GRE Vocabulary: Most Frequently Used Words List

In this article, you will learn 200+ GRE vocabulary words with correct spellings, synonyms (meanings), antonyms, and examples. These words are frequently used to boost your vocabulary and impress the examiner. Since the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) uses advanced English words to assess a candidate’s English language proficiency, particularly in an academic setting and not in everyday conversation, it’s essential to learn and memorise these difficult GRE words. Whether a beginner or an advanced learner, you can deploy these GRE words as nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs based on the context and achieve a high GRE score.
 
The full list of GRE vocabulary words are given below.

1. Accolade

• Synonym: Praise; appreciation; tribute; award
• Antonym: Criticism; rebuke; indictment; reprimand
• Example: My father won an accolade for bravery in wartime.  

2. Aegis

• Synonym: Sponsorship; protection
• Antonym: Assault; aggression; offence
• Example: She negotiated under the aegis of the President. 

3. Ambience

• Synonym: Aroma; atmosphere
• Antonym: Emptiness; blankness
• Example: We like the ambience at that tiny corner cafe. 

4. Apostate

• Synonym: Deserter; traitor
• Antonym: Disciple; loyalist
• Example: Having left the church, he was called an apostate. 

5. Avarice

• Synonym: Greed
• Antonym: Satisfaction; gratification
• Example: Midas lost his only daughter to his avarice for gold. 

6. Auspices

• Synonym: Patronage
• Antonym: Powerlessness, opposition
• Example: The club functions under the auspices of the college. 

7. Abnegate

• Synonym: Abstain; decline
• Antonym: Accept; continue
• Example: The king will abnegate power to his son, the prince. 

8. Bacchanal

• Synonym: Carnival; debauch; feast
• Antonym: Killjoy; party pooper
• Example: Chaperones kept the prom from being a bacchanal.

9. Bastion

• Synonym: Bulwark; citadel; fortress
• Antonym: weak spot; weakness
• Example: The collector’s office is our bastion against crime. 

10. Benighted

• Synonym: Unlearned; untaught
• Antonym: Learned
• Example: The benighted peasants thought the Earth stood still. 

11. Bevy

• Synonym: Assembly; band; bunch
• Antonym: Individual; one
• Example: A bevy of young girls flowed through the mall. 

12. Blandishment

• Synonym: Adulation; sycophancy
• Antonym: Criticism
• Example: She persuaded us both with blandishment and bribe. 

13. Byzantine

• Synonym: Daedal; intricate
• Antonym: Simple; uncomplicated
• Example: We followed byzantine corridors to reach her new office. 

14. Bellwether

• Synonym: Doyen; forerunner; guide
• Antonym: Follower; imitator
• Example: Housing foreclosures were a bellwether of recession. 

15. Cajole

• Synonym: Coax
• Antonym: Harass; tease
• Example: You cannot cajole me to try that new restaurant. 

16. Censure

• Synonym: Condemnation; reprimand
• Antonym: Endorsement; citation
• Example: The committee urged censure for his misconduct. 

17. Chicanery

• Synonym: Deception; treachery
• Antonym: Artlessness; sincerity
• Example: What sort of chicanery enabled the senator to become a millionaire?

18. Choleric

• Synonym: Irritable; fiery
• Antonym: Outgoing; genial
• Example: Her choleric nature kept the whole office on edge. 

19. Clemency

• Synonym: Mercy; leniency
• Antonym: Vengeance; revenge
• Example: The judgement was harsh, but clemency was possible. 

20. Contumely

• Synonym: Arrogance; disdain
• Antonym: Admiration; approval
• Example: The Church should not be exposed to gossip and contumely. 

21. Coterie

• Synonym: Crowd; clique
• Antonym: Individualist
• Example: My coterie loves to celebrate birthdays as a group. 

22. Deft

• Synonym: Skillful; smooth
• Antonym: Crude; clumsy
• Example: His deft fingers on the keyboard left us in awe. 

23. Deleterious

• Synonym: Harmful; detrimental; adverse
• Antonym: Beneficial; benign
• Example: Chemical additives may be deleterious to our health. 

24. Derision

• Synonym: Joke; target
• Antonym: Favourite; pet
• Example: Dr. Bean’s peculiar theory was met with derision. 

25. Desultory

• Synonym: Random; scattered; erratic
• Antonym: Systematic; methodical
• Example: A desultory tour of campus did not inspire them to apply. 

26. Diaphanous

• Synonym: Transparent; sheer; translucent
• Antonym: Opaque
• Example: The dancers wore diaphanous skirts over leotards. 

