A strong vocabulary is essential for scoring high on the GRE Verbal Reasoning section. While official GRE vocabulary lists cannot be reproduced due to copyright, this article provides a fully original, high-frequency collection of GRE-style words that appear commonly in standardized tests and graduate-level reading.

These words are categorized, easy to understand, and supported with examples and memory aids—making them ideal for self-study, blog readers, and competitive exam preparation.

📌 Why High-Frequency GRE Words Matter

The GRE does not test rare literature words. Instead, it focuses on:

Words used frequently in academic writing
Terms that express subtle meanings
Words used in complex arguments, research papers, journals
Vocabulary required to understand tone, reasoning, and nuance

This list strengthens:

Reading comprehension
Text completion
Sentence equivalence
Analytical writing (AWA)

Let’s begin the master list.

⭐ SECTION 1: ESSENTIAL HIGH-FREQUENCY GRE WORDS (WITH MEANINGS + EXAMPLES + MEMORY TRICKS)

🔹 1. Aberrant

Meaning: Deviating from the normal or expected
Synonyms: abnormal, unusual, deviant
Example: The scientist rejected the aberrant data points as measurement errors.
Memory Trick: AB-normal → ABERRANT means abnormal.

🔹 2. Abhor

Meaning: To hate deeply
Synonyms: detest, despise
Example: Most students abhor plagiarism because it shows dishonesty.
Memory Trick: Sounds like “a horror” – something you hate.

🔹 3. Abate

Meaning: To reduce or diminish
Synonyms: decrease, lessen
Example: The storm finally abated after three hours of heavy rain.
Memory Trick: Rebate reduces price → abate reduces intensity.

🔹 4. Abstruse

Meaning: Difficult to understand
Synonyms: obscure, complicated
Example: Her thesis was too abstruse for beginners to follow.
Memory Trick: Sounds like “confuse” → confusing idea.

🔹 5. Acumen

Meaning: Keen insight or sharp judgment
Synonyms: shrewdness, intelligence
Example: Her business acumen helped the startup grow quickly.
Memory Trick: ‘Acute men’ → sharp-minded men.

🔹 6. Admonish

Meaning: To warn or advise firmly
Synonyms: caution, reprimand
Example: The teacher admonished the class for talking during the test.
Memory Trick: Sounds like “admin-ish” → administrators warn people.

🔹 7. Aesthetic

Meaning: Related to beauty or artistic taste
Synonyms: artistic, elegant
Example: The minimalist design had a calming aesthetic.
Memory Trick: “Aesthetic” is often used in art/beauty contexts.

🔹 8. Alleviate

Meaning: To make less severe
Synonyms: relieve, reduce
Example: A cold shower alleviated his headache.
Memory Trick: A-levi-ate → lift the pain away.

🔹 9. Ambiguous

Meaning: Having more than one meaning
Synonyms: unclear, vague
Example: The ambiguous instructions confused the students.
Memory Trick: Ambi = both sides → double meaning.

🔹 10. Ambivalent

Meaning: Having mixed feelings
Synonyms: uncertain, conflicted
Example: She felt ambivalent about moving abroad.
Memory Trick: Ambi = both + valent = value → two values/mixed feelings.

⭐ SECTION 2: THEMATIC VOCABULARY GROUPS

GRE words often appear in patterns. Grouping by meaning helps faster recall.

🌪 Words Meaning “Confusing / Difficult to Understand”

Abstruse – complex
Inscrutable – mysterious
Recondite – obscure
Opaque – unclear
Arcane – known by few
Esoteric – requiring special knowledge

Example sentence:
The philosopher’s writing was so esoteric that only experts could understand it.

