Set: GRE Vocabulary Words A-D

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All 1186 Terms

Term Definition
dyspeptic suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion; difficulty in digesting food
dynamic energetic; vigorously active
dwindle shrink; reduce gradually
dutiful respectful; obedient
duress forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress
duration length of time something lasts
duplicity double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous
dupe someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive
dumbfound astonish ; ADJ. dumbfounded, dumfounded, dumbstruck
dulcet sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear; melodious
ductile malleable; pliable; easily pulled into shape; flexible; easily influenced or controlled
dubious questionable; causing doubt; filled with doubt; N. dubiety
drudgery hard unpleasant work; menial work
dross waste matter; worthless impurities
drone idle person who lives on other people"s work; male bee
drone talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee; N.
droll queer and amusing
drivel nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense
dregs sediment in a liquid; lees; worthless residue
draconian extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment; CF. Draco: Athenian politician
drab dull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life
downcast disheartened; dejected; sad; directed downward
dowdy untidy ; slovenly; dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman
douse plunge into water or liquid; dip; immerse; drench; wet thoroughly; extinguish; throw water over; dowse
dour sullen; gloomy; stubborn
dote be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline
dotage senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one's dotage
dossier file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back
dorsal relating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin
dormer window projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping room
dormant sleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent
don put on; OP. doff
domineer rule over tyrannically
domicile home; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one's domicile; Ex. He is domiciled in Britain.
dolt slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull
dolorous sorrowful; N. dolor
doldrums blues; listlessness; slack period; period of stagnation; ocean area near the equator where ships cannot move because there is no wind; Ex. in the doldrums
dogmatic opinionated; holding stubbornly to one's opinion; arbitrary; doctrinal
doggerel poor verse
dogged determined; stubborn; stubbornly persevering; tenacious; Ex. Inspector Javert"s dogged pursuit of Jean Valjean
doff take off; OP. don
doddering shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder
document provide written evidence ; record with documents; N.
doctrine teachings in general; particular principle taught; dogma; tenet; ADJ. doctrinal
doctrinaire unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment to a doctrine without regard to its practical difficulties
docket program as for trial; book where such entries are made; list of things to be done; agenda; label fixed to a package listing contents or directions; V: describe in a docket
docile obedient; easily managed; submissive
divulge reveal
divine perceive intuitively ; foresee the future; foretell; dowse; ADJ. N. divination
divest strip ; deprive ; dispossess; N. divestiture
diversion act of turning aside; pastime; V. divert: turn aside from a course; distract; amuse
diverse differing in some characteristics ; various; N. diversity:
diverge vary; go in different directions from the same point; ADJ. divergent: differing; deviating
diva operatic singer; prima donna
diurnal daily; occurring during the daytime
distraught upset; distracted by anxiety; very anxious and troubled almost to the point of madness; Ex. distraught with grief/worry
distrait absentminded; distracted
distort twist out of shape; give a false account of; misrepresent; N. distortion
distinction honor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination; Ex. graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real distinction
distill refine ; concentrate; separate the most important parts from; Ex. distill fresh water from sea water; CF. brew
distend expand; swell out
distant reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting; ADV. distantly
dissuade persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion
dissolution disintegration; reduction to a liquid form; looseness in morals; sensual indulgence; debauchery; ADJ. dissolute: lacking in moral restraint; leading an immoral life
dissipate squander; waste foolishly; scatter
dissimulate pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble
dissident dissenting ; rebellious; N.
dissertation formal essay; treatise
dissent disagree
disseminate distribute; spread; scatter
dissemble disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend
dissection analysis; cutting apart in order to examine
disquisition formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report
disquietude uneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious
disputatious argumentative; fond of argument
disport amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert
dispirited lacking in spirit
disperse scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd
dispel scatter; drive away; cause to vanish
dispatch speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill
dispassionate calm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings
disparity difference; condition of inequality; OP. parity
disparate basically different; impossible to compare; unrelated
disparage belittle
dismiss eliminate from consideration; no longer consider; put out of court without further hearing; reject; discharge from employment; direct to leave; ADJ. dismissive; N. dismissal
dismember cut into small parts; cut apart limb from limb
dismantle take apart; disassemble
dislodge remove ; force out of a position; Ex. dislodge the food caught in his throat; CF. lodge
disjunction act or state of separation; disunity; CF. disjunctive: expressing a choice between two ideas; CF. conjunction; CF. conjunctive
disjointed disconnected; lacking coherence; V. disjoint: disconnect; disjoin
disinterested unprejudiced; free from bias and self-interest; objective
disinter dig up; unearth; OP. inter
disingenuous not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly wise; OP. ingenuous
disinclination unwillingness
disheveled untidy ; V. dishevel
dishearten discourage
disgruntle make discontented
disgorge surrender something ; eject; vomit; OP. gorge
disfigure mar the appearance of; spoil
disengage uncouple; separate; disconnect; stop fighting; OP. engage
disenfranchise disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP. enfranchise
disembark debark; go ashore ; unload cargo from a ship; CF. embark
disdain treat with scorn or contempt
discursive digressing; rambling
discriminating able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination
discretion prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary
discrete separate; unconnected
discrepancy lack of consistency or agreement as between facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions
discredit defame; disgrace; destroy confidence in; disbelieve; N. CF. discreditable: causing discredit; shameful
discourse serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion ; conversation; V.
