Today's GRE Vocabulary
Master these 10 high-frequency GRE words. Each word includes definition, usage, and a memory trick.
bolster (verb)
Definition: to support or strengthen; prop up.
"The government's new policies aimed to bolster the struggling economy, but critics argued they were insufficient."
💡 Mnemonic: Imagine a 'BOLSTER' pillow that supports your head and neck, helping to strengthen your sleep posture.
exacerbate (verb)
Definition: to make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.
"His irritable comments only served to exacerbate the already tense atmosphere in the room."
💡 Mnemonic: Exacerbate sounds like 'extra-SURE-bate' – when you're extra sure something is bad, you might make it even worse!
prosaic (adjective)
Definition: having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty; commonplace; uninspired.
"While his previous works were celebrated for their imaginative flair, his latest novel was disappointingly prosaic."
💡 Mnemonic: Prosaic sounds like 'prose-aic' – relating to prose, which is often ordinary and direct, unlike exciting poetry.
obviate (verb)
Definition: to remove a need or difficulty; to prevent something from happening.
"Investing in a robust security system would obviate the need for constant patrols."
💡 Mnemonic: OBVIATE sounds like 'obvious, wait!' – if something is obvious, you can prevent or remove the need for further explanation or difficulty.
querulous (adjective)
Definition: complaining in a petulant or whining manner.
"The querulous customer continued to find fault with every aspect of her meal, much to the exasperation of the waiter."
💡 Mnemonic: QUERulous sounds like 'quarrel-us.' Someone who is always quarreling is likely complaining.
diffidence (noun)
Definition: modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence.
"Despite her brilliant ideas, her diffidence often prevented her from speaking up in meetings."
💡 Mnemonic: DIFFIDENCE - if you have *difficulty* with *confidence*, you show diffidence.
plaudit (noun)
Definition: an expression of praise or approval (often used in the plural).
"The play received widespread plaudits from critics and audiences alike for its innovative staging."
💡 Mnemonic: PLAUDIT sounds like 'APPLAUD IT!' – when you applaud, you are showing praise and approval.
disabuse (verb)
Definition: to persuade someone that an idea or belief is mistaken; to set right in opinion or judgment.
"He tried to disabuse her of the notion that success comes without hard work."
💡 Mnemonic: DISABUSE - to 'dis-abuse' someone means to stop them from 'abusing' (misusing or misunderstanding) a concept or idea. You remove their false beliefs.
torpor (noun)
Definition: a state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy.
"After the large holiday meal, a sense of torpor settled over the entire family, making them reluctant to move."
💡 Mnemonic: TORPOR sounds like 'TAURUS' the bull, which can be slow and inactive, especially during a hot summer afternoon.
gainsay (verb)
Definition: to deny or contradict (a fact or statement).
"No one could gainsay the validity of her research, as her evidence was irrefutable."
💡 Mnemonic: GAINSAY - if you 'GAIN-say' something, you speak *against* it, contradicting it.
