

evade431. Slack (adj, v, n) loose, negligent, lazy, weak (adj);

neglect to so one's duties; loosen up, relax(verb); period of little work (noun)

432. Slew (n) a large number or quantity433. Slight (adj, v, n) small, not very important, slender

or delicate (adj); treat as though not veryimportant; snub, ignore (verb); an act oftreating in this way, a discourtesy (noun)

434. Solicitous (adj) concerned or anxious (about anotherperson), expressing care; eager or desirous;very careful

435. Soporific (adj, n) causing sleep; sleepy, drowsy (adj);something that causes sleep (noun)

436. Sound (v) measure the depth of (usually water) aswith a sounding line; penetrate and discoverthe meaning of, understand (usually assound the depths)

437. Spartan (adj) very disciplined and stern; frugal,living simply, austere; suggestive of theancient Spartans

438. Spate (n) sudden outpouring or rush; flood439. Spearhead (v) be the leader of440. Specious (adj) seemingly true but actually false;

deceptively attractive441. Spectrum (n) a broad range of nevertheless related

qualities or ideas, esp. those that overlap tocreate a continuous series (as in a colorspectrum, where each color blends into thenext in a continuous way)

442. Speculate (v) contemplate; make a guess or educatedguess about; engage in a risky businesstransaction, gamble

443. Sporadic (adj) occasional, happening irregularly or inscattered locations

444. Sportive (adj) playful, merry, joking around, done "insport" (rather than intended seriously)

445. Standing (n, adj) status, rank, reputation (noun);existing indefinitely, not movable (adj)

446. Stark (adj) complete, total, utter; harsh or grim;extremely simple, severe, blunt, or plain

447. Static (adj) fixed, not moving or changing, lackingvitality

448. Status Quo (n) existing state or condition449. Stingy (adj) not generous with money, reluctant to

spend or give450. Stoic or

Stoical(adj, n) indifferent to pleasure or pain,enduring without complaint (adj); personindifferent to pleasure or pain (noun)

451. Stolid (adj) unemotional, showing little emotion,not easily moved

452. Stymie orStymy

(v, n) block, hinder, or thwart (verb); anobstacle (noun)

453. Subjective (adj) existing in the mind or relating to one'sown thoughts, opinions, emotions, etc.;personal, individual, based on feelings

454. Subside (v) sink, settle down, become less active;return to a normal level

455. Substantiate (v) support with evidence or proof; give amaterial existence to

456. Succeeding (adj) coming after or following457. Supersede (v) replace, take the position of, cause to be

disregarded as void or obsolete458. Supplicate (v) pray humbly; ask, beg, or seek in a

humble way459. Surfeit (n) excess, excessive amount, overindulgence460. Surmise (v) guess, infer, think, or make an opinion

with incomplete information461. Sycophant (n) servile flatterer, parasitic person, one

who fawns in order to get ahead462. Synchronous (adj) happening at the same time; occurring

at the same rate and thus happening togetherrepeatedly

463. Table (v) lay aside to discuss later, often as a way topostpone discussion indefinitely

464. Tacit (adj) understood without being said; implied,not stated directly; silent

465. Taciturn (adj) not talking much, reserved; silent,holding back in conversation

466. Tangential (adj) only slightly relevant, going off topic467. Temperance (n) moderation, self-control, esp. regarding

alcohol or other desires or pleasures; totalabstinence from alcohol

468. Tenuous (adj) long and thin, slender; flimsy, havinglittle substance

469. Timely (adj) well-timed, happening at a suitabletime

470. Timorous (adj) fearful, timid

471. Tirade (n) bitter, abusive criticism or verbal attack472. Torpor (n) sluggishness, lethargy, or apathy; a

period of inactivity473. Torrid (adj) very hot, parching, burning;

passionate474. Tractable (adj) easily controlled or managed, docile;

easily shaped or molded475. Transitory (adj) temporary, short-lived, not lasting476. Trifling (adj) trivial, not very important; so small

as to be unimportant; frivolous, shallow477. Trite (adj) lacking freshness or originality,

lacking effectiveness due to overuse, cliche478. Ubiquitous (adj) existing everywhere at the same time479. Undermine (v) weaken cause to collapse by digging

away at the foundation (of a building or anargument); injure or attack in a secretiveor underhanded way

480. Underscore (v) emphasize (or, literally, to underlinetext)

481. Unearth (v) dig up, uncover, expose482. Unequivocal (adj) unambiguous, clear, absolute;

having only one possible meaning483. Unprecedented (adj) never before known or seen, without

having happened previously484. Unseemly (adj) improper, inappropriate, against the

rules of taste or politeness485. Vacillate (v) waver in one's mind or opinions, be

indecisive486. Venerate (v) revere, regard with deep respect and

awe487. Veracity (n) truthfulness, accuracy; habitual

adherence to the truth488. Verbose (adj) wordy489. Viable (adj) capable of living (or growing,

developing, etc.); practical, workable490. Vintage (adj, n) related to items of high quality

from a previous era, old-fashioned,antique (adj); the wine of a particular year(noun)

491. Virtual (adj) existing only in the mind or bymeans of a computer network; existing inresults or in essence but not officially or inname

492. Vituperate (v) verbally abuse, rebuke or criticizeharshly

493. Volatile (adj) varying, inconstant, fleeting; tendingto violence, explosive

494. Warranted (adj) justified, authorized (warrant can mean tojustify or a justification, but can also mean tovouch for or guarantee)

495. Wary (adj) watchful, motivated by caution, on guardagainst danger

496. Whereas (conjunction) while on the contrary,considering that

497. Whimsical (adj) marked or motivated by whims (odd,fanciful ideas); erratic, unpredictable

498. Wily (adj) crafty, cunning, characterized by tricks orartifice

499. Zeal (n) great fervor or enthusiasm for a cause,person, etc.; tireless diligence in furthering thatcause; passion, ardor

500. zenith (n) high point, culmination

Manhattan GRE 500 Essential Words