GRE® Vocabulary: 400 High-Value Words with Examples

Learn 400 GRE-level words through meaning, nuance and original context.

400 cardsLast updated 2026-08-16

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GRE verbal questions reward precise distinctions in meaning, tone and logic rather than simple word recognition. These 400 independently written cards prioritize the words that let you evaluate evidence, qualify a claim, identify attitude and follow a complex argument. Entries are organized into semantic families — a small number of foundational anchors first, then the denser contrasts and the higher-utility advanced vocabulary. Each answer gives a concise definition, a usage cue or contrast, and an original sentence. Import it and the whole deck joins your spaced-repetition schedule. Words you already know stretch out and drop out of sight; the ones that keep slipping come back until they stop slipping. What goes down is the number of words you still don't know — not the time it takes to flip past 400 cards you mostly do.

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What's inside

Showing 100 representative cards from the full 400-card deck.

Front	Back
abrogate (verb) — what does it mean?	to formally abolish or cancel a law, agreement, or custom. implies official repeal, not casual rejection.
abscond (verb) — what does it mean?	to leave hurriedly and secretly, especially to avoid arrest or responsibility. stealthy escape rather than ordinary departure.
abstract (adjective) — what does it mean?	existing as an idea, principle, or quality rather than as a concrete object; often difficult to picture. emphasizes general concepts over specific examples.
abstruse (adjective) — what does it mean?	hard to understand because it is complex, obscure, or highly technical. more difficult and less accessible than merely unclear.
acclaim (noun) — what does it mean?	strong public praise or approval. broad applause or recognition, not private admiration.
adjure (verb) — what does it mean?	to urge or command someone earnestly, often by invoking authority or a solemn appeal. stronger and more pressing than simple asking.
affirm (verb) — what does it mean?	to state positively or assert as true; to confirm. stronger than suggesting and often more definite than implying.
allude (verb) — what does it mean?	to refer to something indirectly or by hint rather than direct mention. subtle reference instead of explicit naming.
analyze (verb) — what does it mean?	to examine something by separating it into parts and studying relationships among them. more careful and structured than simply looking at.
apprise (verb) — what does it mean?	to inform or notify, especially in a formal or careful way. more official than casually telling.
arrogate (verb) — what does it mean?	to claim or seize something without right or authority. an overreach of power or entitlement.
assiduous (adjective) — what does it mean?	careful, persistent, and hardworking over time. sustained diligence rather than bursts of effort.
attribute (verb) — what does it mean?	to explain or regard something as caused by a particular source or quality. connects an effect to a cause or credit to a source.
acumen (noun) — what does it mean?	sharp practical judgment and the ability to understand a difficult situation quickly. distinguish the word by its logical or tonal role, not by a loose synonym.
censure (noun) — what does it mean?	strong disapproval or official criticism. harsher than mild disapproval, but not always a formal punishment.
capricious (adjective) — what does it mean?	changing suddenly and unpredictably, often without a clear reason. distinguish the word by its logical or tonal role, not by a loose synonym.
coherent (adjective) — what does it mean?	logical, orderly, and easy to follow as a whole. ideas fit together instead of feeling fragmented.
comprise (verb) — what does it mean?	to consist of; to be made up of. focuses on whole and parts, not mere inclusion.
condone (verb) — what does it mean?	to tolerate or overlook wrongdoing, often implicitly. not approval, but failure to object strongly enough.
conspicuous (adjective) — what does it mean?	clearly visible or noticeable; hard to miss. stands out in a way that may be intentional or unwanted.
credence (noun) — what does it mean?	belief in or acceptance of something as true. the amount of trust a claim receives.
dichotomy (noun) — what does it mean?	a division into two sharply contrasted categories, sometimes an oversimplification. distinguish the word by its logical or tonal role, not by a loose synonym.
disclose (verb) — what does it mean?	to reveal or make known, especially something previously hidden or withheld. bringing information into view.
elaborate (verb) — what does it mean?	to explain or expand on something in greater detail. adding depth, not unnecessary complication.
exemplary (adjective) — what does it mean?	serving as a model of excellence or correctness. not merely good, but worthy of imitation.
fallible (adjective) — what does it mean?	capable of making mistakes or being wrong. emphasizes human imperfection rather than incompetence.
empirical (adjective) — what does it mean?	based on observation or experiment rather than theory alone. distinguish the word by its logical or tonal role, not by a loose synonym.
ephemeral (adjective) — what does it mean?	lasting for only a very short time. distinguish the word by its logical or tonal role, not by a loose synonym.