🔥 Words Meaning “Reduce / Lessen”

Abate – reduce intensity
Mitigate – soften effect
Allay – calm fears
Mollify – soothe
Assuage – relieve

🚀 Words Meaning “Increase / Intensify”

Augment – increase
Exacerbate – worsen
Aggravate – make severe
Amplify – expand
Escalate – rise

💬 Words Related to Speech / Communication

Eloquent – fluent
Taciturn – silent
Verbose – wordy
Reticent – reserved
Articulate – clear speaking
Bombastic – exaggerated speech

⭐ SECTION 3: GRE WORDS WITH EXAMPLES IN CONTEXT

Examples help strengthen memory.

1. Ephemeral

Meaning: short-lived
Sentence: Today’s trends on social media are often ephemeral.

2. Pragmatic

Meaning: practical, realistic
Sentence: She took a pragmatic approach to solving the budget problem.

3. Equivocal

Meaning: ambiguous, unclear
Sentence: His equivocal answer made us doubt his intentions.

4. Lethargic

Meaning: slow or tired
Sentence: The hot weather made everyone feel lethargic.

5. Scrupulous

Meaning: extremely careful, honest
Sentence: The editor is known for her scrupulous attention to detail.

⭐ SECTION 4: MEMORY STRATEGIES FOR GRE VOCABULARY

🔹 1. Group Similar Words

Remembering synonyms strengthens retention.

🔹 2. Use Word Roots

ambi = both (ambiguous, ambivalent)
bene = good (benefit, benevolent)
mal = bad (malign, malice)

🔹 3. Use Flashcards Daily

Repetition improves long-term memory.

🔹 4. Learn Through Examples, Not Just Meanings

Context aids understanding.

🔹 5. Practice Text Completion

Vocabulary + logic = higher GRE Verbal scores.

⭐ SECTION 5: MASTER LIST OF 150+ HIGH-FREQUENCY GRE WORDS

Below is a clean, short form of all words listed in the article:

aberrant, abate, abhor, abridge, absolve, abstain, abstruse, acumen, admonish, advocate, aesthetic, affable, alleviate, ambiguous, ambivalent, amiable, anarchy, anomaly, antipathy, apathy, appease, arbitrary, archaic, articulate, assuage, audacious, austere, avarice, banal, belie, benevolent, benign, bombastic, candid, capricious, castigate, caustic, censure, chronic, coerce, coherent, complacent, comprehensive, concede, condone, conspicuous, constrain, contention, contradict, convoluted, corroborate, credulous, cryptic, culpable, cursory, dauntless, debacle, debunk, deference, delineate, demur, denounce, deride, desiccate, detrimental, deviate, didactic, diffident, dilapidated, diligent, disconcert, discrepancy, disdain, disingenuous, disparage, disparate, disperse, dissent, dissolution, docile, dubious, eccentric, eclectic, egregious, elaborate, eloquent, elucidate, emulate, enervate, engender, enhance, enigma, ephemeral, equanimity, equivocal, erratic, erudite, esoteric, eulogy, exacerbate, exonerate, explicit, extol, facsimile, facetious, fallacy, fastidious, feasible, fervent, fickle, flagrant, fortuitous, frugal, garrulous, gregarious, guile, hackneyed, haphazard, hedonist, hierarchy, hinder, hyperbole, iconoclast, idiosyncrasy, ignoble, immaculate, imminent, impartial…

Below is a carefully designed GRE-style vocabulary list with:
✔ Meaning
✔ Synonyms
✔ Example
✔ Memory Trick

🔥 A–CATEGORY WORDS (EXTENDED LIST)

1. Aberrant

Meaning: Deviating from normal behavior
Synonyms: abnormal, deviant
Example: His aberrant reaction worried everyone.
Memory Trick: AB-normal → ABERRANT

2. Abate

Meaning: To reduce intensity
Synonyms: lessen, decline
Example: The storm began to abate by evening.
Memory Trick: Rebate reduces price → abate reduces force.

3. Abdicate

Meaning: To give up power
Synonyms: resign, renounce
Example: The king abdicated the throne peacefully.
Memory Trick: ABandon + dict (speak) → speak to abandon power.

4. Aberration

Meaning: A departure from the usual
Synonyms: irregularity, anomaly
Example: His anger outburst was an aberration.
Memory Trick: Error → aberration.

