Common Words 1 (Magoosh Gmat)

Front 1

rye (noun)

Back 1

рожь

Front 2

horseshoe

Back 2

подкова

Front 3

to burrow

Back 3

зарыться

Front 4

barnacles

Back 4

морская уточка

Front 5

spleen

Back 5

селезенка

Front 6

Affect vs Effect

Back 6

Affect is usually a verb meaning “to influence.”

Example: Fortunately, Kylie’s sore ankle did not affecther performance in the game.
Effect is usually a noun that “indicates or achieves a result.” Effect is also sometimes used as a transitive verb meaning “to bring into existence,” but it is generally not used in this way on the GMAT.

Example: Studies have shown that too much exercise can have a negative effect on a person’s health.

Front 7

Assure vs Insure vs Ensure

Back 7

Assure means “to convince” or “to guarantee” and usually takes a direct object.
Example: If we leave two hours early, I assure you that we will arrive at the concert on time.

Insure means “to guard against loss.”
Example: Before he could leave for his trip, Steve had to insure his car against theft.

Ensure means “to make certain.”
Example: Our company goes to great lengths to ensure that every product that leaves the warehouse is of the highest quality.

Front 8

Because vs Since

Back 8

Because means “for the reason that.”
Example: My sister was late for school because she missed the bus.

Since implies “time,” either continuous or not, in addition to “reason.”
Example: Since he lost the election, he has remained sequestered in his home.
It is important to note that in your writing, you should be aware of the subtle difference in meaning. However, in some Critical Reasoning passages and question stems, the GMAT often uses “since” as a conjunction to mean “in as much as” or “because.”

Front 9

Compare to vs Compare with

Back 9

Compare to means “assert a likeness.”
Example: The only way to describe her eyes is to compare them to the color of the sky.

Compare with means “analyze for similarities and differences.”
Example: For her final project, Susan had to compare bike riding with other aerobic activities and report her findings.

Front 10

Complement vs Compliment

Back 10

Complement implies “something that completes or adds to” something else.
Example: My favorite place to dine is on the terrace; the breathtaking views are the ideal complement to a romantic dinner.

A compliment is “flattery or praise.”
Example: Larry was thrilled when the award-winning author complimented him on his writing style.

Front 11

Farther vs Further

Back 11

Farther refers to distance.
Example: At baseball camp, Jack learned that with the correct stance and technique, he could throw the ball farther this year than he could last year.

Further indicates “additional degree, time, or quantity.” It can also be used as a verb.
Example: I enjoyed the book to a certain degree, but I felt that the author should have provided further details about the characters.
Example: Kim furthered her education by taking summer classes.

Front 12

Imply vs Infer

Back 12

Imply means “to suggest.”
Example: His sister did not mean to imply that he was incorrect.

Infer means “to deduce,” “to guess,” or “to conclude.”
Example: The professor’s inference was correct concerning the identity of the student.

Front 13

Lay vs Lie

Back 13

Lay means “to put” or “to place,” and requires a direct object to complete its meaning.
Example: To protect your floor or carpet, you should always lay newspaper or a sheet on the ground before you begin to paint a room.

Lie means “to recline, rest, or stay” or “to take a position of rest.” This verb cannot take a direct object. The past tense of lie is lay, so use extra caution if you see these words on the GMAT.
Example: On sunny days, our lazy cat will lie on the porch and bask in the warmth of the sunlight.
Example: Yesterday, our lazy cat lay in the sun for most of the afternoon.

Front 14

Like vs Such as

Back 14

Like indicates similarity.
Example: Kate and Allie were very close, like two peas in a pod.

Such as indicates an example or examples.
Example: Composers such as Mozart and Bach are among my favorites.

Front 15

Principal vs Principle

Back 15

Principal is a noun meaning “the head of a school or an organization.”
Example: A high school principal is responsible not only for the educational progress of his students, but also for their emotional well-being.
Principal can also mean “a sum of money.”
Example: I hope to see a 30 percent return on my principal investment within the first two years.

Principal can also be used as an adjective to mean “first” or “leading.”
Example: Our principal concern is the welfare of our customers, not the generation of profits.
Principle is a noun meaning “a basic truth or law.”
Example: A study of basic physics includes Newton’s principle that every action has an opposite and equal reaction.