27. Diffidence

• Synonym: Timidity; fearfulness; shyness
• Antonym: Attitude; assertiveness
• Example: People often mistook her diffidence for rudeness. 

28. Dolorous

• Synonym: Mournful; weeping; heartbroken
• Antonym: Triumphant; joyful
• Example: That dolorous music brought tears to my eyes. 

29. Edict

• Synonym: Decree; ruling; directive
• Antonym: Petition; appeal
• Example: The king issued an edict demanding new taxes. 

30. Effulgent

• Synonym: Luminous; shining
• Antonym: Dim; dull; blackened
• Example: The harvest moon was effulgent on the horizon. 

31. Elegiac

• Synonym: Depressive; somber
• Antonym: Cheerful; bright
• Example: His reading at the funeral was lovely and elegiac. 

32. Equivocal

• Synonym: Questionable; dubious
• Antonym: Certain; indisputable
• Example: The evidence was equivocal and led nowhere. 

33. Eschew

• Synonym: Avoid; evade; escape
• Antonym: Seek; accept; pursue
• Example: Please eschew the passive voice in your writing. 

34. Exalt

• Synonym: Elevate; promote
• Antonym: Humble; degrade
• Example: In astrology, Moon will exalt in the sign of Taurus. 

35. Expunge

• Synonym: Erase; eradicate; abolish
• Antonym: Preserve; save
• Example: Can we expunge the record and start over again?

36. Fallible

• Synonym: Imperfect; flawed
• Antonym: Perfect; whole
• Example: To be human is to be fallible; we all err at times.  

37. Fealty

• Synonym: Allegiance; commitment
• Antonym: Treachery; perfidy
• Example: Knights pledged an oath of fealty to their rulers. 

38. Fecund

• Synonym: Fertile; prolific
• Antonym: Sterile; barren
• Example: Rabbits are quite fecund and produce many litters. 

39. Feign

• Synonym: Pretend; simulate; assume
• Antonym: Honesty
• Example: She may feign illness to avoid taking the test. 

40. Fervent

• Synonym: Ardent; earnest
• Antonym: Apathetic; calm
• Example: It is my fervent hope that you will visit soon. 

41. Fidelity

• Synonym: Devotion; loyalty
• Antonym: Enmity
• Example: This tape has great fidelity to the original recording. 

42. Filch

• Synonym: Embezzle; pilfer; purloin
• Antonym: Give; offer
• Example: Did you filch my yogurt from the refrigerator shelf?

43. Gaffe

• Synonym: Blooper; blunder; impropriety
• Antonym: Correction
• Example: Susan’s worst gaffe came when she called Lisa “Lucy”. 

44. Gargantuan

• Synonym: Colossal; enormous
• Antonym: Dwarfed; little
• Example: Three gargantuan derricks stood in the oil field. 

45. Genteel

• Synonym: Aristocratic; elegant
• Antonym: uncivilised; unfashionable
• Example: At one time, a genteel woman always wore gloves. 

46. Germane

• Synonym: Applicable; apt; pertinent
• Antonym: Inappropriate; irrelevant
• Example: Your opinion is not germane to this discussion. 

47. Glib

• Synonym: Artful; eloquent
• Antonym: Quiet; silent
• Example: Glib responses are inappropriate in serious times. 

48. Gustatory

• Synonym: Audiovisual; aural; sonic
• Antonym: Ambiguous; faint
• Example: Sweet things appeal to my gustatory senses. 

49. Grandiloquence

• Synonym: Rhetoric; bombast
• Antonym: Thrifty
• Example: I prefer plain speaking to grandiloquence. 

50. Hackneyed

• Synonym: cliche; stereotyped
• Antonym: New; original; novel
• Example: To use a hackneyed phrase, it’ll knock your socks off!

51. Halcyon

• Synonym: Tranquil; placid; serene
• Antonym: Turbulent; stormy
• Example: The day was halcyon; not a cloud was in the sky. 

52. Hermetic

• Synonym: Esoteric
• Antonym: Superficial; shallow
• Example: If the flask is hermetic, no air will escape or enter.

53. Heterodoxy

• Synonym: Dissent; heresy
• Antonym: Orthodoxy; conformity
• Example: Her heterodoxy upset the elders of the church. 

54. Hiatus

• Synonym: Gap; interval
• Antonym: Completeness
• Example: My favourite radio show is on hiatus for the summer. 

55. Hirsute

• Synonym: Hairy; silky
• Antonym: Bald; Glabrous
• Example: Will the boy grow to be as hirsute as his father?

