Gre Vocabulary Practice Exam — LearnCoachAssist

Question 1 Gre Vocabulary

Austere (adj.)

Hasty and without attention to detail.
Example: A cursory glance at the report missed several important errors. A peculiar or distinctive feature of a person or thing.
Example: One idiosyncrasy of his was always eating dessert first. Spreading widely throughout an area or group of people.
Example: The pervasive smell of smoke lingered for days after the fire. Severe or strict in manner; plain and simple.
Example: The monastery's austere décor reflected its residents' simple lifestyle.

Question 2 Gre Vocabulary

Intractable (adj.)

Little known; abstruse and difficult to understand.
Example: The lecture delved into recondite areas of theoretical physics. Wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy.
Example: The indolent cat spent the entire day sleeping in the sun. Uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted.
Example: Critics called the film's violence gratuitous and unnecessary. Hard to control or deal with.
Example: The negotiators faced an intractable dispute over territory.

Question 3 Gre Vocabulary

Recondite (adj.)

An intense dislike or fear of foreigners or strangers.
Example: The politician's speech was widely criticized for stoking xenophobia. The lowest point of something.
Example: Losing his job marked the nadir of his career. Spreading widely throughout an area or group of people.
Example: The pervasive smell of smoke lingered for days after the fire. Little known; abstruse and difficult to understand.
Example: The lecture delved into recondite areas of theoretical physics.

Question 4 Gre Vocabulary

Ingenuous (adj.)

To speak evasively or deceptively.
Example: The politician prevaricated instead of answering the question directly. Deceitfulness; double-dealing.
Example: The scandal revealed years of duplicity within the company's leadership. Excessively concerned with minor details or rules.
Example: The pedantic teacher corrected every grammatical slip, no matter how small. Innocent and unsuspecting; naive.
Example: His ingenuous questions revealed how new he was to the industry.

Question 5 Gre Vocabulary

Coalesce (v.)

Fluent and persuasive in speaking or writing.
Example: Her eloquent speech moved the entire audience to tears. Deceitfulness; double-dealing.
Example: The scandal revealed years of duplicity within the company's leadership. To be a sign or warning of something that will happen.
Example: Dark clouds on the horizon presaged the coming storm. To come together to form one mass or group.
Example: The scattered protesters began to coalesce into a unified movement.

Question 6 Gre Vocabulary

Rancorous (adj.)

Having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing.
Example: She gave a wistful smile as she remembered her childhood home. Having or displaying passionate intensity.
Example: The activists remained fervent supporters of the cause. Characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment.
Example: The rancorous divorce dragged on for years. Silly and pointless in a self-satisfied way.
Example: His fatuous remarks revealed how little thought he had given the matter.

Question 7 Gre Vocabulary

Antipathy (n.)

In its original condition; unspoiled and clean.
Example: The hikers admired the pristine wilderness of the national park. A mild expression substituted for a harsh or blunt one.
Example: "Letting someone go" is a common euphemism for firing an employee. A deep-seated feeling of dislike.
Example: The two rival politicians shared a mutual antipathy. Having great variety or diversity.
Example: The organization handles multifarious tasks, from fundraising to advocacy.

Question 8 Gre Vocabulary

Impecunious (adj.)

Known or understood by very few; mysterious.
Example: The lawyer explained the arcane details of tax law to her client. Having little or no money.
Example: The impecunious artist survived on the generosity of friends. Treating serious issues with inappropriate humor.
Example: His facetious remark during the funeral offended several relatives. To criticize unfairly; to belittle.
Example: He tried to denigrate his rival's achievements in the press.

Question 9 Gre Vocabulary

Alacrity (n.)

Unchanging over time or unable to be changed.
Example: The laws of physics are considered immutable. A sudden and complete failure or disaster.
Example: The product launch turned into a public relations debacle. Behaving in a way that is socially correct and polite.
Example: Guests were expected to remain decorous throughout the ceremony. Brisk and cheerful readiness.
Example: She accepted the challenge with alacrity.

Question 10 Gre Vocabulary

Ambivalent (adj.)

A forceful and bitter verbal attack.
Example: He launched into a diatribe against his former employer. Ignorant of or uninterested in cultures outside one's own.
Example: Critics accused the small town of being insular and resistant to change. Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something.
Example: He felt ambivalent about accepting the promotion, given the extra hours it required. Unwilling to change one's views or agree about something.
Example: The intransigent committee rejected every compromise proposed.