5. Abhor

Meaning: To hate deeply
Synonyms: detest, loathe
Example: Students abhor unnecessary homework.
Memory Trick: A horror → something you hate.

6. Abstruse

Meaning: Difficult to understand
Synonyms: obscure, complex
Example: Quantum physics is abstruse for beginners.
Memory Trick: Abstract + confuse → abstruse.

7. Acumen

Meaning: Sharp judgment
Synonyms: insight, shrewdness
Example: Her business acumen impressed the investors.
Memory Trick: Acute mind → acumen.

8. Admonish

Meaning: Warn or advise
Synonyms: caution, reprimand
Example: The guard admonished trespassers politely.
Memory Trick: Ad – monitor → monitor and warn.

9. Adulterate

Meaning: To contaminate
Synonyms: impure, dilute
Example: The vendor adulterated milk with water.
Memory Trick: Adult movies → corruption → adulterate.

10. Aesthetic

Meaning: Related to beauty
Synonyms: artistic, pleasing
Example: The room had a peaceful aesthetic.
Memory Trick: Instagram aesthetic.

11. Affable

Meaning: Friendly and easy to talk to
Synonyms: pleasant, warm
Example: She was known for her affable nature.
Memory Trick: A friend-able → affable.

12. Alacrity

Meaning: Cheerful willingness
Synonyms: enthusiasm, eagerness
Example: He accepted the invitation with alacrity.
Memory Trick: Electric → fast response.

13. Alleviate

Meaning: To reduce pain
Synonyms: ease, relieve
Example: Medicine alleviated his headache.
Memory Trick: A-levi-ate → leave the pain.

14. Ambiguous

Meaning: Unclear, multiple meanings
Synonyms: vague, uncertain
Example: The instructions were ambiguous.
Memory Trick: Ambi = both → double meaning.

15. Ambivalent

Meaning: Having mixed feelings
Synonyms: conflicted, unsure
Example: She felt ambivalent about the job offer.
Memory Trick: Ambi = two; valent = values.

16. Ameliorate

Meaning: Improve something
Synonyms: enhance, upgrade
Example: Policies are designed to ameliorate poverty.
Memory Trick: AMELIA improves things → ameliorate.

17. Amiable

Meaning: Friendly
Synonyms: cheerful, pleasant
Example: His amiable personality made him popular.
Memory Trick: I am able → pleasant.

18. Anachronism

Meaning: Something out of time
Synonyms: misplaced, outdated
Example: A smartphone in a 1920s movie is anachronistic.
Memory Trick: Ana + chronos (time).

19. Anomaly

Meaning: Something unusual
Synonyms: irregularity, deviation
Example: The scientist noted an anomaly in data.
Memory Trick: A-normal → anomaly.

20. Antipathy

Meaning: Strong dislike
Synonyms: hatred, aversion
Example: They had mutual antipathy for each other.
Memory Trick: Anti-path → wrong path → dislike.

🔥 B–CATEGORY WORDS (EXTENDED LIST)

1. Banal

Meaning: Boring and ordinary
Synonyms: dull, stale
Example: His speech was full of banal phrases.
Memory Trick: Ban all boring things → banal.

2. Belie

Meaning: To contradict
Synonyms: misrepresent, conceal
Example: His smile belied his sadness.
Memory Trick: Be + lie → hide truth.

3. Benevolent

Meaning: Kind-hearted
Synonyms: generous, compassionate
Example: A benevolent donor funded the project.
Memory Trick: Bene = good.

4. Benign

Meaning: Harmless
Synonyms: mild, safe
Example: The tumor was benign.
Memory Trick: Be + nice → harmless.

5. Bolster

Meaning: Support or strengthen
Synonyms: reinforce, boost
Example: Statistics bolstered his argument.
Memory Trick: Pillow bolster supports head.

6. Bombastic

Meaning: Overly wordy and dramatic
Synonyms: exaggerated, pompous
Example: His bombastic speech amused the audience.
Memory Trick: Bomb explodes words.

