Today's GRE Vocabulary
Master these 10 high-frequency GRE words. Each word includes definition, usage, and a memory trick.
abrogate (verb)
Definition: To repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement).
"The new government decided to abrogate the treaty signed by the previous administration."
💡 Mnemonic: Think of 'ab-rogate' as 'away-gate,' meaning to close off or get rid of something.
ameliorate (verb)
Definition: To make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.
"The aid organization worked to ameliorate the suffering of the refugees by providing food and shelter."
💡 Mnemonic: Sounds like 'a millionaire' who can 'better' the lives of others.
deleterious (adjective)
Definition: Causing harm or damage.
"The long-term effects of the pollution were deleterious to the health of the local population."
💡 Mnemonic: Sounds like 'delete-erious,' as in something that deletes your health or well-being.
gainsay (verb)
Definition: To deny or contradict.
"It is difficult to gainsay the evidence presented by the scientific community."
💡 Mnemonic: Imagine trying to 'gain' an 'say' (argument) against someone, but they 'say' no, they deny it.
insidious (adjective)
Definition: Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects.
"The insidious spread of misinformation online posed a threat to democratic processes."
💡 Mnemonic: Sounds like 'in-sidious,' meaning something that creeps in subtly and causes harm from the inside.
obsequious (adjective)
Definition: Obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.
"The new intern was so obsequious that the boss felt uncomfortable with his constant flattery."
💡 Mnemonic: Think of 'obey-sequel,' like a sequel to obedience that's over the top.
propensity (noun)
Definition: An inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way.
"He had a propensity for getting into trouble, despite his best intentions."
💡 Mnemonic: Imagine a 'prophet' who has a 'tendency' to see the future.
recalcitrant (adjective)
Definition: Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline.
"The recalcitrant student refused to do his homework, even after repeated warnings."
💡 Mnemonic: Picture a 'calf' that is 'recalcitrant' (stubborn) and won't be led.
superfluous (adjective)
Definition: Unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.
"The professor's lengthy explanation was superfluous, as the students had already grasped the concept."
💡 Mnemonic: Think of 'super' (more than) and 'flow' (enough), meaning more than enough, hence unnecessary.
vitiate (verb)
Definition: To spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of.
"The constant interruptions served to vitiate the productivity of the team meeting."
💡 Mnemonic: Sounds like 'vi-tiate,' as in 'to violate' or 'to make bad'.
