Whether you’re preparing for graduate school in the U.S. or abroad, a strong vocabulary is essential for success on the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations). The Verbal Reasoning section—which includes text completion, sentence equivalence, and reading comprehension—rewards test-takers who understand both word meanings and how words function in context.
But with hundreds of GRE vocabulary lists floating around online, how do you know which words to actually study?
To save you time and help you focus your efforts, we’ve compiled a carefully curated list of the Top 200 GRE vocabulary words that are most likely to appear on the exam. These words were selected based on extensive research, test-taker feedback, and their frequency in official GRE prep materials. With definitions and GRE-style example sentences included, this list is designed to build both your knowledge and your confidence.
- Abate – to reduce in intensity or amount
Example: The storm finally abated, allowing residents to begin cleanup efforts. - Aberrant – deviating from the usual or natural type
Example: His aberrant behavior was cause for concern among his colleagues. - Abjure – to formally reject a belief, cause, or claim
Example: The former cult member abjured his past affiliations during the interview. - Abscond – to leave secretly, often to avoid arrest or punishment
Example: The accountant absconded with company funds and vanished without a trace. - Abstemious – practicing moderation or self-denial, especially with food or drink
Example: Despite the feast before him, he remained abstemious and ate only a small portion. - Abyss – a deep or seemingly bottomless pit or chasm
Example: Staring into the abyss, she felt a sudden rush of vertigo and fear. - Acme – the highest point of achievement or excellence
Example: At the acme of her career, she was awarded a prestigious international prize. - Acrimonious – angry and bitter in tone or language
Example: The acrimonious debate left both candidates visibly shaken. - Adroit – skillful and clever, especially in using the hands or mind
Example: The adroit negotiator was able to close the deal within hours. - Aesthetic – concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty
Example: The minimalist aesthetic of the gallery appealed to the designer’s refined taste. - Alacrity – eager and enthusiastic willingness
Example: She accepted the research opportunity with alacrity, eager to begin the project. - Alleviate – to make suffering, pain, or a problem less severe
Example: The new policy aims to alleviate financial stress for low-income students. - Altruism – selfless concern for the well-being of others
Example: His altruism was evident in his years of volunteer work abroad. - Amalgamate – to combine or unite into one structure or organization
Example: The two law firms amalgamated to increase their national presence. - Ambivalent – having mixed or contradictory feelings about something
Example: She felt ambivalent about moving—excited for the change, yet sad to leave. - Amiable – having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner
Example: His amiable demeanor made him a favorite among students and faculty alike. - Amorphous – without a clearly defined shape or form
Example: The artist’s amorphous sculpture challenged viewers’ perceptions of form and space. - Anachronistic – belonging to a period other than the one being portrayed
Example: The use of a smartphone in the medieval drama was jarringly anachronistic. - Analogous – comparable in certain respects, typically to clarify meaning
Example: The human eye is often considered analogous to a camera lens. - Anarchy – a state of disorder due to absence of authority
Example: After the collapse of the regime, the country descended into anarchy.
- Anomalous – deviating from what is standard or expected
Example: The scientist was intrigued by the anomalous results of the experiment. - Antagonize – to cause someone to become hostile
Example: His constant criticism antagonized even his most loyal supporters. - Antipathy – a deep-seated feeling of dislike
Example: She felt a strong antipathy toward injustice in all forms. - Apathy – lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern
Example: Voter apathy is often cited as a reason for low turnout in elections. - Appease – to pacify or placate someone by acceding to their demands
Example: The prime minister tried to appease critics by revising the bill. - Apprehensive – anxious or fearful that something bad will happen
Example: She was apprehensive about starting her new job in a foreign city. - Arbitrary – based on random choice or personal whim rather than reason
Example: The manager’s arbitrary decisions frustrated the team. - Arcane – understood by few; mysterious or secret
Example: The professor’s lecture on arcane philosophy lost the attention of many students. - Archaic – very old or old-fashioned
Example: The museum display featured archaic tools from ancient civilizations. - Arduous – involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring
Example: Climbing the mountain was an arduous but rewarding journey. - Articulate – having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently
Example: The student gave an articulate response during the debate. - Artifice – clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially used to deceive
Example: The con artist relied on artifice to manipulate his victims. - Ascetic – characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from indulgence
Example: The monk led an ascetic life devoted to prayer and fasting. - Assiduous – showing great care and perseverance
Example: Her assiduous efforts to finish the thesis on time paid off. - Assuage – to make an unpleasant feeling less intense
Example: He tried to assuage her fears about the upcoming surgery. - Astringent – sharp or severe in manner or style
Example: Her astringent remarks silenced the room. - Audacity – the willingness to take bold risks; rude or disrespectful behavior
Example: He had the audacity to question the committee’s decision. - Augment – to make something greater by adding to it
Example: The company augmented its workforce to meet growing demand. - Auspicious – conducive to success; favorable
Example: The sunny weather made for an auspicious start to the event. - Austere – severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance
Example: The headmaster’s austere presence kept the students in line.