Question 11 Gre Vocabulary

Complacent (adj.)

Abundant; in large quantities.
Example: She took copious notes during the lecture. Treating serious issues with inappropriate humor.
Example: His facetious remark during the funeral offended several relatives. To clear someone of blame or fault.
Example: The confession exculpated the man who had been wrongly imprisoned. Self-satisfied and unaware of potential danger.
Example: The champion team grew complacent and lost to a weaker opponent.

Question 12 Gre Vocabulary

Parsimonious (adj.)

To criticize unfairly; to belittle.
Example: He tried to denigrate his rival's achievements in the press. Not telling the truth; lying.
Example: The mendacious witness was later charged with perjury. Extremely unwilling to spend money; stingy.
Example: The parsimonious landlord refused to fix even minor repairs. Overused and lacking originality; clichéd.
Example: The film relied on hackneyed plot twists that audiences had seen many times before.

Question 13 Gre Vocabulary

Enervate (v.)

In a state of quiet inactivity; dormant.
Example: The volcano had remained quiescent for over a century. Generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival.
Example: The champion was magnanimous in victory, praising his opponent's effort. To weaken or drain of energy.
Example: The oppressive heat enervated the marathon runners. Unchanging over time or unable to be changed.
Example: The laws of physics are considered immutable.

Question 14 Gre Vocabulary

Fickle (adj.)

A person who is fanatical about a cause.
Example: The zealot refused to consider any viewpoint other than his own. Too ready to believe things; gullible.
Example: The credulous investor lost his savings to an obvious scam. Silly and pointless in a self-satisfied way.
Example: His fatuous remarks revealed how little thought he had given the matter. Changing frequently, especially regarding loyalties or affections.
Example: Public opinion can be fickle, shifting with each new headline.

Question 15 Gre Vocabulary

Indefatigable (adj.)

Persisting tirelessly.
Example: Her indefatigable efforts finally secured funding for the shelter. Essentially different in kind; not comparable.
Example: The committee struggled to reconcile the disparate views of its members. Complaining in a petulant or whining manner.
Example: The querulous passenger complained about every minor delay. A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
Example: The cacophony of car horns filled the street.

Question 16 Gre Vocabulary

Insipid (adj.)

Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.
Example: The capricious weather made it impossible to plan a picnic. Spreading widely throughout an area or group of people.
Example: The pervasive smell of smoke lingered for days after the fire. Lasting for a very short time.
Example: The beauty of the cherry blossoms is ephemeral, fading within days. Lacking flavor or interest; dull.
Example: The soup was insipid, needing far more seasoning.

Question 17 Gre Vocabulary

Arcane (adj.)

Known or understood by very few; mysterious.
Example: The lawyer explained the arcane details of tax law to her client. A large, destructive fire.
Example: The conflagration destroyed an entire block of the old town. Deceitfulness; double-dealing.
Example: The scandal revealed years of duplicity within the company's leadership. To make a problem or situation worse.
Example: The new tariffs exacerbated tensions between the two countries.

Question 18 Gre Vocabulary

Juxtapose (v.)

Having an unemotional, calm disposition.
Example: His phlegmatic response to the crisis surprised everyone. Not sincere, especially in a pretense of ignorance.
Example: His apology seemed disingenuous given his history of similar behavior. Characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment.
Example: The rancorous divorce dragged on for years. To place two things side by side for contrast.
Example: The exhibit juxtaposed modern sculptures with ancient artifacts.

Question 19 Gre Vocabulary

Pristine (adj.)

In its original condition; unspoiled and clean.
Example: The hikers admired the pristine wilderness of the national park. Modest or shy due to lack of self-confidence.
Example: The diffident intern hesitated before sharing her idea in the meeting. Patient self-control; restraint.
Example: She showed great forbearance despite the constant provocations. A scarcity or lack of something.
Example: There was a dearth of qualified candidates for the position.

Question 20 Gre Vocabulary

Immutable (adj.)

To praise enthusiastically.
Example: The reviewer extolled the film's stunning cinematography. Unchanging over time or unable to be changed.
Example: The laws of physics are considered immutable. Having or showing great knowledge or learning.
Example: The erudite professor could discuss any historical period in depth. Unable to be affected or influenced by something.
Example: He seemed impervious to criticism, no matter how harsh.

Question 21 Gre Vocabulary

Impervious (adj.)