Front 16

Than vs Then

Back 16

Than is a conjunction used in comparison.
Example: Rana made fewer mistakes during her presentation than she thought she would make.

Then is an adverb denoting time.
Example: Mandy updated her resume and then applied for the job.

Front 17

To be enamored means

Back 17

To be enamored means to be in love with or to really like something.

Front 18

account for vs take account of

Back 18

"account for": take into consideration or make up (as in population). Example: John forgot to account for the cost of rent in his budget and ran out of money before the end of the month.

"take account of": taking note of. Example: After the tornado, the insurance company representative took account of the damage caused.

Front 19

Known for vs known by

Back 19

"Known for" is the general usage. We use "known for" when talking about some characteristic. We only use "known by" when we are talking about a defining characteristic, like a name (something unique to that thing). So in this case, only "He's known for his generosity" is correct, since "his generosity" is not a defining characteristic.

If we were to say, however:

"He's known by the name of Peter."

That is correct, since "the name of Peter" is a defining characteristic (a very distinctive characteristic). "Known by" generally refers to names or titles, whereas "known for" can refer to most other characteristics.

Front 20

repertory

Back 20

репертуар

Front 21

readily

Back 21

легко, без труда

Front 22

litters

Back 22

приплод

Front 23

meticulous

Back 23

тщательный

Front 24

coherence

Back 24

связь

Front 25

flamboyant

Back 25

яркий, пышный

Front 26

redemption

Back 26

выплата

Front 27

enticing

Back 27

привлекательный, соблазнительный

Front 28

startling

Back 28

поразительный

Front 29

contentious

Back 29

спорный

Front 30

oversight

Back 30

недосмотр

Front 31

grassroots activism

Back 31

массовая деятельность

Front 32

disenfranchised

Back 32

бесправных, обездоленных, лишение гражданских прав

Front 33

to pit

Back 33

стравливать

Front 34

circumvent

Back 34

расстраивать планы, перехитрить

Front 35

blips

Back 35

всплески

Front 36

iconoclast

Back 36

noun: somebody who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions

Hint 36

Lady Gaga, in challenging what it means to be clothed, is an iconoclast for wearing a "meat dress" to a prominent awards show.

Front 37

laconic

Back 37

adjective: one who says very few words

Hint 37

While Martha always swooned over the hunky, laconic types in romantic comedies, her boyfriends inevitably were very talkative—and not very hunky.

Front 38

hunky

Back 38

работяга

Front 39

undermine

Back 39

verb: to weaken (usually paired with an abstract term)

Hint 39

The student undermined the teacher’s authority by questioning the teacher’s judgment on numerous occasions.

Front 40

anomalous

Back 40

adjective: not normal

Hint 40

According to those who do not believe in climate change, the extreme weather over the last five years is simply anomalous—daily temperatures should return to their old averages, they believe.

Front 41

extant

Back 41

adjective: still in existence (usually refers to documents).

Hint 41

Despite many bookstores closing, experts predict that some form of book dealing will still be extant generations from now.

Front 42

prevaricate

Back 42

verb: to speak in an evasive way

Hint 42

The cynic quipped, “There is not much variance in politicians; they all seem to prevaricate”.

Front 43

aberration

Back 43

noun: a deviation from what is normal or expected

Hint 43

Aberrations in climate have become the norm: rarely a week goes by without some meteorological phenomenon making headlines.

Front 44

impertinent

Back 44

adjective: being disrespectful; improperly forward or bold

Hint 44

Dexter, distraught over losing his pet dachshund, Madeline, found the police officer’s questions impertinent—after all, he thought, did she have to pry into such details as to what Madeline’s favorite snack was?

Front 45

distraught

Back 45

обезумевший

Front 46

acrimony

Back 46

noun: bitterness and ill will

Hint 46

The acrimony between the president and vice-president sent a clear signal to voters: the health of the current administration was imperiled.

Front 47

amorphous

Back 47

adjective: shapeless

Hint 47

His study plan for the GRE was at best amorphous; he would do questions from random pages in any one of seven test prep books.

Front 48

restive

Back 48

adjective: restless

Hint 48

The crowd grew restive as the comedian’s opening jokes fell flat.