56. Humbug

• Synonym: Hoax; counterfeit
• Antonym: Original
• Example: The Wizard of Oz was something of a humbug. 

57. Ignominy

• Synonym: Disgrace; shame; humiliation
• Antonym: Respect; esteem; honour
• Example: The captured criminals will now live in ignominy. 

58. Omnipotent

• Synonym: Almighty; sovereign
• Antonym: Powerless; helpless
• Example: The President of the USA is considered omnipotent by the western countries. 

59. Impecunious

• Synonym: Impoverished; poor
• Antonym: wealthy; affluent
• Example: Back then, most mine workers were impecunious. 

60. Implacable

• Synonym: Stubborn; adamant; steadfast
• Antonym: Flexible; agreeable; acquiescent
• Example: Against such implacable opposition, we soon gave up. 

61. Insouciant

• Synonym: Nonchalant; carefree; cavalier
• Antonym: Serious; earnest
• Example: We could hear her insouciant whistling from indoors. 

62. Inveigh

• Synonym: Complain; scream; whine
• Antonym: Rejoice; delight
• Example: Customers inveigh about the company’s return policy. 

63. Incorrigible

• Synonym: Hopeless; incurable
• Antonym: Recoverable; redeemable
• Example: The distressed counsellor called the boy incorrigible. 

64. Jejune

• Synonym: Boring; wearying
• Antonym: Interesting; involving; intriguing
• Example: A jejune drama will not entertain this audience. 

65. Jeremiad

• Synonym: Diatribe; Tirade
• Antonym: Eulogy; Panegyric
• Example: The speech was a jeremiad about the evils of slavery. 

66. Jibe

• Synonym: Coincide; correspond
• Antonym: Disagree (with); differ (from)
• Example: Our sailboat will jibe as it comes close to shore. 

67. Jocular

• Synonym: Humorous; witty; clever
• Antonym: Lowbrow; lame
• Example: A jocular actor is best for the job of store Santa. 

68. Juxtapose

• Synonym: Combine; mix; alternate
• Antonym: Disconnect; divide
• Example: Juxtapose the photos to compare them more easily. 

69. Juggernaut

• Synonym: Campaign; movement; crusade
• Antonym: Lowness; wimpiness
• Example: The storm was a juggernaut that crushed the town. 

70. Judicious

• Synonym: Intelligent; prudent
• Antonym: careless; heedless
• Example: His judicious plan appeased the accused and accuser. 

71. Kinetic

• Synonym: Energetic; brisk
• Antonym: Inactive; lifeless
• Example: The kinetic sculpture turns slowly on its base. 

72. Kismet

• Synonym: Destiny; fate
• Antonym: Whole
• Example: Running into each other at the mall was kismet. 

73. Kudos

• Synonym: Applause
• Antonym: Denunciation
• Example: We offered kudos for her fine dance performance. 

74. Knit

• Synonym: bind; crochet
• Antonym: divide; loosen
• Example: The fabric is tightly knit. 

75. Knot

• Synonym: screw; tangle
• Antonym: Untie
• Example: Secure your trousers with a knot. 

76. Kin

• Synonym: breed; family; tribe
• Antonym: origin; extraction
• Example: Elephant kin in North America are moving from east to west. 

77. Knead

• Synonym: Pat; massage; rub
• Antonym: Idle; neglect
• Example: Lightly knead the dough a second time and leave for another 1 hour. 

78. Lachrymose

• Synonym: Sad; tearful
• Antonym: Joyful; happy
• Example: Although her tale was lachrymose, it made us giggle. 

79. Largesse

• Synonym: Donation; endowment
• Antonym: Hindrance; hurt; injury
• Example: Our boss’s largesse extended to extra vacation days. 

80. Licentious

• Synonym: Abandoned
• Antonym: Chaste; controlled
• Example: Licentious material is banned from school computers. 

81. Litany

• Synonym: Catalogue; recitation; repetition
• Antonym: Condemnation; disapproval
• Example: His litany of complaints did nothing to persuade us. 

82. Lugubrious

• Synonym: Bleak; lonely
• Antonym: Friendly; cheerful
• Example: We nearly laughed at the dean’s lugubrious tone. 

83. Libation

• Synonym: Drink; beverage
• Antonym: Sober
• Example: He poured a libation and toasted the New Year. 

84. Lithe

• Synonym: Agile; limber; supple
• Antonym: Clumsy; riigid 
• Example: With a lithe leap, the gymnast landed on the beam. 