- Avarice – extreme greed for wealth or material gain
Example: The tycoon’s avarice led him to exploit natural resources irresponsibly. - Aversion – a strong dislike or disinclination
Example: She had an aversion to crowds and avoided public events. - Banality – the fact or condition of being unoriginal or boring
Example: The speech was full of banality and failed to inspire the audience. - Belie – to give a false impression of something
Example: His calm demeanor belied the panic he felt inside. - Belligerent – hostile and aggressive
Example: The belligerent driver shouted angrily at other motorists. - Benevolent – well-meaning and kindly
Example: The benevolent donor funded scholarships for dozens of students. - Benign – gentle; kindly OR not harmful in effect (especially medically)
Example: The doctor reassured her that the tumor was benign. - Bequeath – to leave something to a person by a will
Example: He bequeathed his entire library to the local university. - Blatant – done openly and unashamedly; obvious
Example: His blatant disregard for the rules shocked the committee. - Bolster – to support or strengthen
Example: The evidence bolstered her claim of innocence. - Breach – an act of breaking a law, agreement, or code of conduct
Example: The security breach compromised thousands of user accounts. - Brevity – concise and exact use of words
Example: His speech was praised for its clarity and brevity. - Bucolic – relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside
Example: They moved to a bucolic village nestled in the hills. - Burgeon – to grow or develop rapidly
Example: Startups continue to burgeon in the tech industry. - Cacophony – a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds
Example: The cacophony of car horns made it hard to concentrate. - Cajole – to persuade someone through flattery or gentle urging
Example: She cajoled her friend into joining the dance class. - Calumny – a false and slanderous statement
Example: The candidate was the target of calumny during the election campaign. - Candor – the quality of being open and honest
Example: Her candor during the interview impressed the panel. - Capricious – given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
Example: The stock market can be capricious, shifting unexpectedly. - Castigate – to reprimand someone severely
Example: The editor castigated the journalist for spreading misinformation.
- Censure – to express severe disapproval of someone or something
Example: The senator was formally censured for breaking ethical guidelines. - Chicanery – the use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose
Example: The investigation uncovered widespread chicanery in the accounting department. - Circumlocution – the use of many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague
Example: His circumlocution frustrated the audience who wanted direct answers. - Circumscribe – to restrict something within limits
Example: Their freedom of expression was circumscribed by strict laws. - Circumspect – wary and unwilling to take risks
Example: Investors were circumspect following the recent market crash. - Clandestine – kept secret or done secretively
Example: The rebels held clandestine meetings to plan their uprising. - Clemency – mercy or lenience
Example: The judge showed clemency by reducing the defendant’s sentence. - Coalesce – to come together to form one group or mass
Example: The two factions coalesced to create a unified political party. - Cogent – clear, logical, and convincing
Example: The lawyer presented a cogent argument that won over the jury. - Complacent – showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself
Example: The team became complacent after winning several easy games. - Concede – to admit something is true or valid after initially denying it
Example: The candidate conceded defeat after the final vote count. - Conciliatory – intended or likely to placate or pacify
Example: Her conciliatory tone helped resolve the heated argument. - Condescend – to show feelings of superiority; to patronize
Example: He condescended to explain the rules as if she were a child. - Conflagration – a large and destructive fire
Example: The wildfire grew into a massive conflagration that consumed thousands of acres. - Confound – to cause surprise or confusion by acting against expectations
Example: The results confounded even the most experienced researchers. - Conjecture – an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information
Example: The rumor was dismissed as pure conjecture without evidence. - Connoisseur – an expert judge in matters of taste
Example: She was a connoisseur of fine wines and rare cheeses. - Conspicuous – clearly visible or attracting notice
Example: His bright red tie made him conspicuous in the crowd. - Contempt – the feeling that someone or something is beneath consideration
Example: She spoke with contempt about those who ignored public health guidelines. - Contentious – causing or likely to cause an argument
Example: The policy change sparked a contentious debate in parliament.