Front 49

parsimonious

Back 49

adjective: extremely frugal; miserly

Hint 49

Katie is so parsimonious that she only buys a pair of socks if all of her other socks have holes in them

Front 50

harangue

Back 50

noun: a long pompous speech; a tirade

verb: to deliver a long pompous speech or tirade

Hint 50

Dinner at Billy's was more a punishment than a reward, since anyone who sat at the dinner table would have to listen to Billy's father's interminable harangues against the government.

Tired of his parents haranguing him about his laziness and lack of initiative, Tyler finally moved out of home at the age of thirty-five.

Front 51

upbraid

Back 51

verb: to reproach; to scold

Hint 51

Bob took a risk walking into the "Students Barbershop"—in the end he had to upbraid the apparently drunk barber for giving him an uneven bowl cut.

Front 52

parochial

Back 52

adjective: narrowly restricted in scope or outlook

Hint 52

Jasmine was sad to admit it, but her fledgling relationship with Jacob did not work out because his culinary tastes were simply too parochial; "After all," she quipped on her blog, "he considered Chef Boyardee ethnic food."
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study

Front 53

ingenuous

Back 53

adjective: to be naïve and innocent

Hint 53

Two-years in Manhattan had changed Jenna from an ingenuous girl from the suburbs to a jaded urbanite, unlikely to fall for any ruse, regardless of how elaborate.

Front 54

amalgam

Back 54

noun: a mixture of multiple things

Hint 54

The band’s music was an amalgam of hip-hop, flamenco and jazz, blending the three styles with surprising results.

Front 55

disinterested

Back 55

adjective: unbiased; neutral

Hint 55

The potential juror knew the defendant, and therefore could not serve on the jury, which must consist only of disinterested members.

Front 56

auspicious

Back 56

adjective: favorable, the opposite of sinister

Hint 56

Despite an auspicious beginning, Mike’s road trip became a series of mishaps, and he was soon stranded and penniless, leaning against his wrecked automobile.

Front 57

sinister

Back 57

Something that is sinister seems evil or harmful.

Front 58

enervate

Back 58

verb: to sap energy from

Hint 58

John preferred to avoid equatorial countries; the intense sun would always leave him enervated after he’d spent the day sightseeing.

Front 59

intimate

Back 59

verb: to suggest something subtly

This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study

Hint 59

At first Manfred’s teachers intimated to his parents that he was not suited to skip a grade; when his parents protested, teachers explicitly told them that, notwithstanding the boy’s precocity, he was simply too immature to jump to the 6th grade.

Front 60

precocity

Back 60

преждевременное развитие, преждевременная зрелость

Front 61

castigate

Back 61

verb: to reprimand harshly

Hint 61

Drill sergeants are known to castigate new recruits so mercilessly that the latter often break down during their first week in training.

Front 62

involved

Back 62

adjective: complicated, and difficult to comprehend

Hint 62

The physics lecture became so involved that the undergraduate’s eyes glazed over.

Front 63

fledgling

Back 63

a young bird that has just fledged

Front 64

venality

Back 64

noun: the condition of being susceptible to bribes or corruption

Hint 64

Even some of the most sacred sporting events are not immune to venality, as many of the officials have received substantial bribes to make biased calls.

Front 65

egregious

Back 65

adjective: standing out in negative way; shockingly bad

Hint 65

The dictator’s abuse of human rights was so egregious that many world leaders demanded that he be tried in an international court for genocide.

Front 66

innocuous

Back 66

adjective: harmless and doesn’t produce any ill effects

Hint 66

Everyone found Nancy’s banter innocuous—except for Mike, who felt like she was intentionally picking on him.

Front 67

banter

Back 67

teasing or joking talk that is amusing and friendly.

Front 68

maintain

Back 68

verb: to assert

This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study

Hint 68

The scientist maintained that the extinction of dinosaurs was most likely brought about by a drastic change in climate.

Front 69

chastise

Back 69

verb: to reprimand harshly

Hint 69

Though chastised for eating the snacks for the party, Lawrence shrugged off his mother’s harsh words, and continued to plow through jars of cookies and boxes of donuts.

Front 70

mercurial

Back 70

adjective: (of a person) prone to unexpected and unpredictable changes in mood

Hint 70

The fact that Ella’s moods were as mercurial as the weather was problematic for her relationships—it didn’t help that she lived in Chicago.