85. Malleable

• Synonym: Adaptable; flexible
• Antonym: Rigid; stiff; firm
• Example: The malleable frame adjusted to fit the portrait. 

86. Maudlin

• Synonym: Mawkish; mushy; romantic; sentimental
• Antonym: Pragmatic; unemotional; unromantic
• Example: Our great aunt sends us maudlin greeting cards. 

87. Meander

• Synonym: Drift; ramble; roam; stray
• Antonym: Stay
• Example: Three slow streams meander through the property. 

88. Mellifluous

• Synonym: Melodic; lyrical
• Antonym: Disconnected; Strident
• Example: The meadowlark has a pleasant, mellifluous song. 

89. Mendicant

• Synonym: Beggar
• Antonym: Secular; lay; temporal
• Example: A mendicant tugged at my coat and asked for help. 

90. Miasma

• Synonym: Cloud; haze
• Antonym: Perfume; sweetness
• Example: A dank miasma rose from the flooded swamp. 

91. Moribund

• Synonym: Dying
• Antonym: Alive; existing
• Example: Onondaga may be considered a moribund language. 

92. Nebulous

• Synonym: Ambiguous; cryptic
• Antonym: Obvious; clear
• Example: His explanation was nebulous and left us baffled. 

93. Nexus

• Synonym: Center; connection; core; link; network
• Antonym: Exterior; outside; divorce
• Example: Drugs may be a nexus between terrorism and crime. 

94. Niggardly

• Synonym: Miserly; careful; stingy
• Antonym: Generous; liberal; munificent
• Example: The broker left a niggardly tip of only fifty cents. 

95. Nihilism

• Synonym: Anarchy; atheism; lawlessness
• Antonym: Allowance; approval; ratification
• Example: Jude’s nihilism contrasts with his priestly garments. 

96. Noisome

• Synonym: Poisonous; toxic; unhealthful 
• Antonym: Healthy; sanitary
• Example: A noisome stench arose where we were digging. 

97. Nostrum

• Synonym: Elixir; remedy; panacea
• Antonym: Disease; injury
• Example: The poet found love to be a nostrum for melancholy. 

98. Nugatory

• Synonym: Null; invalid; void
• Antonym: Good; valid; legal
• Example: His opinion was nugatory to the group’s decision. 

99. Obeisance

• Synonym: Homage; respect; salute; nod; reverence
• Antonym: Insolence; impudence; affront
• Example: The knight made humble obeisance before the duke. 

100. Odious

• Synonym: Disgusting; awful; hideous; obscene
• Antonym: Innocuous; acceptable; desirable; inoffensive
• Example: His behaviour is odious, and his speech is rude. 

101. Offal

• Synonym: Garbage; debris; trash; rubbish; junk
• Antonym: Plum; treasure; pearl
• Example: Dress the deer and throw the offal into the woods. 

102. Ossify

• Synonym: Calcify; crystallise; petrify; coagulate
• Antonym: Soften; liquefy; dissolve
• Example: The dried gourds seemed to ossify in the hot sun. 

103. Ostracize

• Synonym: Denounce; attack; criticise
• Antonym: Approve; endorse; sanction; glorify
• Example: Do not ostracise him because he disagrees with you.

104. Ouster

• Synonym: Ejection; relocation; expulsion; banishment
• Antonym: Return; repatriation; immigration; approach
• Example: After her ouster from the club, she considered suing. 

105. Overweening

• Synonym: Smug; arrogant; egotistical
• Antonym: Humble; modest; egoless
• Example: His overweening ambition nearly took over his life. 

106. Peccadillo

• Synonym: Crime; error; misconduct; sin; wrongdoing
• Antonym: innocence; blamelessness; righteousness; virtue
• Example: It was easy to forgive him for that mild peccadillo.

107. Pedant

• Synonym: Teacher; instructor
• Antonym: easy-going; sloppy; lenient; unsystematic
• Example: I prefer a know-it-all to a rules-obsessed pedant.

108. Pernicious

• Synonym: Harmful; dangerous; detrimental; damaging
• Antonym: Benign; harmless; beneficial; inoffensive
• Example: Toxic runoff has a pernicious effect on the environment.

109. Piquant

• Synonym: Spicy; pungent; poignant; savoury
• Antonym: Insipid; dry; flat; tasteless; predictable
• Example: The sauce was smooth, with a piquant aftertaste.

110. Platitude

• Synonym: Cliche; truism; bromide
• Antonym: Profundity
• Example: No platitude is likely to engage the audience.