Changing frequently, especially regarding loyalties or affections.
Example: Public opinion can be fickle, shifting with each new headline. Not able to be seen through; unclear or hard to understand.
Example: The company's decision-making process remained opaque to outsiders. Stubbornly resistant to authority or guidance.
Example: The recalcitrant student refused to follow the teacher's instructions. Unable to be affected or influenced by something.
Example: He seemed impervious to criticism, no matter how harsh.

Question 22 Gre Vocabulary

Nebulous (adj.)

Vague or ill-defined; unclear.
Example: The proposal's goals remained nebulous even after several meetings. Having developed abilities or characteristics earlier than usual.
Example: The precocious child was reading novels by age five. Extremely complex and difficult to follow.
Example: The novel's convoluted plot required careful attention to follow. Complaining in a petulant or whining manner.
Example: The querulous passenger complained about every minor delay.

Question 23 Gre Vocabulary

Credulous (adj.)

Easily made angry; hot-tempered.
Example: The irascible old man snapped at anyone who disturbed his routine. Showing great care and perseverance.
Example: Her assiduous research led to a groundbreaking discovery. Too ready to believe things; gullible.
Example: The credulous investor lost his savings to an obvious scam. Secretive and quiet in order to avoid attention.
Example: She cast a furtive glance at the note before hiding it.

Question 24 Gre Vocabulary

Deleterious (adj.)

A remark that is trite and overused, often stated as if it were wise.
Example: The commencement speech was full of tired platitudes. Tending to talk a great deal; talkative.
Example: The loquacious guide narrated every detail of the tour. Having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing.
Example: She gave a wistful smile as she remembered her childhood home. Causing harm or damage.
Example: Excessive stress can have a deleterious effect on health.

Question 25 Gre Vocabulary

Hackneyed (adj.)

To leave quickly and secretly, often to avoid detection.
Example: The treasurer absconded with the club's funds before anyone noticed. Overused and lacking originality; clichéd.
Example: The film relied on hackneyed plot twists that audiences had seen many times before. A poem or song expressing sorrow for someone who has died.
Example: The poet wrote an elegy for his fallen comrade. Sluggish and lacking energy.
Example: The heat made everyone feel lethargic by midafternoon.

Question 26 Gre Vocabulary

Dogmatic (adj.)

To reprimand someone severely.
Example: The coach castigated the team for their lack of effort. Showing great care and perseverance.
Example: Her assiduous research led to a groundbreaking discovery. Inclined to lay down principles as undeniably true.
Example: His dogmatic insistence on one method stifled creative solutions. Extremely unwilling to spend money; stingy.
Example: The parsimonious landlord refused to fix even minor repairs.

Question 27 Gre Vocabulary

Querulous (adj.)

Having developed abilities or characteristics earlier than usual.
Example: The precocious child was reading novels by age five. Complaining in a petulant or whining manner.
Example: The querulous passenger complained about every minor delay. An intense dislike or fear of foreigners or strangers.
Example: The politician's speech was widely criticized for stoking xenophobia. Not able to be seen through; unclear or hard to understand.
Example: The company's decision-making process remained opaque to outsiders.

Question 28 Gre Vocabulary

Nadir (n.)

To be a sign or warning of something that will happen.
Example: Dark clouds on the horizon presaged the coming storm. Showing great care and perseverance.
Example: Her assiduous research led to a groundbreaking discovery. To remove moisture thoroughly; to dry out.
Example: The intense sun desiccated the once-fertile fields. The lowest point of something.
Example: Losing his job marked the nadir of his career.

Question 29 Gre Vocabulary

Venerate (v.)

To regard with great respect or reverence.
Example: The community venerated the elder for his wisdom. To be a sign or warning of something that will happen.
Example: Dark clouds on the horizon presaged the coming storm. Generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival.
Example: The champion was magnanimous in victory, praising his opponent's effort. Little known; abstruse and difficult to understand.
Example: The lecture delved into recondite areas of theoretical physics.

Question 30 Gre Vocabulary

Esoteric (adj.)

Intended for or understood by only a small group.
Example: The seminar covered esoteric topics in quantum theory. To erase or make something indistinct.
Example: Time had begun to efface the inscription on the old tombstone. Happening by chance, especially a lucky one.
Example: Their meeting at the conference was entirely fortuitous. To deliberately make something unclear or confusing.
Example: The lawyer's jargon seemed designed to obfuscate the contract's true meaning.

Question 31 Gre Vocabulary

Exacerbate (v.)