- Contrite – feeling or expressing remorse or penitence
Example: He offered a contrite apology for his insensitive remarks. - Conundrum – a confusing and difficult problem or question
Example: The engineer faced a conundrum when the prototype stopped working. - Convoluted – extremely complex and difficult to follow
Example: The plot of the novel was so convoluted that it lost the reader’s attention. - Copious – abundant in supply or quantity
Example: She took copious notes during the lecture to prepare for the exam. - Cordial – warm and friendly
Example: They were greeted with a cordial welcome at the reception. - Corroborate – to confirm or give support to a statement or theory
Example: Multiple witnesses came forward to corroborate her account of the incident. - Cosmopolitan – familiar with and at ease in many different cultures and countries
Example: New York is a cosmopolitan city with a diverse population. - Credulous – having or showing too great a readiness to believe things
Example: The credulous tourist fell for every street vendor’s pitch. - Culpable – deserving blame
Example: The driver was found culpable for the accident due to reckless behavior. - Cursory – hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
Example: His cursory review of the document missed several key errors. - Debacle – a sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco
Example: The product launch was a debacle that cost the company millions. - Debilitate – to weaken or impair the strength of
Example: The long illness debilitated him physically and emotionally. - Deleterious – causing harm or damage
Example: Smoking has well-documented deleterious effects on health. - Deliberate – done consciously and intentionally
Example: The jury concluded that the action was a deliberate violation of the law. - Delineate – to describe or portray something precisely
Example: The contract clearly delineates the responsibilities of both parties. - Denounce – to publicly declare to be wrong or evil
Example: The activist denounced the corrupt practices of the regime. - Deride – to express contempt for; ridicule
Example: Critics derided the film for its weak plot and poor acting. - Derivative – imitative of the work of another person and lacking originality
Example: The painting was beautiful, though clearly derivative of earlier works. - Desecrate – to treat (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect
Example: Vandals desecrated the cemetery by toppling headstones. - Desiccate – to remove the moisture from something; to dry out
Example: The archaeologists found desiccated remains preserved by the desert heat.
- Despondent – in low spirits from loss of hope or courage
Example: After several rejections, she grew despondent about her job search. - Destitute – extremely poor; lacking the basic necessities of life
Example: The flood left thousands of families destitute and homeless. - Deter – to discourage someone from doing something
Example: The high price tag may deter some customers from buying the product. - Devious – showing a skillful use of underhanded tactics to achieve goals
Example: The politician’s devious maneuvers alienated many of his supporters. - Diffident – modest or shy due to a lack of self-confidence
Example: Though brilliant, she was too diffident to share her ideas openly. - Digress – to leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing
Example: The professor digressed from the lesson to tell a personal anecdote. - Discomfit – to make someone feel uneasy or embarrassed
Example: The awkward question discomfited the candidate during the interview. - Disconcerting – causing one to feel unsettled or confused
Example: The CEO’s silence during the meeting was disconcerting to the employees. - Discursive – moving from topic to topic without order
Example: His discursive style of writing made the essay difficult to follow. - Disparage – to regard or represent as being of little worth
Example: The critic disparaged the film as uninspired and derivative. - Disparate – essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison
Example: The study compared data from two disparate populations. - Dispassionate – not influenced by strong emotion; rational and impartial
Example: The judge made a dispassionate ruling based solely on the evidence. - Disseminate – to spread information or ideas widely
Example: The organization worked to disseminate public health information quickly. - Dissipate – to disperse or scatter; to squander
Example: The morning fog dissipated as the sun rose over the hills. - Divisive – tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people
Example: The politician’s speech introduced a divisive tone to the debate. - Dogmatic – strongly opinionated in an unwarranted manner
Example: His dogmatic insistence on being right frustrated his colleagues. - Dubious – hesitating or doubting; not to be relied upon
Example: She gave him a dubious look when he claimed to have finished the report. - Duplicity – deceitfulness; double-dealing
Example: The spy was caught engaging in duplicity against both nations. - Eccentric – unconventional and slightly strange
Example: The eccentric professor was known for his mismatched socks and brilliant ideas. - Efficacy – the ability to produce a desired or intended result
Example: The new drug’s efficacy has been proven in clinical trials.