111. Provenance

• Synonym: Origin
• Antonym: Conclusion; effect; end; result
• Example: What is the provenance of this oil painting?

112. Puissance

• Synonym: Clout; force; influence; strength; sway
• Antonym: Enervation; impotence; inability; incapacity
• Example: The puissance of the unions led to that new law.

113. Quaff

• Synonym: Gulp; guzzle; imbibe; sip; swig; swill
• Antonym: Eject
• Example: We merrily quaff the punch at the office party.

114. Quagmire

• Synonym: Dilemma; entanglement; imbroglio; impasse
• Antonym: Agreement; solution
• Example: The quagmire of Vietnam sank several careers.

115. Qualms

• Synonym: Shame; doubt; objection; regret
• Antonym: Conviction; certainty; assurance; confidence
• Example: She had some qualms about hiring the whistle-blower.

116. Quandary

• Synonym: Dilemma; difficulty; predicament; puzzle
• Antonym: Breeze; snap; cinch
• Example: He was in a quandary about which job to take.

117. Quay

• Synonym: Wharf; dock; pier
• Antonym: Undock; exit
• Example: Sailors docked the ships at the quay for unloading.

118. Quell

• Synonym: Subdue; suppress; repress; quash
• Antonym: Help; assist; aid; support
• Example: Crackers may quell our hunger for a while.

119. Quiescence

• Synonym: Suspension
• Antonym: Continuation
• Example: The deer's quiescence ends with cooler weather.

120. Raffish

• Synonym: Crass; vulgar; coarse; common
• Antonym: Smooth; genteel; civilised; polished
• Example: He looked confident in his raffish scarf and cap.

121. Rapacious

• Synonym: Greedy; ravenous
• Antonym: Satisfied; full; content; stuffed; glutted
• Example: The young lioness has quite a rapacious appetite.

122. Recalcitrant

• Synonym: Rebellious; rebel; defiant; stubborn
• Antonym: Obedient; cooperative; docile; amenable; compliant
• Example: The recalcitrant burro would not move up the trail.

123. Regale

• Synonym: Dinner; banquet; feast
• Antonym: Bore
• Example: Our host will regale us with food and conversation.

124. Repast

• Synonym: Meal; menu
• Antonym: Diet
• Example: A long walk will help us to digest that grand repast.

125. Replete

• Synonym: Plump; full; round; fat
• Antonym: Thin; spare; lean; slender; slim
• Example: Everyone was replete following the wedding feast.

126. Respite

• Synonym: Break; pause; lull; tranquillity; restfulness
• Antonym: Noise; din; clamour; racket
• Example: The long weekend was a welcome respite for all.

127. Sagacious

• Synonym: Wise; prudent; insightful
• Antonym: Unwise; dense; obtuse; purblind; foolish
• Example: One hopes that one’s professors will be sagacious.

128. Salutary

• Synonym: Beneficial; favourable; helpful; good
• Antonym: Bad; unfavourable; disadvantageous; unfriendly
• Example: Drinking water seems to be salutary to everyone.

129. Sanguine

• Synonym: Bloody; violent; fierce; savage
• Antonym: Conciliatory; peaceful; sympathetic; benign
• Example: He seemed oddly sanguine about the recession.

130. Sardonic

• Synonym: Sarcastic; barded; satiric
• Antonym: Amusing; playful; mild; gentle
• Example: In a sardonic tone, she suggested we look elsewhere.

131. Saturnine

• Synonym: Bleak; darkening; solemn
• Antonym: cheerful; bright; cordial
• Example: Joe was saturnine, but his wife was always cheerful.

132. Serendipity

• Synonym: Luck; coincidence
• Antonym: Tragedy; mishap; misadventure
• Example: Success is a mixture of serendipity and hard work.

133. Sordid

• Synonym: Filthy; dusty; muddy; blackened; stained
• Antonym: Unsullied; clean; immaculate
• Example: I quickly returned the sordid magazine to the shelf.

134. Tactile

• Synonym: Physical; tangible
• Antonym: Imperceptible; insensible; impalpable; immaterial
• Example: Reading Braille is tactile rather than visual. 

135. Taint

• Synonym: Stain; blot; stigma; guilt
• Antonym: Purity; credit; honour; chastity
• Example: Don’t let prejudice taint your opinions and beliefs. 

136. Tautology

• Synonym: Repetition; verbalism; hyperbole
• Antonym: Brevity; compactness; conciseness; terseness
• Example: It’s a tautology to say “This may be true or untrue.”