Front 71

belie

Back 71

verb: to give a false representation to; misrepresent

Hint 71

The smile on her face belies the pain she must feel after the death of her husband.

Front 72

gregarious

Back 72

adjective: to be likely to socialize with others

Hint 72

Often we think that great leaders are those who are gregarious, always in the middle of a large group of people; yet, as Mahatma Gandhi and many others have shown us, leaders can also be introverted.

Front 73

amenable

Back 73

adjective: easily persuaded

Hint 73

Even though she did not like the outdoors, Shirley was generally amenable and so her brother was able to persuade her to go camping.

Front 74

demur

Back 74

verb: to object or show reluctance

Hint 74

Wallace disliked the cold, so he demurred when his friends suggested they go skiing in the Alps.

Front 75

profligate

Back 75

adjective: spending resources recklessly or wastefully

noun: someone who spends resources recklessly or wastefully

Hint 75

The composer Wagner, while living on a limited salary, was so profligate as to line all the walls of his apartment with pure silk.
Most lottery winners go from being conservative, frugal types to outright profligates who blow millions on fast cars, lavish homes, and giant yachts.

Front 76

ambiguous

Back 76

adjective: open to more than one interpretation

Hint 76

The coach told his team, “Move towards that side of the field”; because he did not point, his directions were ambiguous, and the team had no idea to which side he was referring.

Front 77

equivocal

Back 77

adjective: confusing or ambiguous

Hint 77

The findings of the study were equivocal—the two researchers had different opinions on what the results signified.

Front 78

wanting

Back 78

adjective: lacking

Hint 78

She did not think her vocabulary was wanting, yet there were so many words that inevitably she found a few she didn't know.

Front 79

betray

Back 79

verb: to reveal or make known something, usually unintentionally

Hint 79

With the gold medal at stake, the gymnast awaited his turn, his quivering lip betraying his intense emotions.

Front 80

veracious

Back 80

adjective: truthful

Hint 80

While we elect our leaders in the hope that every word they speak will be veracious, history has shown that such a hope is naive.

Front 81

ambivalent

Back 81

adjective: mixed or conflicting emotions about something

Hint 81

Sam was ambivalent about studying for the exam because doing so ate up a lot of his time, yet he was able to improve his analytical skills.

Front 82

frugal

Back 82

People who are frugal or who live frugal lives do not eat much or spend much money on themselves.

Front 83

calumny

Back 83

noun: making of a false statement meant to injure a person’s reputation

Hint 83

With the presidential primaries well under way, the air is thick with calumny, and the mud already waist-high.

Front 84

qualify

Back 84

verb: to be eligible for a role, status, or benefit by meeting specific requirements

verb: to make less severe; to limit (a statement)

Hint 84

If James had made more than $50,000 last year, then he wouldn't have qualified for the low-income scholarship.

Chris qualified his love for San Francisco, adding that he didn't like the weather as much as the weather in Los Angeles.

Front 85

censure

Back 85

verb: to express strong disapproval

Hint 85

After being caught in bed with a mistress, the mayor was quickly censured by the city council.

Front 86

prodigal

Back 86

adjective: rashly or wastefully extravagant

Hint 86

Successful professional athletes who do not fall prey to prodigality seem to be the exception—most live decadent lives.

Front 87

galvanize

Back 87

verb: to excite or inspire (someone) to action

Hint 87

At mile 23 of his first marathon, Kyle had all but given up, until he noticed his friends and family holding a banner that read, “Go Kyle”; galvanized, he broke into a gallop, finishing the last three miles in less than 20 minutes.

Front 88

frugal

Back 88

adjective: not spending much money (but spending wisely)

Hint 88

Monte was no miser, but was simply frugal, wisely spending the little that he earned.

Front 89

commensurate

Back 89

adjective: to be in proportion or corresponding in degree or amount

Hint 89

The convicted felon’s life sentence was commensurate to the heinousness of his crime.

Front 90

artful

Back 90

adjective: exhibiting artistic skill

adjective: clever in a cunning way

Hint 90

Picasso is generally considered the most artful member of the Cubist movement.

Bernie Madoff's artful Ponzi scheme stole billions of dollars from investors and is considered the largest financial fraud in U.S. history.