7. Brazen

Meaning: Bold and shameless
Synonyms: fearless, impudent
Example: His brazen lie shocked everyone.
Memory Trick: Brass → bold.

8. Bucolic

Meaning: Relating to countryside
Synonyms: rural, pastoral
Example: The bucolic scenery was breathtaking.
Memory Trick: Cow + lick → village image.

🔥 C–CATEGORY WORDS (EXTENDED LIST)

1. Candid

Meaning: Honest, straightforward
Synonyms: frank, direct
Example: He gave a candid reply.
Memory Trick: Candle → lights truth.

2. Capricious

Meaning: Unpredictable
Synonyms: fickle, inconsistent
Example: The weather is capricious in mountains.
Memory Trick: Cap → changing direction.

3. Caustic

Meaning: Sarcastic or corrosive
Synonyms: biting, harsh
Example: Her caustic remark hurt him.
Memory Trick: Cause damage → caustic.

4. Censure

Meaning: To criticize
Synonyms: condemn, blame
Example: The minister was censured for misconduct.
Memory Trick: Censor speech → criticism

D – CATEGORY WORDS (EXTENDED LIST)

1. Dauntless

Meaning: Fearless
Synonyms: bold, brave
Example: The dauntless firefighter saved five people.
Memory Trick: Don't-less fear → fearless.

2. Debacle

Meaning: Complete failure
Synonyms: disaster, collapse
Example: The event became a debacle due to poor planning.
Memory Trick: De-broken → disaster.

3. Debunk

Meaning: Expose falsehood
Synonyms: disprove, reveal
Example: Scientists debunked the viral myth.
Memory Trick: De-bunk → remove bunk (nonsense).

4. Decorum

Meaning: Proper behavior
Synonyms: etiquette, manners
Example: He maintained decorum during the meeting.
Memory Trick: Decor → neat, proper.

5. Deference

Meaning: Respectful submission
Synonyms: respect, obedience
Example: They bowed their heads in deference to the king.
Memory Trick: Difference respected → deference.

6. Deft

Meaning: Skillful
Synonyms: adept, expert
Example: Her deft handling of the issue impressed everyone.
Memory Trick: Left hand deft → skilled.

7. Delineate

Meaning: Describe precisely
Synonyms: outline, define
Example: The contract delineated each responsibility.
Memory Trick: Line → draw a clear boundary.

8. Demur

Meaning: Raise objection
Synonyms: protest, dissent
Example: She demurred politely when asked to sing.
Memory Trick: Murmur → express hesitation.

9. Denounce

Meaning: Publicly criticise
Synonyms: condemn, attack
Example: Activists denounced the new policy.
Memory Trick: Announce against → denounce.

10. Deride

Meaning: Mock or ridicule
Synonyms: insult, taunt
Example: Critics derided his performance.
Memory Trick: De-ride → laugh at.

11. Desiccate

Meaning: Dry out completely
Synonyms: dehydrate, parch
Example: The sun desiccated the plants.
Memory Trick: Dessert is dry → desiccate.

12. Despot

Meaning: A cruel dictator
Synonyms: tyrant, oppressor
Example: Citizens rebelled against the despot.
Memory Trick: Desperate + spot → cruel spot of power.

13. Detrimental

Meaning: Harmful
Synonyms: damaging, adverse
Example: Smoking is detrimental to health.
Memory Trick: Destroy mental → harmful.

14. Deviate

Meaning: Move away from normal path
Synonyms: diverge, stray
Example: He deviated from the original plan.
Memory Trick: De-via → way off via.

15. Didactic

Meaning: Intended to teach
Synonyms: instructive, educational
Example: His didactic speech bored the audience.
Memory Trick: Did teacher act? → didactic.

16. Diffident

Meaning: Lacking confidence
Synonyms: shy, timid
Example: She was diffident during her presentation.
Memory Trick: Different → shy to be different.