137. Tawdry

• Synonym: Terrible; poor; miserable; meretricious
• Antonym: Elegant; handsome; tasteful
• Example: Her tawdry outfit was better suited to a saloon. 

138. Temerity

• Synonym: Gall; nerve; audacity; arrogance
• Antonym: Timidity; modesty; hesitancy; diffidence
• Example: It took temerity to question his captain’s orders. 

139. Terse

• Synonym: Concise; brief; summary
• Antonym: Wordy; verbose; prolix; circuitous
• Example: He gave a terse reply to our lengthy question. 

140. Timorous

• Synonym: Timid
• Antonym: Daring; hardy; bold; adventurous
• Example: A mouse is timorous by nature, but a fox is sly. 

141. Ubiquitous

• Synonym: Commonplace; usual; familiar; frequent
• Antonym: Unusual; rare; extraordinary; seldom
• Example: Cell phones seem to be ubiquitous in high schools. 

142. Umbrage

• Synonym: Offence; huff; anger; frustration; indignation
• Antonym: Satisfaction
• Example: She took umbrage when I laughed at her dog. 

143. Unctuous

• Synonym: Fake; double; superficial; strained; hypocritical
• Antonym: Sincere; genuine; heartfelt; artless; candid
• Example: His unctuous smile was obviously insincere. 

144. Undulate

• Synonym: Oscillate; fluctuate; wave; flutter
• Antonym: Flat; steep
• Example: The rattlesnake seemed to undulate over the sand. 

145. Unkempt

• Synonym: Messy; chaotic; littered; cluttered
• Antonym: Orderly; tidy; neat; trim
• Example: Please comb your unkempt hair before going out. 

146. Unsung

• Synonym: Unknown; obscure
• Antonym: Prominent; famous; celebrated; renowned
• Example: The soldier’s bravery was unsung; he won no medal. 

147. Usurp

• Synonym: Seize; confiscate; steal; occupy; grab
• Antonym: Give; leave; offer; release
• Example: They cannot usurp power without support from us. 

148. Vagary

• Synonym: Whim; quirk
• Antonym: Regularity; standard; unconcern
• Example: A vagary in the weather dumped six inches of snow. 

149. Valor

• Synonym: Heroism; courage; bravery; gallantry; courageousness
• Antonym: Cowardice; timidity; cowardliness
• Example: Valor on the field of battle was crucial for a knight.

150. Vanquish

• Synonym: Conquer; subdue; dominate; subject; defeat 
• Antonym: Liberate; emancipate; free; release
• Example: Our debating team will vanquish all rival teams. 

151. Venerable

• Synonym: Revered; respectable
• Antonym: Notorious; infamous; loose
• Example: The venerable chief had ruled for nearly fifty years. 

152. Vicissitude

• Synonym: Ordeal; gauntlet; misfortune; privation
• Antonym: Similarity; stagnation; uniformity
• Example: A vicissitude in fortune enabled him to go to college. 

153. Vilify

• Synonym: Assail; defame; denigrate; disparage; malign; revile
• Antonym: Approve; cherish; commend; compliment; laud
• Example: The columnist tried to vilify the author in print. 

154. Virulent

• Synonym: Deadly; destructive; fatal; malignant; pernicious
• Antonym: Harmless; healthful; helpful; wholesome
• Example: Anthrax is a disease caused by a virulent bacterium. 

155. Waft

• Synonym: Drift; float
• Antonym: Hold; keep; take
• Example: Dead leaves waft on the cool autumn breeze.

156. Wanton

• Synonym: Lewd; outrageous; promiscuous; shameless
• Antonym: Decent; good; moral
• Example: Wanton cruelty to animals is always appalling.

157. Waspish

• Synonym: Irritable; fiery
• Antonym: Genial; affable; outgoing
• Example: Dinah’s waspish personality irritated her sisters. 

158. Wastrel

• Synonym: Spendthrift; prodigal; waster
• Antonym: Economizer; miser; skinflint; niggard
• Example: The young wastrel soon squandered his inheritance.

159. Whet

• Synonym: Sharpen
• Antonym: Dull; blunt
• Example: Delicious kitchen odours may whet your appetite. 

160. Wily

• Synonym: Cunning; cute
• Antonym: Ingenuous; guileless; obvious
• Example: My wily puppy found a way to open the pantry door.

161. Winnow

• Synonym: Pare; trim; reduce; sift
• Antonym: Select; pick; choose; take
• Example: Wash the berries and winnow out any unripe ones. 

162. Wizened

• Synonym: Gaunt; haggard; skeletal; shrivelled
• Antonym: Burly; healthy; brawny; husky
• Example: Her wizened face seemed both wise and kindly. 