moot (adjective) — what does it mean?	open to debate, unresolved, or no longer important in practice. can mean both theoretical and practically irrelevant depending on context.
applaud (verb) — what does it mean?	To express approval or praise, literally or figuratively. can mean both clapping and endorsing an idea.
exaggerate (verb) — what does it mean?	To make something seem larger, better, worse, or more intense than it really is. not necessarily false, but overstated.
rebuke (verb) — what does it mean?	To scold or criticize sharply. direct but usually shorter and less elaborate than a public denunciation.
equivocal (adjective) — what does it mean?	open to more than one interpretation or deliberately noncommittal. distinguish the word by its logical or tonal role, not by a loose synonym.
acerbic (adjective) — what does it mean?	Sharp, severe, and often unpleasant in manner or tone. less openly cruel than caustic, but still cutting.
invalidate (verb) — what does it mean?	To make something no longer acceptable, effective, or legally valid. more procedural than emotional criticism.
anguished (adjective) — what does it mean?	Full of severe mental suffering or distress. stronger and more painful than simple sadness.
ecstatic (adjective) — what does it mean?	Overwhelmed with intense joy or excitement. near the top of the happiness scale.
indignant (adjective) — what does it mean?	Angry because something seems unfair or insulting. anger with a strong sense of moral offense.
fastidious (adjective) — what does it mean?	extremely attentive to detail, accuracy or cleanliness. distinguish the word by its logical or tonal role, not by a loose synonym.
diffident (adjective) — what does it mean?	Lacking confidence in social situations; shy and hesitant. implies reserve rather than open fear.
affable (adjective) — what does it mean?	Friendly, approachable, and easy to talk to. warm in manner rather than deeply intimate.
hackneyed (adjective) — what does it mean?	made dull or unoriginal through excessive use. distinguish the word by its logical or tonal role, not by a loose synonym.
sanguine (adjective) — what does it mean?	Optimistic or confident, especially in a difficult situation. hopeful despite evidence that might justify doubt.
benevolent (adjective) — what does it mean?	Kind, well-meaning, and inclined to do good. kinder and less self-sacrificing than altruistic.
honorable (adjective) — what does it mean?	Characterized by integrity, dignity, or ethical conduct. can refer to both behavior and social esteem.
duplicitous (adjective) — what does it mean?	Deceitful, using two-faced or hidden intentions. implies intentional misleading behavior.
conciliatory (adjective) — what does it mean?	Intended to calm disagreement or win back goodwill. aims at reconciliation rather than victory.
churlish (adjective) — what does it mean?	Rude, ill-mannered, or unpleasantly difficult. more petty and ungracious than openly hostile.
mendacious (adjective) — what does it mean?	Given to lying; dishonest in speech. more formal than simply false, and often character-based.
placate (verb) — what does it mean?	To calm someone down by making concessions or giving reassurance. aims to reduce anger, not necessarily solve the problem.
moralistic (adjective) — what does it mean?	Focused on judging right and wrong in a preachy or rigid way. more about lecturing than ethical insight.
accelerate (verb) — what does it mean?	to increase speed or make something happen sooner; it can describe motion, processes, or trends. expedite, which stresses making a task move more efficiently rather than physically faster.
attenuate (verb) — what does it mean?	to weaken, thin, or reduce intensity; it is often used for forces, effects, or signals. dilute, which focuses more on spreading out a substance or message.
deteriorate (verb) — what does it mean?	to become worse in quality, condition, or value over time; it implies decline rather than a sudden collapse. erode, which often suggests gradual wearing away.
expand (verb) — what does it mean?	to become or make larger, broader, or more inclusive; it can refer to size, scope, or influence. narrow, which reduces range.
hasten (verb) — what does it mean?	to speed up an action or event, often by taking steps that bring it sooner. delay, which pushes an outcome back.
ineffable (adjective) — what does it mean?	too great, subtle or unusual to be expressed adequately in words. distinguish the word by its logical or tonal role, not by a loose synonym.
lacuna (noun) — what does it mean?	a missing part, gap or blank in an argument, record or body of knowledge. distinguish the word by its logical or tonal role, not by a loose synonym.
revise (verb) — what does it mean?	to review and alter something to improve it or make it accurate. preserve, which keeps something unchanged.
trickle (verb) — what does it mean?	to flow or arrive slowly in small amounts; it suggests a weak, limited supply. flood, which implies sudden abundance.
ample (adjective) — what does it mean?	more than sufficient in size, amount, or degree; it suggests comfortable adequacy rather than extravagance. meager, which signals insufficiency.
lavish (adjective) — what does it mean?	very generous or extravagant in amount, quality, or display; it can describe abundance with a showy edge. modest, which is restrained.
skimpy (adjective) — what does it mean?	too small, slight, or insufficient for comfort or adequacy; it often carries a dismissive tone. generous, which exceeds basic needs.
