Essential Words For The Gre: Problem Words

Front 1

divest

Back 1

1) to deprive (someone) of power, rights, or possessions

2) to rid yourself of something you no longer want/need

Front 2

discretion

Back 2

1) showing self-restraint in speech/action

2) freedom to choose in a situation

Front 3

distrait

Back 3

distracted, absent-minded

Front 4

exact

Back 4

to demand and obtain by authority, to force the payment of

Front 5

extrinsic

Back 5

not inherent, not essential

Front 6

Elysian

Back 6

blissful, delightful

Front 7

elixir

Back 7

substance thought to cure ills

Front 8

expatiate

Back 8

to speak/write at length

Front 9

exhort

Back 9

to urge by strong appeals

Front 10

effete

Back 10

deplete of vitality/energy, no longer effective

Front 11

glib

Back 11

fluent in an insincere way, offhand

Front 12

guise

Back 12

outward appearance, false appearance, pretense

Front 13

feral

Back 13

in a wild state (especially after escaping from captivity)

Front 14

flout

Back 14

to treat scornfully

Front 15

fulminate

Back 15

to express vehement protest

Front 16

junta

Back 16

a military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force

Front 17

incursion

Back 17

sudden invasion

Front 18

impinge

Back 18

1) to have an effect impact (a negative one)

2) to advance over to an area belonging to someone else (encroach)

Front 19

hermetic

Back 19

1) tightly sealed

2) magical

Front 20

intractable

Back 20

not easily managed

Front 21

interpolate

Back 21

1) to insert something between fixed points

2) insert words, to interject in a convo

Front 22

insouciance

Back 22

casual lack of concern, indifference

Front 23

internecine

Back 23

deadly to both sides

Front 24

inveigle

Back 24

to persuade someone to do something through deception/flattery

Front 25

inveigh

Back 25

to speak or write about something with great hostility

Front 26

interdict

Back 26

to prohibit or forbid something or someone from doing something

Front 27

occult

Back 27

supernatural, mystical, or magical beliefs or practices

Front 28

nugatory

Back 28

of no value or importance

Front 29

peremptory

Back 29

insisting on immediate attention or obedience (in an imperious way)

Hint 29

"Just do it," came the peremptory reply.

Front 30

presage (v)

Back 30

to foretell, to indicate in advance

Front 31

preempt

Back 31

1) to take action to prevent an anticipated event from happening

2) to acquire or appropriate in advance

Front 32

rubric

Back 32

heading on a document/category

Front 33

redoubtable

Back 33

formidable, arousing fear, worthy of respect

Front 34

quorum

Back 34

# of members necessary to conduct a meeting

Front 35

recondite

Back 35

little known, abstruse

Front 36

riposte

Back 36

a quick, clever reply in an insult or criticism

Front 37

reprobate

Back 37

a morally unprincipled person

Front 38

remonstrate

Back 38

to object or protest

Front 39

recant

Back 39

to retract a statement or opinion

Front 40

untenable

Back 40

indefensible

Front 41

vitiate

Back 41

to impair the quality of/efficiency of

to corrupt morally

Front 42

usury (n)

Back 42

the illegal action or practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest

Front 43

untoward

Back 43

unexpected and inappropriate/inconvenient