163. Wraith

• Synonym: Ghost; apparition; spirit; phantom; spectre
• Antonym: Being
• Example: The fog hung like a wraith over the churchyard. 

164. Xenophobia

• Synonym: Nativism; chauvinism; jingoism
• Antonym: Internationalism
• Example: Severe xenophobia kept him from enjoying travel. 

165. Yammer

• Synonym: Whine; moan; complaint
• Antonym: Praise; compliment; applause; acclaim
• Example: Must you yammer on about your troubles?

166. Yaw

• Synonym: Veer; curve
• Antonym: Straighten
• Example: The plane might yaw as it flies through the storm. 

167. Yurt

• Synonym: Canvas; pavilion
• Antonym: Castle; citadel; firehouse
• Example: My cousins lived in a yurt for the summer. 

168. Zealous

• Synonym: Fervent; enthusiastic; ardent; passionate
• Antonym: Objective; dry; detached; impersonal
• Example: Paul is a zealous fan of the Cleveland Browns. 

169. Zenith

• Synonym: Pinnacle; height; peak; culmination; top; apex
• Antonym: Bottom; base; foot; nadir
• Example: At the zenith of their climb, they saw the sea below.

170. Zephyr

• Synonym: Breeze; puff
• Antonym: Calm; soft
• Example: A constant zephyr warms their island home. 

171. Ziggurat

• Synonym: Architecture; construction; home; house
• Antonym: Compress; abridge; diminish
• Example: The Mayans built a ziggurat overlooking the ocean.

172. Abjure

• Synonym: Renounce; withdraw; retract; deny
• Antonym: Maintain; admit; adhere (to); acknowledge
• Example: He never did abjure his belief in the big bang theory.

173. Adroitly

• Synonym: Masterfully; skillfully; well; deftly; capably
• Antonym: Poorly; ineptly; inefficiently; amateurishly
• Example: Our waiter adroitly balanced several trays at once.

174. Apocryphal

• Synonym: Speculative; unauthentic; hypothetical; mythic; fanciful
• Antonym: Historical; true; factual; literal
• Example: The child sneered at the apocryphal tooth fairy reference.

175. Arcane

• Synonym: Esoteric; profound
• Antonym: Superficial; simple; shallow; easy
• Example: Rugby is a sport with arcane rules and terminology.

176. Audacity

• Synonym: Gall; nerve; arrogance; temerity
• Antonym: Modesty; hesitancy; bashfulness
• Example: She had the audacity to challenge the professor’s theory. 

177. Congeal

• Synonym: Freeze; harden; stiffen
• Antonym: Soften; liquefy; dissolve; melt
• Example: The grease will congeal in cold water. 

178. Convivial

• Synonym: Social; outgoing; hospitable; companionable; friendly
• Antonym: Antisocial; introverted; reclusive; misanthropic
• Example: A convivial person makes friends wherever she goes. 

179. Corporeal

• Synonym: Physical; bodily
• Antonym: Psychological; intellectual; spiritual
• Example: Your corporeal assets may include houses or cars. 

180. Crux

• Synonym: Essence; core; root; heart; point; kernel
• Antonym: Exterior; outside
• Example: The crux of the matter seems to be affordability.

181. Culpable

• Synonym: Guilty; blameworthy
• Antonym: Blameless; perfect; impeccable
• Example: Insurance companies were held culpable in his death.

182. Crepuscular

• Synonym: Twilit; dusk; sombre; gloomy; tenebrous
• Antonym: Light; luminous; illuminated; brilliant
• Example: Crepuscular mammals come out to graze at dusk. 

183. Demagogue

• Synonym: Agitator; firebrand; proponent; rebel
• Antonym: peacemaker; reconciler
• Example: A demagogue wins power by stirring up the people. 

184. Dissipate

• Synonym: Disperse
• Antonym: Collect; concentrate; gather; assemble; congregate
• Example: The crowd will dissipate after the concert ends. 

185. Dotage

• Synonym: Senility; feebleness
• Antonym: Strength
• Example: In his dotage he became more and more forgetful. 

186. Draconian

• Synonym: Cruel; drastic; heavy-handed; oppressive; severe; strict
• Antonym: Easy; gentle; mild; permissive; temperate
• Example: Trespassing laws in this country are draconian. 

187. Dulcet

• Synonym: Pleasant; sweet; delightful; delicious
• Antonym: Unpleasant; disagreeable; unwelcome; obnoxious
• Example: We could hear the dulcet tones of her flute. 

