Manhattan Prep 1000 GRE Words
Definitions Exam
abate - correct answers-Reduce, diminish
abdicate - correct answers-Formally give up the throne (or some other power or
responsibility)
aberrant - correct answers-Abnormal, deviant
abhor - correct answers-Detest, regard with disgust
abjure - correct answers-Give up, renounce; repudiate, recant, or shun (especially
formally or under oath)
abrasive - correct answers-Rough, suitable for grinding or polishing (such as
sandpaper); causing irritation or annoyance
abridge - correct answers-Reduce or lessen; shorten by omitting parts throughout while
retaining the main idea
abstain - correct answers-Hold back, refrain (especially from something bad or
unhealthy); decline to vote
acme - correct answers-Summit, peak, highest point
activism - correct answers-The practice of pursuing political or other goals through
vigorous action, often including protests and demonstrations
adhere - correct answers-Stick (to), such as with glue, or to a plan or belief
admonish - correct answers-Mildly scold; caution, advise, or remind to do something
adverse - correct answers-Opposing, harmful
advocate - correct answers-Speak or argue in favor of (verb); a person who pleads for a
cause or on behalf of another person (noun)
aesthetic - correct answers-Concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste,
pertaining to the science of what is beautiful (adj); a sense of beauty and taste of a
particular time and place (noun)
,affable - correct answers-Warm and friendly, pleasant, approachable
affectation - correct answers-Fake behavior (such as in speech or dress) adopted to
give a certain impression
aggrandize - correct answers-Make greater; exaggerate
aggregate - correct answers-Gather together, amount to (verb); constituting a whole
made up of constituent parts (adj)
alacrity - correct answers-Cheerful or speedy willingness
alienate - correct answers-Cause to become unfriendly, hostile, or distant
alleviate - correct answers-Lessen, make easier to endure
ambiguous - correct answers-Not clear, hard to understand, open to having several
meanings or interpretations
ambivalent - correct answers-Uncertain; unable to decide, or wanting to do two
contradictory things at once
analogous - correct answers-Comparable, corresponding in some particular way
(making a good analogy)
anarchy - correct answers-Absence of law or government; chaos, disorder
anoint - correct answers-Rub or sprinkle oil on; make sacred, such as by a ceremony
that includes applying oil to someone
anomaly - correct answers-Deviation from what is common; inconsistency
antagonize - correct answers-Make hostile or unfriendly
apathy - correct answers-Not caring; absence of feeling; lack of interest or concern
apocryphal - correct answers-Of questionable authenticity; false
arcane - correct answers-Known or understood by only a few; obscure, secret
archaic - correct answers-Characteristic of an earlier period, ancient, primitive
arduous - correct answers-Very difficult, strenuous; severe, hard to endure
,articulate - correct answers-Using language in a clear, fluent way (adj); speak distinctly
or give clarity to an idea (verb)
artifact - correct answers-Any object made by humans, especially those from an earlier
time, such as those excavated by archaeologists
artless - correct answers-Free of deceit or craftiness, natural, genuine; lacking skill or
knowledge, crude, uncultured
ascertain - correct answers-Find out with certainty
ascetic - correct answers-abstinent or austere in lifestyle (adj); a person who leads an
austere and simple life without material pleasures, esp. someone who does this for
religious reasons
assuage - correct answers-Make milder, relieve; soothe, pacify, or calm
audacious - correct answers-Very bold or brave, often in a rude or reckless way;
extremely original
augment - correct answers-Make larger
austere - correct answers-Severe in manner or appearance; very self-disciplined,
ascetic; without luxury or ease; sober or serious
autonomous - correct answers-Self-governing, independent
aver - correct answers-Declare or affirm with confidence
avid - correct answers-Enthusiastic, dedicated, passionate; excessively desirous
balk - correct answers-Refuse to proceed or to do something
base - correct answers-Morally low, mean, dishonorable; of little or no value; crude and
unrefined; counterfeit
belie - correct answers-Contradict or misrepresent
benign - correct answers-Harmless; favorable; kindly, gentle, or beneficial; not
cancerous
bogus - correct answers-Fake, fraudulent
bolster - correct answers-Strengthen or support
, boor - correct answers-Rude, ill-mannered, or insensitive person; a peasant or country
bumpkin
buffer - correct answers-Something that shields, protects, absorbs shock, or cushions
bureaucracy - correct answers-Government characterized by many bureaus and petty
administrators or by excessive, seemingly meaningless requirements
burgeon - correct answers-Grow or flourish rapidly; put forth buds or shoots (of a plant)
buttress - correct answers-Support or encourage (verb); a support or prop, esp.
projecting from and supporting the wall of a building (noun)
bygone - correct answers-Past, former (adj); that which is in the past (usually plural
noun)
cacophony - correct answers-Harsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds
candid - correct answers-Open, sincere, honest
canonical - correct answers-Authorized, recognized; pertaining to the canon, or body of
accepted rules, standards or artistic works
capricious - correct answers-Acting on impulse, erratic
cartography - correct answers-Mapmaking
castigate - correct answers-Criticize severely; punish in order to correct
catalyst - correct answers-Causer of change
caustic - correct answers-Capable of corroding metal or burning the skin; very critical or
sarcastic
censure - correct answers-Strong disapproval or official reprimand (noun); to issue such
disapproval or reprimand (verb)
chauvinism - correct answers-Fanatical patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory;
undue or biased devotion to any group, cause, etc.