Showing great care and perseverance.
Example: Her assiduous research led to a groundbreaking discovery. Lacking originality; boring from overuse.
Example: The speech was filled with banal platitudes about hard work. To make a problem or situation worse.
Example: The new tariffs exacerbated tensions between the two countries. Noisy and difficult to control.
Example: The obstreperous crowd refused to quiet down for the announcement.

Question 32 Gre Vocabulary

Debilitate (v.)

To persuade someone through flattery or gentle urging.
Example: She cajoled her brother into helping with the chores. Having an unemotional, calm disposition.
Example: His phlegmatic response to the crisis surprised everyone. Having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing.
Example: She gave a wistful smile as she remembered her childhood home. To make someone weak or feeble.
Example: The prolonged illness debilitated him for months.

Question 33 Gre Vocabulary

Dearth (n.)

Having little or no money.
Example: The impecunious artist survived on the generosity of friends. A statement that seems contradictory but may be true.
Example: It is a paradox that the more choices we have, the less satisfied we feel. Carried out with minimal effort or reflection.
Example: He gave a perfunctory apology and quickly changed the subject. A scarcity or lack of something.
Example: There was a dearth of qualified candidates for the position.

Question 34 Gre Vocabulary

Quiescent (adj.)

To give a false impression of; to contradict.
Example: Her calm expression belied the panic she felt inside. Extremely unwilling to spend money; stingy.
Example: The parsimonious landlord refused to fix even minor repairs. Wary and careful; prudent.
Example: She was circumspect about sharing details of the negotiation. In a state of quiet inactivity; dormant.
Example: The volcano had remained quiescent for over a century.

Question 35 Gre Vocabulary

Ostentatious (adj.)

A person who flatters others to gain personal advantage.
Example: The CEO surrounded himself with sycophants who never questioned his decisions. A lengthy and aggressive speech.
Example: The coach delivered a harangue after the team's poor performance. Characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; showy.
Example: His ostentatious mansion featured gold fixtures in every room. Vague or ill-defined; unclear.
Example: The proposal's goals remained nebulous even after several meetings.

Question 36 Gre Vocabulary

Banal (adj.)

Sly or cunning intelligence, often used to deceive.
Example: The con artist used guile to win the victims' trust. Using very few words; concise to the point of terseness.
Example: His laconic reply gave no hint of his true feelings. Lacking originality; boring from overuse.
Example: The speech was filled with banal platitudes about hard work. To place two things side by side for contrast.
Example: The exhibit juxtaposed modern sculptures with ancient artifacts.

Question 37 Gre Vocabulary

Quixotic (adj.)

To calm or soothe an angry person.
Example: The manager tried to mollify the frustrated customer with a refund. Extremely idealistic and unrealistic; impractical.
Example: His quixotic plan to end world hunger single-handedly impressed but did not convince his friends. Deriving ideas or style from a broad range of sources.
Example: Her eclectic taste in music ranged from jazz to punk rock. Extremely unwilling to spend money; stingy.
Example: The parsimonious landlord refused to fix even minor repairs.

Question 38 Gre Vocabulary

Exculpate (v.)

Unable to be affected or influenced by something.
Example: He seemed impervious to criticism, no matter how harsh. Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance than is real.
Example: His pretentious use of jargon annoyed his colleagues. To clear someone of blame or fault.
Example: The confession exculpated the man who had been wrongly imprisoned. A deep-seated feeling of dislike.
Example: The two rival politicians shared a mutual antipathy.

Question 39 Gre Vocabulary

Fallacious (adj.)

Spreading widely throughout an area or group of people.
Example: The pervasive smell of smoke lingered for days after the fire. Based on a mistaken belief; logically unsound.
Example: The advertisement relied on a fallacious claim about the product's effects. Showing a willingness to take bold risks.
Example: The audacious plan involved climbing the cliff without ropes. Having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing.
Example: She gave a wistful smile as she remembered her childhood home.

Question 40 Gre Vocabulary

Sanguine (adj.)

To speak evasively or deceptively.
Example: The politician prevaricated instead of answering the question directly. To gather or collect, often as an accumulation.
Example: The documentary garnered widespread critical praise. To grow or increase rapidly.
Example: The city's tech industry began to burgeon in the early 2000s. Optimistic or positive, especially in a difficult situation.
Example: Despite the setback, she remained sanguine about the project's future.

Question 41 Gre Vocabulary

Unctuous (adj.)