188. Exhort

• Synonym: Urge; encourage
• Antonym: Discourage; deter
• Example: Our professors exhort us to continue our studies.  

189. Expedite

• Synonym: Facilitate; accelerate
• Antonym: Impede; hinder; interfere (with)
• Example: Use the priority service to expedite your mailing. 

190. Egress

• Synonym: Exit
• Antonym: Entrance; ingress
• Example: The nearest egress led through a door to the patio. 

191. Expiate

• Synonym: Compensate; redeem; repay
• Antonym: Charge; lose
• Example: He worked in a soup kitchen to expiate his misdeeds. 

192. Ebullience

• Synonym: Buoyancy; elation; gaiety; liveliness
• Antonym: Depression; sadness; unhappiness
• Example: The children’s ebullience was delightful to see. 

193. Foist

• Synonym: Impose; inflict; wish
• Antonym: Unsheathe; uncover; phase out
• Example: He tried to foist his merchandise on innocent tourists. 

194. Fortuitous

• Synonym: Fortunate; odd; random; serendipitous; unforeseen
• Antonym: Calculated; deliberate; designed; intentional
• Example: Our meeting in the park was entirely fortuitous. 

195. Fulminate

• Synonym: Huff; rave
• Antonym: Murmur; mutter; breathe
• Example: His anger may fulminate if you continue to tease him. 

196. Fulsome

• Synonym: Sickening; hagiographical; gushy; unctuous
• Antonym: Genuine; earnest; sincere; honest
• Example: Her fulsome praise only made us mistrust her more. 

197. Galvanize

• Synonym: Excite; thrill; electrify; inspire
• Antonym: Bore; weary; pall; tire; discourage
• Example: His brave speeches always galvanize his listeners. 

198. Mainstay

• Synonym: Anchor; backbone; pillar; standby
• Antonym: harm; weakness; vulnerability
• Example: Reading instruction is the mainstay of education. 

199. Mercurial

• Synonym: Volatile; unpredictable
• Antonym: Constant; certain; stable; immutable
• Example: Her mercurial moods confused her roommates. 

200. Mien

• Synonym: Look; demeanour; presence; attitude
• Antonym: Instigate; concealment; absence
• Example: At an interview, your mien should be professional.

201. Misanthrope

• Synonym: Cynic; recluse; loner
• Antonym: Believer
• Example: No misanthrope should even run for public office. 

202. Modulate

• Synonym: Inflect; regulate; adjust; improve
• Antonym: Impair; hurt; spoil
• Example: Please modulate your voice in the library.

203. Mutable

• Synonym: Volatile; unpredictable; changeful; variable
• Antonym: Immutable; constant; certain
• Example: Our opinions on the subject seem to be mutable. 

204. Nadir

• Synonym: Depth; zero; abyss
• Antonym: Zenith; peak; height; apex
• Example: The nadir of my career came when he fired me. 

205. Munificent

• Synonym: Generous; charitable
• Antonym: Parsimonious; miserly; ungenerous; stingy; tightfisted
• Example: The munificent gift will build a new hospital wing.

GRE Vocabulary PDF

Download the GRE vocabulary PDF to familiarise yourself with the difficult GRE words and understand their definitions.

How to memorise GRE vocabulary words?

• Acquiring New Words: The first step to memorise GRE vocabulary words is to acquire new words from textbooks, newspapers, magazines, blogs, reports etc. There are several options available to learn vocabulary every day, along with definitions and pronunciations. 
• Use Dictionary: After obtaining new words, use an advanced dictionary (printed or online) to find the correct definition for {words} as nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc. 
• Use Flash Cards: Flashcards are old-fashioned cards used to learn vocabulary effectively. Flashcards are available for Macs, PCs, and handy devices.  
• Memory Devices: Memory devices are tools that help you connect a word with its meaning. There are different kinds of memory devices. The most sought-after are mnemonics (sounds), rhymes, illustrations (visually) and associations (common phrases).
• Learn Etymology: Etymology is a word’s history or evolution. Since numerous English words are derived from Greek, Latin, French and Spanish, learning its etymology reveals the true essence of the word.

Conclusion

As you know, GRE verbal reasoning questions can be difficult to answer. To tackle its question types—sentence equivalence, text completion and reading comprehension, test takers must master vocabulary skills. The frequently used GRE vocabulary words given here along with synonyms, antonyms and examples will expand your lexical knowledge and understanding of its roots, prefixes and suffixes. By going through our vocabulary, you will learn new words and perform well on the test day.