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GRE Vocabulary — Set 1 flashcards

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One hundred words for GRE Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence, grouped by meaning family, each with pronunciation, a definition that tells near-synonyms apart, three example sentences (the most common use first) and, on most cards, a note on origins or look-alikes.

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Learn deck · part of GRE General Test (Verbal) · written against: Shorter GRE format (September 2023). Updated 2026-10-10.

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  1. laconic (adj.) · luh-KAH-nik
    speaking or written in so few words as to seem curt, unfriendly or mysterious

    Asked how the surgery had gone, the laconic surgeon said only, "Fine."

    Her laconic text, "Running late," left us guessing for an hour.

    The ranch hand was laconic, answering most questions with a nod.

    Origin: Latin laconicus, "of Sparta," from Greek lakōnikos; the Spartans were famous for saying as little as possible.
    Speech & Silence
  2. castigate (v.) · KAS-tuh-gayt
    to attack someone with harsh criticism or scolding

    The editorial castigated the council for skipping the public hearing.

    Reviewers castigated the studio for releasing an unfinished game.

    She castigated herself for missing such an obvious mistake.

    Origin: from Latin castīgāre, "to punish or scold for wrongdoing," via its past participle castīgātus.
    Praise & Criticism
  3. sanguine (adj.) · SANG-gwuhn
    upbeat and confident, especially that things will end well

    Even after the second rejection, she remained sanguine about finding a publisher.

    Economists are less sanguine about next year's growth than they were in spring.

    Despite the striker's swollen ankle, the coach sounded sanguine, predicting a return within a week.

    Don't confuse with: sanguinary, "bloodthirsty, murderous"; sanguine usually means hopeful.
    Mood & Temperament
  4. capricious (adj.) · kuh-PRISH-uhs
    changing suddenly and unpredictably, as if on a whim

    The island's capricious weather can bring sun, hail and fog before breakfast.

    Employees feared the owner's capricious decisions about who got raises.

    The rule seemed capricious, applied to some students but not others.

    Origin: came into English through Middle French capricieux, which took it from Italian capriccioso; the root is capriccio, a sudden whim.
    Change & Stability
  5. equivocal (adj.) · ih-KWIV-uh-kuhl
    open to more than one interpretation, often deliberately so; uncertain or inconclusive

    The minister's equivocal answer let both sides claim she agreed with them.

    The lab's equivocal results neither confirmed nor ruled out contamination.

    Early reviews of the film were equivocal at best.

    Origin: Late Latin aequivocus, from aequi- (equi-) + voc-, vox, "voice."
    Truth & Deception
  6. abstruse (adj.) · uhb-STROOS
    hard to understand because the ideas are complex, deep or remote from ordinary thought

    The proof is so abstruse that few mathematicians claim to follow every step.

    Her lectures turned abstruse theory into examples anyone could grasp.

    The tax code grows more abstruse with every amendment.

    Origin: Latin abstrūsus, "hidden away, obscure," formed from abstrūdere, to hide (literally, to push away).
    Difficulty & Ease
  7. obsequious (adj.) · uhb-SEE-kwee-uhs
    showing more eagerness than is fitting to please or obey, especially people in power; fawning

    The obsequious waiter agreed with every complaint, even two that contradicted each other.

    Staff grew obsequious whenever the owner walked through the store.

    She thanked him in an obsequious tone that fooled no one.

    Origin: Middle English "compliant," via Latin obsequiosus and obsequium, a yielding, from obsequi, to go along with.
    Power & Submission
  8. ameliorate (v.) · uh-MEEL-yuh-rayt
    to improve something bad or hard to bear; ease

    The new drainage ameliorated the flooding but did not end it.

    Extra night-shift nurses ameliorated the strain on the understaffed ward.

    Shade trees can ameliorate summer heat in city neighborhoods.

    Origin: alteration (after French améliorer) of meliorate, ultimately from Latin melior, "better."
    Harm & Help
  9. erudite (adj.) · AIR-uh-dight
    marked by deep, wide learning that comes from long study

    The erudite footnotes cite sources in six languages.

    Our erudite guide knew the history of every carving in the cathedral.

    She was erudite but never made others feel ignorant.

    Origin: Middle English erudit; Latin eruditus, taught, came from erudire, to train or teach, itself e- plus rudis, untrained, rough.
    Wisdom & Folly
  10. prodigal (adj.) · PRAH-dih-guhl
    recklessly wasteful, especially with money; giving or producing something in great quantity

    A prodigal heir can empty a fortune faster than three generations filled it.

    The city's prodigal spending on parades left little for road repairs.

    She was prodigal with praise, complimenting every student's effort.

    Watch out: the prodigal son of the parable was wasteful; as an adjective, prodigal does not mean "returning."
    Money & Morals

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Review status: Second-reader reviewed, with corrections applied.

Checked against:

  • Senses and parts of speech checked against Merriam-Webster.com, The American Heritage Dictionary (5th edition, ahdictionary.com), Oxford Learner's Dictionaries, the Cambridge Dictionary and Longman; all definitions, notes and example sentences are original.

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