Excessively flattering or ingratiating; oily in manner.
Example: The unctuous salesman's compliments made customers uneasy. Hard to control or deal with.
Example: The negotiators faced an intractable dispute over territory. To use ambiguous language to avoid stating an opinion.
Example: The spokesperson equivocated when asked directly about the layoffs. Diverse in character; composed of different elements.
Example: The city's heterogeneous population speaks dozens of languages.

Question 42 Gre Vocabulary

Laconic (adj.)

A person who attacks cherished beliefs or traditions.
Example: The artist was an iconoclast who rejected every convention of his era. Using very few words; concise to the point of terseness.
Example: His laconic reply gave no hint of his true feelings. To make less severe or serious.
Example: Wearing a helmet can mitigate the risk of head injury. Lasting for a very short time.
Example: The beauty of the cherry blossoms is ephemeral, fading within days.

Question 43 Gre Vocabulary

Euphemism (n.)

Complaining in a petulant or whining manner.
Example: The querulous passenger complained about every minor delay. A mild expression substituted for a harsh or blunt one.
Example: "Letting someone go" is a common euphemism for firing an employee. Intended for or understood by only a small group.
Example: The seminar covered esoteric topics in quantum theory. Pressing and demanding immediate action.
Example: The exigent circumstances required an immediate evacuation.

Question 44 Gre Vocabulary

Paradox (n.)

Very attentive to detail; hard to please.
Example: The fastidious editor caught every typo in the manuscript. Irrelevant or unnecessary to the subject at hand.
Example: The editor cut all extraneous details from the article. A statement that seems contradictory but may be true.
Example: It is a paradox that the more choices we have, the less satisfied we feel. The use of trickery to achieve a goal.
Example: The company's accounting chicanery eventually led to its collapse.

Question 45 Gre Vocabulary

Profligate (adj.)

To grow or increase rapidly.
Example: The city's tech industry began to burgeon in the early 2000s. Essentially different in kind; not comparable.
Example: The committee struggled to reconcile the disparate views of its members. Recklessly extravagant or wasteful in spending.
Example: The company's profligate spending led to its bankruptcy. A large, destructive fire.
Example: The conflagration destroyed an entire block of the old town.

Question 46 Gre Vocabulary

Disingenuous (adj.)

Extremely complex and difficult to follow.
Example: The novel's convoluted plot required careful attention to follow. Not sincere, especially in a pretense of ignorance.
Example: His apology seemed disingenuous given his history of similar behavior. Elaborately or excessively intricate; flushed with color.
Example: The author's florid prose slowed the pace of the story. Wastefully extravagant, especially with money.
Example: The prodigal heir squandered his fortune within a few years.

Question 47 Gre Vocabulary

Wistful (adj.)

A person who attacks cherished beliefs or traditions.
Example: The artist was an iconoclast who rejected every convention of his era. Having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing.
Example: She gave a wistful smile as she remembered her childhood home. Very attentive to detail; hard to please.
Example: The fastidious editor caught every typo in the manuscript. An intense dislike or fear of foreigners or strangers.
Example: The politician's speech was widely criticized for stoking xenophobia.

Question 48 Gre Vocabulary

Precarious (adj.)

Extremely idealistic and unrealistic; impractical.
Example: His quixotic plan to end world hunger single-handedly impressed but did not convince his friends. Not securely held or in position; dangerously uncertain.
Example: The climber found himself in a precarious position on the icy ledge. The presence of something only in small or insufficient quantities.
Example: There was a paucity of evidence to support the theory. Looking or sounding sad and dismal, often exaggeratedly so.
Example: The lugubrious violin music set a mournful tone for the film.

Question 49 Gre Vocabulary

Bombastic (adj.)

High-sounding but with little meaning; pompous.
Example: The politician's bombastic rhetoric failed to address any real issues. To praise enthusiastically.
Example: The reviewer extolled the film's stunning cinematography. Slow to understand; lacking sharpness of intellect.
Example: He seemed obtuse to the obvious hints she was giving. Having or showing great knowledge or learning.
Example: The erudite professor could discuss any historical period in depth.

Question 50 Gre Vocabulary

Dilatory (adj.)

Not original; based on or imitative of other work.
Example: Critics dismissed the album as derivative of earlier, better records. A deviation from the normal or expected.
Example: The heat wave was an aberration in an otherwise mild summer. Slow to act; intended to cause delay.
Example: The senator used dilatory tactics to postpone the vote. To deliberately make something unclear or confusing.
Example: The lawyer's jargon seemed designed to obfuscate the contract's true meaning.