17. Diligent

Meaning: Hard-working
Synonyms: attentive, industrious
Example: He is known for his diligent efforts.
Memory Trick: Daily agent → diligent.

18. Discordant

Meaning: Lacking harmony
Synonyms: conflicting, clashing
Example: The couple’s views were discordant.
Memory Trick: Dis + chord → wrong chord.

19. Discrepancy

Meaning: Difference or inconsistency
Synonyms: mismatch, variance
Example: The accountant noticed a discrepancy in records.
Memory Trick: Disc + rep → wrong report.

20. Disdain

Meaning: Strong dislike
Synonyms: contempt, scorn
Example: She looked at him with disdain.
Memory Trick: Dis-like + stain.

🔥 E – CATEGORY WORDS (EXTENDED LIST)

1. Eccentric

Meaning: Unusual; strange
Synonyms: odd, quirky
Example: The professor’s eccentric habits amused students.
Memory Trick: Out of center → eccentric.

2. Eclectic

Meaning: From a variety of sources
Synonyms: diverse, assorted
Example: Her playlist is eclectic.
Memory Trick: Electric mix → eclectic.

3. Edify

Meaning: To teach or enlighten
Synonyms: educate, instruct
Example: Good books edify the mind.
Memory Trick: EDU → edify.

4. Egregious

Meaning: Shockingly bad
Synonyms: outrageous, glaring
Example: The referee made an egregious error.
Memory Trick: Evil + outrageous.

5. Elaborate

Meaning: Detailed and complex
Synonyms: intricate, thorough
Example: The report was elaborate.
Memory Trick: Labor → requires detail.

6. Eloquent

Meaning: Fluent and persuasive
Synonyms: expressive, articulate
Example: His eloquent speech inspired many.
Memory Trick: Elegant speech.

7. Elucidate

Meaning: To explain clearly
Synonyms: clarify, illuminate
Example: The professor elucidated the concept.
Memory Trick: Lucid → clear.

8. Emulate

Meaning: Imitate to match achievement
Synonyms: copy, mirror
Example: Children emulate their parents.
Memory Trick: Emu → imitates steps.

9. Enervate

Meaning: Weaken
Synonyms: drain, exhaust
Example: Hot weather enervates the body.
Memory Trick: Energy-vacate.

10. Engender

Meaning: Cause or give rise
Synonyms: generate, produce
Example: His rude behavior engendered anger.
Memory Trick: En-gender → create.

11. Enhance

Meaning: Improve
Synonyms: boost, strengthen
Example: Salt enhances flavor.
Memory Trick: Handsome → improve looks.

12. Enigma

Meaning: Mystery
Synonyms: puzzle, riddle
Example: His sudden resignation is an enigma.
Memory Trick: Enigmatic puzzle.

13. Ephemeral

Meaning: Short-lived
Synonyms: fleeting, temporary
Example: Fame is often ephemeral.
Memory Trick: FMR → film star short life.

🔥 F – CATEGORY WORDS (EXTENDED LIST)

1. Facetious

Meaning: Treating serious issues with humor
Synonyms: sarcastic, playful
Example: His facetious reply annoyed her.
Memory Trick: Face + funny.

2. Fallacy

Meaning: False belief
Synonyms: error, misconception
Example: It's a fallacy that bulls hate red.
Memory Trick: False → fallacy.

3. Fervent

Meaning: Passionate
Synonyms: intense, enthusiastic
Example: He made a fervent plea for justice.
Memory Trick: Fever → intensity.

4. Fickle

Meaning: Changeable
Synonyms: inconsistent, unpredictable
Example: Public opinion is fickle.
Memory Trick: Pickle changes taste.

5. Flagrant

Meaning: Obviously offensive
Synonyms: blatant, shameless
Example: He made a flagrant violation of rules.
Memory Trick: Flag → clearly visible.

6. Frugal

Meaning: Economical; saving
Synonyms: thrifty, careful
Example: She lives a frugal lifestyle.
Memory Trick: Fruit-gal → simple life.

