Today's GRE Vocabulary
Master these 10 high-frequency GRE words. Each word includes definition, usage, and a memory trick.
lambaste (verb)
Definition: to criticize harshly or vehemently
"The reviewer lambasted the film for its predictable plot and wooden acting."
💡 Mnemonic: Imagine someone *lamb* eating a *paste* and looking very unhappy, like they are being criticized.
fecund (adjective)
Definition: producing or capable of producing an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertile.
"The artist's imagination was incredibly fecund, leading to a prolific output of innovative work."
💡 Mnemonic: Think of a *fun* and *kind* person who is very productive and creative.
gregarious (adjective)
Definition: fond of company; sociable.
"Her gregarious nature made her the life of every party, always surrounded by friends."
💡 Mnemonic: Rhymes with 'regal' and 'various.' A regal person has many different (various) people wanting to be in their company.
deleterious (adjective)
Definition: causing harm or damage.
"The long-term effects of the pollution proved deleterious to the local ecosystem."
💡 Mnemonic: Sounds like 'delete' and 'serious.' Something that deletes things can be seriously harmful.
gainsay (verb)
Definition: to deny or contradict.
"It is difficult to gainsay the evidence presented by the scientific community."
💡 Mnemonic: If you *gain* something, you don't want anyone to *say* you didn't earn it; you'll contradict them.
obviate (verb)
Definition: to remove (a need or difficulty) or prevent.
"The new software update will obviate the need for manual data entry."
💡 Mnemonic: Think of 'obvious' and 'ate.' When a problem becomes obvious, you can 'ate' it (solve) it, removing the need.
chicanery (noun)
Definition: the use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose.
"The politician was accused of using legal chicanery to evade taxes."
💡 Mnemonic: Sounds like 'chickens' and 'canary.' A sly fox might use chickens and a canary to create a diversion for some trickery.
recalcitrant (adjective)
Definition: stubbornly disobedient; resistant to authority.
"The recalcitrant student refused to do his homework, despite repeated warnings."
💡 Mnemonic: Imagine a 'recalcitrant' mule that refuses to move, digging its heels in.
probity (noun)
Definition: the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.
"Her unimpeachable probity made her a trusted leader in the community."
💡 Mnemonic: Sounds like 'probably' and 'truth.' If someone has probity, they will *probably* always tell the *truth*.
salient (adjective)
Definition: most noticeable or important.
"The salient features of the proposal were clearly outlined in the executive summary."
💡 Mnemonic: Think of a 'sail' that stands out prominently on a ship, catching the eye.