wanting (adjective) — what does it mean?	deficient or lacking in some needed quality, amount, or standard. sufficient, which meets the requirement.
overt (adjective) — what does it mean?	openly displayed or done in the clear, with no attempt at concealment. covert, which is hidden or secret.
equivocate (verb) — what does it mean?	to speak in a deliberately unclear way in order to avoid a direct answer or commitment. answer plainly, which gives a direct response.
recondite (adjective) — what does it mean?	deeply obscure, specialized, or understood by only a few experts. accessible, which is easy for a broad audience.
assent (noun) — what does it mean?	agreement or approval, especially after consideration. dissent, which is disagreement.
harmony (noun) — what does it mean?	a pleasing state of agreement, balance, or compatibility. friction, which suggests strain and conflict.
capitulate (verb) — what does it mean?	to surrender or give in after resisting; it implies loss of leverage or resolve. hold firm, which keeps resisting.
discord (noun) — what does it mean?	lack of agreement, harmony, or peace; it often signals persistent tension. concord, which is harmony or agreement.
recalcitrant (adjective) — what does it mean?	stubbornly resistant to authority, control, or agreement. amenable, which is willing to cooperate.
adamant (adjective) — what does it mean?	Firmly refusing to change one’s mind or position. stronger than stubborn, with an almost immovable quality.
allocate (verb) — what does it mean?	To assign or distribute resources for a particular purpose. often implies deliberate planning in limited circumstances.
analogous (adjective) — what does it mean?	Similar in some important way, making comparison useful. points to partial resemblance, not identity.
antediluvian (adjective) — what does it mean?	Extremely old, outdated, or primitive. often used humorously or critically for ideas and systems that seem hopelessly behind the times.
articulate (verb) — what does it mean?	To express an idea clearly and effectively in words. stresses precision and clarity of expression.
audacious (adjective) — what does it mean?	Bold in a way that can seem daring, risky, or even disrespectful. can be admired for courage or criticized for excess.
banal (adjective) — what does it mean?	Lacking freshness or originality; overused and dull. implies stale predictability rather than harmless simplicity.
catalyze (verb) — what does it mean?	To trigger or accelerate a process or change. often means causing movement rather than directly creating the final result.
commensurate (adjective) — what does it mean?	Proportionate or corresponding in scale, degree, or size. often used when one thing should match another fairly.
debilitate (verb) — what does it mean?	To weaken or drain strength. often used for illness, exhaustion, or conditions that severely reduce capability.
denigrate (verb) — what does it mean?	To attack the reputation or worth of someone or something; to belittle. often involves unfair or degrading criticism.
diaphanous (adjective) — what does it mean?	Light, delicate, and almost transparent. often used for fabric, light, or anything that appears fragile and airy.
disinterested (adjective) — what does it mean?	Unbiased and not personally invested in the outcome. in careful usage, it means impartial, not bored.
dissonance (noun) — what does it mean?	A lack of harmony or a clash between elements. can refer to sound, ideas, or feelings that do not fit together.
duress (noun) — what does it mean?	Forced pressure, especially threats or coercion. usually used when someone’s choice is not fully voluntary.
elicit (verb) — what does it mean?	To draw out a response, reaction, or information. suggests active prompting rather than passive receiving.
emollient (adjective) — what does it mean?	Soothing, softening, or conciliatory in tone or effect. often describes language that calms tension rather than confronts it.
parsimonious (adjective) — what does it mean?	using the fewest assumptions or resources necessary; sometimes excessively frugal. distinguish the word by its logical or tonal role, not by a loose synonym.
abstemious (adjective) — what does it mean?	restrained in eating or drinking; marked by moderation rather than indulgence.
adumbrate (verb) — what does it mean?	to hint at or foreshadow something before fully revealing it; suggests an outline rather than a full statement.
affectation (noun) — what does it mean?	an artificial display meant to impress others; a forced mannerism rather than a genuine trait.
allot (verb) — what does it mean?	to distribute or assign a portion to someone or something; often implies measured division of a limited supply.
amorphous (adjective) — what does it mean?	without a clear shape, structure, or definite boundaries; can be literal or abstract.
antipodal (adjective) — what does it mean?	diametrically opposite in position, character, or opinion; suggests near-total contrast.
ascribe (verb) — what does it mean?	to attribute something to a cause, source, or person; often used when explaining origins.
attenuation (noun) — what does it mean?	a weakening, reduction, or thinning out; often used for force, intensity, or signal strength.
benevolence (noun) — what does it mean?	a kindly or charitable disposition; goodness expressed through helpful intent.
bombastic (adjective) — what does it mean?	pompous and inflated in style or speech; sounds grander than the substance deserves.

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