discount disregard; regard as unimportant; deduct from a cost
discordant not harmonious; conflicting
discord conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance
disconsolate hopelessly sad
disconcert confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb
discomfit frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
discombobulated discomposed; confused
disclose reveal; N. disclosure
disclaim disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer
discerning mentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive
discernible distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement
disburse pay out ; N. disbursement; CF. purse
disband dissolve; disperse; break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.
disavowal denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim
disarray state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state; Ex. with her clothes in disarray
disapprobation disapproval; condemnation
disaffected disloyal; lacking loyalty; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty
disabuse correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief
dirge funeral song; slow mournful piece of music
dire warning of disaster; disastrous; very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food
diorama life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history; three-dimensional scene with modeled figures against a painted background
dint means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work
dingy dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain
dinghy small boat
din continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by wearying repetition
diminution lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish
dilute make less concentrated; reduce in strength; Ex. dilute the influence of the president
diligence steadiness of effort; persistent hard work
dilettante aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge ; amateur; dabbler; CF. delight
dilemma situation that requires a choice between equally unfavorable options; problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives
dilatory delaying; tending to delay
dilate expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on
dilapidated falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation
digression wandering away from the subject; V. digress
diffuse wordy; verbose; rambling; spread out ; V: spread out in all directions; disperse; N. diffusion; CF. suffuse
diffidence shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident
die metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice
didactic intended to teach a moral lesson; teaching; instructional; N. didacticism
dictum authoritative and weighty statement ; saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark
dichotomy division into two opposite parts; split; branching into two parts
diatribe bitter scolding or denunciation; invective; abuse
diaphanous sheer; transparent
dialectical relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal; Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments
diadem crown
diabolical diabolic; devilish; fiendish
dexterous skillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity
devout pious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my devout hope
devotee enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of Bach
devolve deputize; pass or be passed to others ; Ex. devolve on/upon/to
devoid empty; lacking
devise think up; invent; plan; bequeath; N: bequest
devious roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route
deviate turn away from ; move away from an accepted standard; swerve; depart; diverge; N. deviation; Ex. deviation of the path of light by a prism
detrimental harmful; damaging; N. detriment
detraction slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor
detonation explosion
deterrent something that discourages or deters
determination resolve; firmness of purpose; measurement or calculation; decision
determinate having a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final
detached emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment
desultory aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
destitute extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience
despot tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism
despondent without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection
despoil plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village
despise look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful; ADJ. despicable: contemptible
desperado reckless, desperate outlaw
desolate deserted; unpopulated; lonely; forlorn; joyless
desolate make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert
desiccate dry up
desecrate profane; violate the sanctity of
descry catch sight of
derogatory expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate: detract; disparage
dermatologist one who studies the skin and its diseases
derivative unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex. derivative prose style; N.
derision ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory
deride ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect
derelict negligent; neglectful of duty; deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person
deranged insane
depredation plundering; destruction
depreciate lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value
deprecate express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory
depravity extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave
deposition testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning
depose dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify
deploy spread out in an extended though shallow battle line; distribute systematically or strategically
deplore regret; express sorrow and severe disapproval for something bad; Ex. deplore their violent behavior; ADJ. deplorable: very bad; deserving severe disapproval; Ex. deplorable living condition
deplete reduce; exhaust
depict portray
denounce condemn; criticize; N. denunciation
denouement final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained
denotation meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation
denizen inhabitant or resident of a particular place; regular visitor
denigrate blacken; defame
demure grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure
demur object ; raise an objection ; hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday
demotic of or pertaining to the people
demoniac fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil
demolition destruction; V. demolish
demographic related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population
demise death
demented insane
demeanor behavior; bearing
demean disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave
demagogue person who appeals to people"s prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagoguery
delve dig; search deeply; investigate
delusive deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises
delusion false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that
deluge flood; rush; V.