- Effrontery – shameless boldness; insolence
Example: He had the effrontery to challenge the professor’s credentials in front of the class. - Egregious – outstandingly bad; shocking
Example: The company’s egregious disregard for safety regulations led to the disaster. - Eloquent – fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing
Example: Her eloquent speech moved the entire audience to tears. - Elucidate – to make something clear; to explain
Example: The teacher used diagrams to elucidate the complex concept. - Elusive – difficult to find, catch, or achieve
Example: The criminal remained elusive despite an intense manhunt. - Embellish – to decorate or add details, often to make more attractive
Example: He embellished the story with dramatic details to make it more compelling. - Emulate – to imitate or match, especially out of admiration
Example: Many young athletes emulate their professional role models. - Enervate – to weaken or drain of energy
Example: The extreme heat enervated the hikers before they reached the summit. - Engender – to cause or give rise to a feeling, situation, or condition
Example: The new policy engendered widespread debate among citizens. - Enigma – a person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand
Example: Despite years of study, the origin of the artifact remained an enigma. - Enmity – the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone
Example: Decades of enmity between the rival nations finally gave way to peace talks. - Ennui – a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from boredom
Example: Despite his wealth, he was plagued by a sense of ennui. - Ephemeral – lasting for a very short time
Example: The cherry blossoms are beautiful but ephemeral, blooming only for a few days. - Equanimity – mental calmness, especially in a difficult situation
Example: She accepted the sudden change in plans with equanimity. - Equitable – fair and impartial
Example: The manager distributed the bonuses in an equitable manner. - Erratic – not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable
Example: His erratic behavior raised concerns about his mental health. - Erudite – having or showing great knowledge or learning
Example: The professor was known for her erudite lectures on classical literature. - Esoteric – intended for or likely to be understood by only a small group
Example: The seminar focused on esoteric topics within theoretical physics. - Eulogy – a speech or piece of writing that praises someone highly, typically after death
Example: His eulogy for his mentor moved everyone in the room. - Euphemism – a mild or indirect word substituted for one considered too harsh
Example: The phrase “passed away” is a common euphemism for death.
- Exacerbate – to make a problem, situation, or feeling worse
Example: His sarcastic comments only served to exacerbate the argument. - Exculpate – to clear someone of blame or wrongdoing
Example: New evidence was presented to exculpate the defendant. - Exigent – pressing; demanding immediate attention
Example: The exigent circumstances required swift and decisive action. - Exonerate – to officially absolve someone from blame
Example: DNA evidence was used to exonerate the wrongly convicted man. - Expedite – to speed up the process of something
Example: They hired additional staff to expedite the review process. - Facetious – treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor
Example: His facetious remarks during the meeting were not well received. - Fallacious – based on a mistaken belief or unsound reasoning
Example: The fallacious argument was quickly dismantled by the expert panel. - Fastidious – very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail
Example: The editor was fastidious, noting every grammatical error. - Fatuous – silly and pointless
Example: The CEO dismissed the suggestion as a fatuous distraction. - Fecund – fertile; capable of producing an abundance
Example: The fecund farmland yielded record-breaking crops this season. - Fervid – intensely enthusiastic or passionate
Example: Her fervid support for the cause inspired many volunteers to join. - Florid – elaborately or excessively intricate or complicated
Example: The author’s florid writing style was difficult for new readers to follow. - Foment – to instigate or stir up (especially unrest or rebellion)
Example: The radicals sought to foment revolution through their propaganda. - Fractious – irritable and quarrelsome
Example: The fractious toddler refused to take a nap. - Frugality – the quality of being economical with money or resources
Example: Her frugality allowed her to retire comfortably at 50. - Garrulous – excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters
Example: The garrulous host barely let his guests speak. - Gregarious – fond of company; sociable
Example: His gregarious nature made him the life of the party. - Guile – sly or cunning intelligence
Example: The spy used her guile to infiltrate the enemy ranks. - Gullible – easily persuaded to believe something
Example: The scammer targeted gullible people with promises of easy wealth. - Hackneyed – lacking significance through overuse
Example: The movie’s plot relied on hackneyed clichés and tired tropes.
