Today's GRE Vocabulary
Master these 10 high-frequency GRE words. Each word includes definition, usage, and a memory trick.
profligate (adjective)
Definition: recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources; licentious.
"The inheritance was quickly squandered by the profligate heir, who spent lavishly on parties and frivolous pursuits."
💡 Mnemonic: Think of a 'prof' who is 'late' and 'gate' crashing parties, wasting money.
gregarious (adjective)
Definition: fond of company; sociable.
"Her gregarious nature made her the life of every party, always striking up conversations with new people."
💡 Mnemonic: Someone who 'greets' 'various' people is likely sociable.
supercilious (adjective)
Definition: having or showing the attitude of people who think they are better than other people.
"The supercilious art critic dismissed the work with a condescending sniff, as if he were the sole arbiter of taste."
💡 Mnemonic: Imagine someone with a 'superior' 'cilia' (eyelashes) looking down their nose.
pusillanimous (adjective)
Definition: showing a lack of courage or determination; timid.
"The pusillanimous politician refused to take a stand on the controversial issue, fearing any backlash."
💡 Mnemonic: Someone who is 'pusi' (like a kitten) and 'lame' is timid.
gregarious (adjective)
Definition: fond of company; sociable.
"Her gregarious nature made her the life of every party, always striking up conversations with new people."
💡 Mnemonic: Someone who 'greets' 'various' people is likely sociable.
capricious (adjective)
Definition: given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.
"Her capricious decisions made it difficult to plan any long-term projects with her."
💡 Mnemonic: Think of a 'caprice' (whim) – it's sudden and changeable.
ubiquitous (adjective)
Definition: present, appearing, or found everywhere.
"In today's digital age, smartphones have become ubiquitous."
💡 Mnemonic: Imagine a 'university' that is 'big' and 'us' – it feels like it's everywhere.
deleterious (adjective)
Definition: causing harm or damage.
"The long-term effects of the pollution proved to be deleterious to the local ecosystem."
💡 Mnemonic: Sounds like 'delete' and 'serious' – a serious deletion of health or well-being.
pulchritude (noun)
Definition: physical beauty; comeliness.
"The model's striking pulchritude captivated the audience during the fashion show."
💡 Mnemonic: Say 'pull crit' – imagine pulling a critic to admire beauty. It's a 'pull' worthy of 'critique' for its beauty.
obfuscate (verb)
Definition: to make something unclear, obscure, or unintelligible.
"The politician attempted to obfuscate the issue by using complex jargon and irrelevant statistics."
💡 Mnemonic: Think of making something 'off' the 'bus' – it's no longer clear where it's going.
vitiate (verb)
Definition: spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of.
"The constant interference from management threatened to vitiate the team's efforts and morale."
💡 Mnemonic: Imagine a 'victim' whose efforts are 'vitiated' or spoiled.