delude deceive
delta flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river
delirium mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious
delineate portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation
deliberate consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow
deleterious harmful
delete erase; strike out
deign condescend; stoop
deify turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deity
dehydrate remove water from; dry out
degradation humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce in worth; demote ; reduce in rank
degenerate become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person
defunct dead; no longer in use or existence
deft neat; skillful
defrock strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock
defray provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay
defoliate destroy leaves; deprive of leaves ; N. defoliant
deflect turn aside; turn away from a straight course
definitive most reliable; authoritative and complete; that cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court
defile pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains
defiance refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant
deference courteous regard for another"s wish; courteous yielding to another"s wish or opinion ; ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery
defer give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous
defection desertion
defeatist resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism
default failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V.
defame harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory
deface mar; disfigure
deducible derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning
decry express strong disapproval of; condemn openly ; disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films
decrepitude state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age
decoy lure or bait; V.
decorum propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct
decomposition decay; V. decompose: decay; break and separate into simple parts
decollete having a low-cut neckline; CF. decolletage: low neckline
declivity downward slope
decipher decode; CF. indecipherable
decimate kill ; destroy or kill a large part of
deciduous falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth
decelerate slow down
decapitate behead
decant pour off gently
decadence decay; fall to a lower level ; ADJ. decadent
debutante young woman making formal entrance into society
debunk expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule
debris rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed
debonair friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition
debilitate weaken ; enfeeble
debauch corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior
debase degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement
debacle sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster
dearth scarcity
deadpan wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face
deadlock standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate
dawdle loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing
dauntless bold; fearless
daunt intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten
daub smear ; cover with something sticky; Ex. daub one's clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub of paint
dappled spotted
dapper neat and trim ; neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry
dank damp; unpleasantly wet
dally trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time
dais raised platform for speakers or other important people
dabble work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid
cynosure object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor
cynical skeptical or distrustful of human motives; N. cynicism; CF. cynic: person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness
curtail shorten; reduce
cursory casual; hastily done with little attention to detail
cursive flowing; running; having the successive letters joined
curmudgeon churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person
curator superintendent; manager
cupidity greed ; CF. cupid; CF. Cupid
cumulative growing by addition; accumulative
cumbersome heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; Ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform
culvert artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road
culpable deserving blame; blameworthy
culmination highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war
cull pick out from others ; reject; select; collect ; N.
culinary relating to cooking or kitchen
cuisine style of cooking; Ex. French cuisine
cubicle small chamber used for sleeping or work
cryptic mysterious; hidden; secret
crypt secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground room
crux essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem; ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance
crotchety eccentric; odd; whimsical; bad-tempered; N. crotchet: odd or whimsical notion
crone hag; ugly old woman
criteria standards used in judging; CF. criterion
cringe shrink back as if in fear; cower
crevice crack; fissure
crestfallen dejected; dispirited
crescendo increase in the volume or intensity as in a musical passage; climax; CF. crescent
creed system of religious or ethical belief
credulity belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivete; ADJ. credulous
credo creed
credence belief
craven cowardly
crass very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior
crabbed sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting
cozen cheat; hoodwink; swindle
coy shy ; showing a lack of self-confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job offer
cower shrink quivering as from fear; cringe
cow terrorize; intimidate
covetous avaricious; desirous of ; V. covet: desire eagerly
covert secret; hidden; implied; OP. overt
covenant binding agreement between two groups or people; compact; V: enter into a covenant; promise
courier messenger
couple join; unite; OP. uncouple
coup highly successful action or sudden attack; coup d"etat; CF. coup de grace: deathblow or shot which kills
counterpart thing that completes another; things very much alike; thing that has the same purpose in a different system
countermand cancel; revoke
countenance approve; support; tolerate; Ex. countenance his rude behavior; N: face; appearance
coterie group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests
cosmic pertaining to the universe; vast
corrugated wrinkled; ridged
corrosive eating away by chemicals or disease; fierce
corrode destroy or wear away gradually by chemical action
corroborate confirm; support; strengthen
correlation mutual relationship
corpulent very fat; N. corpulence
corporeal bodily ; of a bodily form; material; tangible
corollary natural consequence
cornucopia horn overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol of abundance; horn of plenty
cornice projecting molding on building
cordon extended line of men or fortifications to prevent access or egress; V.
cordial warmly friendly; gracious; heartfelt; Ex. cordial welcome
coquette flirt; flirtatious woman; woman who tries to attract the admiration of men without sincere feelings; V.
copious plentiful
convoluted coiled around; twisted; involved; complicated; intricate; complex; N. convolution: twist; one of the convex folds of the surface of the brain
convoke call together; Ex. convoke Parliament; N. convocation
convivial pleasantly merry; festive; joyous; gay; characterized by joviality; jovial
conviction judgment that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held belief
conveyance vehicle; transfer; act of conveying; Ex. publi