Today's GRE Vocabulary
Master these 10 high-frequency GRE words. Each word includes definition, usage, and a memory trick.
arduous (adjective)
Definition: requiring great effort; difficult and tiring.
"Climbing Mount Everest is an arduous undertaking, demanding peak physical and mental endurance."
💡 Mnemonic: Sounds like 'hard-us'. It's hard for us to do something arduous.
candor (noun)
Definition: the quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness.
"Despite the sensitive nature of the feedback, the manager appreciated the candor of her team members."
💡 Mnemonic: Think of a 'can door' being opened, revealing everything honestly inside.
diligent (adjective)
Definition: having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.
"Her diligent study habits were evident in her consistently high grades."
💡 Mnemonic: Sounds like 'diligent' ants working tirelessly. They are diligent.
egregious (adjective)
Definition: outstandingly bad; shocking.
"The company's egregious disregard for environmental regulations led to severe penalties."
💡 Mnemonic: Imagine an 'egg' being dropped, creating a huge, eggy mess – an egregious mistake.
imprudent (adjective)
Definition: not showing care for the consequences of an action; rash.
"It was imprudent of him to invest all his savings in a volatile stock market."
💡 Mnemonic: 'Im-' means not, and 'prudent' means careful. So, not careful.
superfluous (adjective)
Definition: unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.
"The redundancy in his report was superfluous, adding no new information to the reader."
💡 Mnemonic: Think of a 'super' 'fluid' that just keeps flowing and flowing, becoming too much and therefore unnecessary.
venal (adjective)
Definition: showing or motivated by a desire for money; corrupt.
"The politician was accused of making venal decisions, prioritizing personal gain over public service."
💡 Mnemonic: Sounds like 'béni' (French for 'blessed'), but it's the opposite – cursed by greed.
obstreperous (adjective)
Definition: noisy and difficult to control.
"The obstreperous crowd at the concert made it difficult for security to maintain order."
💡 Mnemonic: Imagine an 'ob-struction' of 'pepper-ous' (scary) sounds making a racket.
salubrious (adjective)
Definition: health-giving; healthy.
"The spa offered a retreat in a salubrious climate, promising rejuvenation."
💡 Mnemonic: Think of 'salvation' from illness due to healthy surroundings.
pusillanimous (adjective)
Definition: showing a lack of courage or determination; timid.
"His pusillanimous response to the challenge revealed his fear of confrontation."
💡 Mnemonic: Sounds like 'pussy' (cowardly) and 'animal'. A cowardly animal.