- Harangue – a lengthy and aggressive speech
Example: The activist delivered a passionate harangue against corporate greed. - Hegemony – leadership or dominance, especially by one group over others
Example: The company’s market hegemony discouraged smaller competitors from entering the industry. - Iconoclast – a person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions
Example: As an iconoclast, he questioned every tradition his family upheld. - Idiosyncrasy – a mode of behavior or way of thought peculiar to an individual
Example: One of her idiosyncrasies was checking the locks three times before leaving. - Ignoble – not honorable in character or purpose
Example: The ignoble act of betrayal shocked even his enemies. - Imminent – about to happen
Example: The dark clouds signaled that a storm was imminent. - Immutable – unchanging over time or unable to be changed
Example: Some laws of physics are considered immutable. - Impassive – not feeling or showing emotion
Example: The defendant remained impassive as the verdict was read. - Impecunious – having little or no money
Example: As a student, he lived an impecunious but happy life. - Impetuous – acting quickly without thought or care
Example: Her impetuous decision to quit her job surprised everyone. - Implacable – unable to be calmed or pacified
Example: Despite several apologies, she remained implacable. - Implicit – implied though not plainly expressed
Example: There was implicit trust between the business partners. - Importune – to ask persistently or urgently
Example: The charity importuned the public for donations after the disaster. - Improbity – lack of honesty or integrity
Example: The politician’s record was marked by improbity and corruption. - Inchoate – just begun and not fully formed or developed
Example: The plan was still inchoate, lacking detail and structure. - Incongruous – not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings
Example: His casual attire was incongruous with the formal event. - Inculcate – to instill an idea or habit by persistent instruction
Example: The coach tried to inculcate discipline in his players. - Indolent – wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy
Example: Her indolent attitude made group work challenging. - Ineffable – too great or extreme to be described in words
Example: The view from the summit was ineffable—no photo could do it justice. - Ingenuous – innocent and unsuspecting
Example: Her ingenuous response showed she had no idea what was going on.
- Inimical – harmful or hostile
Example: His smoking habit was inimical to his recovery. - Innocuous – not harmful or offensive
Example: Though his comment was innocuous, she took it the wrong way. - Insipid – lacking flavor, vigor, or interest
Example: The lecture was insipid and put half the class to sleep. - Intrepid – fearless and adventurous
Example: The intrepid journalist traveled to conflict zones to report on war. - Inundate – to overwhelm with things or people to be dealt with
Example: The customer service team was inundated with calls after the product launch. - Invective – insulting, abusive, or highly critical language
Example: The politician’s speech was filled with invective toward his opponent. - Irascible – easily angered
Example: His irascible temperament made teamwork difficult. - Irresolute – showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain
Example: She stood irresolute at the crossroads, unsure which path to take. - Laconic – using very few words
Example: His laconic reply made it clear he wasn’t interested in talking. - Laud – to praise highly, especially in public
Example: The CEO was lauded for her decisive leadership during the crisis. - Lethargic – sluggish and lacking energy
Example: After staying up all night, he felt lethargic all day. - Loquacious – very talkative
Example: The loquacious tour guide entertained us with endless anecdotes. - Lucid – expressed clearly; easy to understand
Example: Her lucid explanation clarified the complex topic. - Magnanimous – generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person
Example: Despite winning the match, he was magnanimous in victory. - Maladroit – clumsy; inept
Example: His maladroit handling of the negotiation cost them the deal. - Malleable – easily influenced; pliable
Example: Children’s beliefs are malleable and shaped by their environment. - Martinet – a strict disciplinarian
Example: The coach was a martinet who allowed no leniency in practice. - Maudlin – overly sentimental
Example: The movie turned maudlin in the final scenes and lost its emotional impact. - Mendacious – not telling the truth; lying
Example: The witness gave a mendacious account that was later contradicted by evidence. - Mercurial – subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood
Example: His mercurial personality made him difficult to work with.