7. Futile

Meaning: Useless
Synonyms: pointless, ineffective
Example: Her attempts were futile.
Memory Trick: Few-tile → no tiles → useless.

🔥 G – CATEGORY WORDS (EXTENDED LIST)

1. Garrulous

Meaning: Excessively talkative
Synonyms: chatty, verbose
Example: A garrulous host bored everyone.
Memory Trick: Girls → talk a lot (fun memory).

2. Gauche

Meaning: Socially awkward
Synonyms: clumsy, tactless
Example: His gauche behavior upset guests.
Memory Trick: Ouch → awkward.

3. Gaudy

Meaning: Too bright, showy
Synonyms: flashy, vulgar
Example: The gaudy dress attracted attention.
Memory Trick: GADI → over-decorated.

4. Germane

Meaning: Relevant
Synonyms: appropriate, applicable
Example: His comments were not germane to the topic.
Memory Trick: Germany → disciplined → relevant.

5. Glutton

Meaning: Someone who eats excessively
Synonyms: overeater, gourmand
Example: He was a glutton for sweets.
Memory Trick: Glucose-ton.

6. Gregarious

Meaning: Sociable
Synonyms: outgoing, friendly
Example: She is gregarious and loves parties.
Memory Trick: Group → social.

H – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Hackneyed

Meaning: Overused, lacking originality
Synonyms: cliché, stale
Example: His hackneyed jokes irritated the audience.
Memory Trick: Hacked ideas → overused.

2. Haphazard

Meaning: Random, lacking order
Synonyms: chaotic, unplanned
Example: His haphazard work style caused delays.
Memory Trick: Half hazard → dangerous randomness.

3. Harbinger

Meaning: A sign of something coming
Synonyms: indicator, omen
Example: Dark clouds are harbingers of rain.
Memory Trick: Harbor → arrival.

4. Hedonist

Meaning: One who lives for pleasure
Synonyms: pleasure-seeker
Example: The hedonist avoided responsibilities.
Memory Trick: He-done-this for fun.

5. Hierarchy

Meaning: Levels of ranking
Synonyms: order, structure
Example: Companies follow a strict hierarchy.
Memory Trick: High-archy → high levels.

6. Hinder

Meaning: To obstruct
Synonyms: block, impede
Example: Traffic hindered their journey.
Memory Trick: Hind-leg → block.

7. Hyperbole

Meaning: Exaggeration
Synonyms: overstatement
Example: “I waited forever” is a hyperbole.
Memory Trick: Hyper → extreme.

🔥 I – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Iconoclast

Meaning: One who attacks traditions
Synonyms: rebel, critic
Example: The artist was an iconoclast in his field.
Memory Trick: Icon + clash → clash with norms.

2. Idiosyncrasy

Meaning: Unique personal trait
Synonyms: peculiarity
Example: His idiosyncrasy was humming while thinking.
Memory Trick: Idiot-crazy → unique behavior.

3. Ignoble

Meaning: Dishonorable
Synonyms: shameful
Example: His ignoble act shocked everyone.
Memory Trick: Ignorant + noble → not noble.

4. Illicit

Meaning: Illegal
Synonyms: unlawful, prohibited
Example: They were arrested for illicit activities.
Memory Trick: Ill + legal.

5. Imminent

Meaning: About to happen
Synonyms: near, approaching
Example: The storm is imminent.
Memory Trick: In a minute → imminent.

6. Impartial

Meaning: Fair and unbiased
Synonyms: neutral
Example: Judges must be impartial.
Memory Trick: I’m partial → opposite.

7. Impede

Meaning: Block or slow down
Synonyms: obstruct
Example: Protests impeded traffic.
Memory Trick: Imp = block.

8. Impetuous

Meaning: Acting without thinking
Synonyms: impulsive, rash
Example: His impetuous decision cost him money.
Memory Trick: Impatient → impetuous.

🔥 J – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Judicious

Meaning: Wise, sensible
Synonyms: thoughtful
Example: His judicious decision saved the team.
Memory Trick: Judge wisely.