chronological - correct answers-Arranged in or relating to time order
clamor - correct answers-Noisy uproar or protest, as from a crowd; a loud, continuous
noise
clinch - correct answers-Make final or settle conclusively; to fasten or hold together
Definitions Exam
abate - correct answers-Reduce, diminish
abdicate - correct answers-Formally give up the throne (or some other power or
responsibility)
aberrant - correct answers-Abnormal, deviant
abhor - correct answers-Detest, regard with disgust
abjure - correct answers-Give up, renounce; repudiate, recant, or shun (especially
formally or under oath)
abrasive - correct answers-Rough, suitable for grinding or polishing (such as
sandpaper); causing irritation or annoyance
abridge - correct answers-Reduce or lessen; shorten by omitting parts throughout while
retaining the main idea
abstain - correct answers-Hold back, refrain (especially from something bad or
unhealthy); decline to vote
acme - correct answers-Summit, peak, highest point
activism - correct answers-The practice of pursuing political or other goals through
vigorous action, often including protests and demonstrations
adhere - correct answers-Stick (to), such as with glue, or to a plan or belief
admonish - correct answers-Mildly scold; caution, advise, or remind to do something
adverse - correct answers-Opposing, harmful
advocate - correct answers-Speak or argue in favor of (verb); a person who pleads for a
cause or on behalf of another person (noun)
aesthetic - correct answers-Concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste,
pertaining to the science of what is beautiful (adj); a sense of beauty and taste of a
particular time and place (noun)
,affable - correct answers-Warm and friendly, pleasant, approachable
affectation - correct answers-Fake behavior (such as in speech or dress) adopted to
give a certain impression
aggrandize - correct answers-Make greater; exaggerate
aggregate - correct answers-Gather together, amount to (verb); constituting a whole
made up of constituent parts (adj)
alacrity - correct answers-Cheerful or speedy willingness
alienate - correct answers-Cause to become unfriendly, hostile, or distant
alleviate - correct answers-Lessen, make easier to endure
ambiguous - correct answers-Not clear, hard to understand, open to having several
meanings or interpretations
ambivalent - correct answers-Uncertain; unable to decide, or wanting to do two
contradictory things at once
analogous - correct answers-Comparable, corresponding in some particular way
(making a good analogy)
anarchy - correct answers-Absence of law or government; chaos, disorder
anoint - correct answers-Rub or sprinkle oil on; make sacred, such as by a ceremony
that includes applying oil to someone
anomaly - correct answers-Deviation from what is common; inconsistency
antagonize - correct answers-Make hostile or unfriendly
apathy - correct answers-Not caring; absence of feeling; lack of interest or concern
apocryphal - correct answers-Of questionable authenticity; false
arcane - correct answers-Known or understood by only a few; obscure, secret
archaic - correct answers-Characteristic of an earlier period, ancient, primitive
arduous - correct answers-Very difficult, strenuous; severe, hard to endure
,articulate - correct answers-Using language in a clear, fluent way (adj); speak distinctly
or give clarity to an idea (verb)
artifact - correct answers-Any object made by humans, especially those from an earlier
time, such as those excavated by archaeologists
artless - correct answers-Free of deceit or craftiness, natural, genuine; lacking skill or
knowledge, crude, uncultured
ascertain - correct answers-Find out with certainty
ascetic - correct answers-abstinent or austere in lifestyle (adj); a person who leads an
austere and simple life without material pleasures, esp. someone who does this for
religious reasons
assuage - correct answers-Make milder, relieve; soothe, pacify, or calm
audacious - correct answers-Very bold or brave, often in a rude or reckless way;
extremely original
augment - correct answers-Make larger
austere - correct answers-Severe in manner or appearance; very self-disciplined,
ascetic; without luxury or ease; sober or serious
autonomous - correct answers-Self-governing, independent
aver - correct answers-Declare or affirm with confidence
avid - correct answers-Enthusiastic, dedicated, passionate; excessively desirous
balk - correct answers-Refuse to proceed or to do something
base - correct answers-Morally low, mean, dishonorable; of little or no value; crude and
unrefined; counterfeit
belie - correct answers-Contradict or misrepresent
benign - correct answers-Harmless; favorable; kindly, gentle, or beneficial; not
cancerous
bogus - correct answers-Fake, fraudulent
bolster - correct answers-Strengthen or support
, boor - correct answers-Rude, ill-mannered, or insensitive person; a peasant or country
bumpkin
buffer - correct answers-Something that shields, protects, absorbs shock, or cushions
bureaucracy - correct answers-Government characterized by many bureaus and petty
administrators or by excessive, seemingly meaningless requirements
burgeon - correct answers-Grow or flourish rapidly; put forth buds or shoots (of a plant)
buttress - correct answers-Support or encourage (verb); a support or prop, esp.
projecting from and supporting the wall of a building (noun)
bygone - correct answers-Past, former (adj); that which is in the past (usually plural
noun)
cacophony - correct answers-Harsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds
candid - correct answers-Open, sincere, honest
canonical - correct answers-Authorized, recognized; pertaining to the canon, or body of
accepted rules, standards or artistic works
capricious - correct answers-Acting on impulse, erratic
cartography - correct answers-Mapmaking
castigate - correct answers-Criticize severely; punish in order to correct
catalyst - correct answers-Causer of change
caustic - correct answers-Capable of corroding metal or burning the skin; very critical or
sarcastic
censure - correct answers-Strong disapproval or official reprimand (noun); to issue such
disapproval or reprimand (verb)
chauvinism - correct answers-Fanatical patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory;
undue or biased devotion to any group, cause, etc.
chronological - correct answers-Arranged in or relating to time order
clamor - correct answers-Noisy uproar or protest, as from a crowd; a loud, continuous
noise
clinch - correct answers-Make final or settle conclusively; to fasten or hold together