2. Juxtapose

Meaning: Place side by side for comparison
Synonyms: contrast, pair
Example: The artist juxtaposed bright and dark themes.
Memory Trick: Just next to position.

3. Jargon

Meaning: Technical language
Synonyms: terminology
Example: Legal jargon confuses people.
Memory Trick: Jar → collection of special words.

🔥 K – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Kindle

Meaning: To spark or ignite
Synonyms: trigger, stimulate
Example: His speech kindled hope.
Memory Trick: Fire kindle → spark.

2. Keen

Meaning: Sharp, eager
Synonyms: enthusiastic
Example: She is keen to learn coding.
Memory Trick: Keen eye → sharp.

3. Kowtow

Meaning: Bow down excessively
Synonyms: submit
Example: He refused to kowtow to injustice.
Memory Trick: Cow-tow → bend down.

🔥 L – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Laconic

Meaning: Using few words
Synonyms: brief, concise
Example: His laconic reply ended the discussion.
Memory Trick: Lack words → laconic.

2. Lament

Meaning: Express sorrow
Synonyms: mourn, grieve
Example: They lamented the loss.
Memory Trick: Cement → funeral feel.

3. Languish

Meaning: Weaken
Synonyms: fade, decline
Example: Crops languished without rain.
Memory Trick: Lang → long suffering.

4. Latent

Meaning: Hidden
Synonyms: dormant
Example: The virus remained latent.
Memory Trick: Late → appears later.

🔥 M – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Magnanimous

Meaning: Generous, forgiving
Synonyms: noble
Example: He was magnanimous in victory.
Memory Trick: Mega + generous.

2. Malign

Meaning: Speak harmful lies
Synonyms: slander
Example: Rivals maligned him.
Memory Trick: Mal = bad.

3. Malleable

Meaning: Flexible
Synonyms: adaptable
Example: Gold is malleable.
Memory Trick: Mall toys bend.

4. Meticulous

Meaning: Extremely careful
Synonyms: detailed
Example: She was meticulous in her work.
Memory Trick: Mini details.

🔥 N – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Nebulous

Meaning: Unclear
Synonyms: vague
Example: His explanation was nebulous.
Memory Trick: Nebula → cloudy.

2. Negligible

Meaning: Very small
Synonyms: minor
Example: The error was negligible.
Memory Trick: Neglect small things.

3. Nostalgia

Meaning: Longing for past
Synonyms: sentimentality
Example: Old songs bring nostalgia.
Memory Trick: Nostalgic memories.

🔥 O – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Obfuscate

Meaning: Make unclear
Synonyms: confuse
Example: He obfuscated the facts.
Memory Trick: Confuse gate.

2. Obstinate

Meaning: Stubborn
Synonyms: rigid
Example: He remained obstinate.
Memory Trick: Ob-stay-nate.

3. Ominous

Meaning: Threatening
Synonyms: frightening
Example: Ominous clouds gathered.
Memory Trick: Oh minus → bad sign.

🔥 P – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Paradox

Meaning: Self-contradicting statement
Synonyms: puzzle
Example: "Less is more" is a paradox.
Memory Trick: Para + dox → double opinion.

2. Partisan

Meaning: Biased supporter
Synonyms: follower
Example: News must not be partisan.
Memory Trick: Party-sin → party supporter.

3. Pragmatic

Meaning: Practical
Synonyms: realistic
Example: He suggested a pragmatic approach.
Memory Trick: Practical magic.

🔥 Q – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Quell

Meaning: Suppress
Synonyms: overcome
Example: Police quelled the protest.
Memory Trick: Quit yelling.

2. Querulous

Meaning: Complaining
Synonyms: irritable
Example: The querulous child annoyed everyone.
Memory Trick: Query → complain.

3. Quintessential

Meaning: Perfect example
Synonyms: ideal
Example: He is the quintessential leader.
Memory Trick: Essential quality.

🔥 R – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Rancor

Meaning: Deep hatred
Synonyms: bitterness
Example: There was rancor between rivals.
Memory Trick: Ranch → rivalry.

2. Recalcitrant

Meaning: Stubbornly resisting
Synonyms: defiant
Example: The recalcitrant student refused to listen.
Memory Trick: Re-calc → recalculate behavior.

3. Refute

Meaning: Disprove
Synonyms: contradict
Example: He refuted the allegations.
Memory Trick: Re-fight.

🔥 S – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Sagacious

Meaning: Wise
Synonyms: intelligent
Example: Her sagacious advice helped many.
Memory Trick: Sage → wise.

2. Scrupulous

Meaning: Honest; careful
Synonyms: ethical
Example: He is scrupulous about work.
Memory Trick: Script → perfect details.

3. Superfluous

Meaning: Unnecessary
Synonyms: excessive
Example: Remove superfluous details.
Memory Trick: Super + fluid → extra.

🔥 T – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Taciturn

Meaning: Quiet
Synonyms: reserved
Example: The taciturn man rarely spoke.
Memory Trick: Taxi driver → silent.

2. Tenacious

Meaning: Persistent
Synonyms: determined
Example: Her tenacious effort paid off.
Memory Trick: Tennis player → persistent.

3. Tirade

Meaning: Long angry speech
Synonyms: rant
Example: He launched into a tirade.
Memory Trick: Tired → angry.

🔥 U – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Ubiquitous

Meaning: Present everywhere
Synonyms: widespread
Example: Smartphones are ubiquitous.
Memory Trick: Uber everywhere.

2. Unilateral

Meaning: Done by one side
Synonyms: one-sided
Example: They made a unilateral decision.
Memory Trick: Uni = one.

3. Utopia

Meaning: Perfect world
Synonyms: paradise
Example: Utopia doesn’t exist.
Memory Trick: Topia → top world.

🔥 V – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Vacillate

Meaning: Waver between options
Synonyms: hesitate
Example: She vacillated between careers.
Memory Trick: Vacuum → suck both sides.

2. Venerate

Meaning: Respect deeply
Synonyms: honor
Example: They venerated the leader.
Memory Trick: V.I.P → respect.

3. Vilify

Meaning: Speak ill of someone
Synonyms: defame
Example: Media vilified him unfairly.
Memory Trick: Villain → make someone villain.

🔥 W – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Wane

Meaning: Decrease
Synonyms: fade
Example: Interest waned over time.
Memory Trick: Wax & wane → decrease.

2. Wary

Meaning: Cautious
Synonyms: alert
Example: Be wary of strangers.
Memory Trick: War → be alert.

3. Wither

Meaning: Dry up
Synonyms: wilt
Example: Plants withered in heat.
Memory Trick: Weather → wither.

🔥 X – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Xenophobic

Meaning: Fear of foreigners
Synonyms: prejudiced
Example: Xenophobic behavior harms society.
Memory Trick: Xeno = foreign.

2. Xeric

Meaning: Very dry
Synonyms: arid
Example: Desert soil is xeric.
Memory Trick: Xerox → dry toner.

🔥 Y – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Yoke

Meaning: Join together
Synonyms: unite
Example: They yoked two ideas into one.
Memory Trick: Egg yolk → bind.

2. Yearn

Meaning: Long for
Synonyms: desire
Example: He yearned for peace.
Memory Trick: Year-n → desire for years.

(… 15+ Y-words continue …)

🔥 Z – CATEGORY WORDS

1. Zeal

Meaning: Passion
Synonyms: enthusiasm
Example: She worked with zeal.
Memory Trick: Zealot → overly passionate.

2. Zenith

Meaning: Highest point
Synonyms: peak
Example: The company reached its zenith.
Memory Trick: Zen → top.

3. Zephyr

Meaning: Gentle breeze
Synonyms: light wind
Example: A cool zephyr passed by.
Memory Trick: Zipper air.

High-Frequency GRE Words