Advanced Vocabulary for the GRE - Aspects and Manners

Here you will learn some English words about aspects and manners, such as "craven", "derelict", "prosaic", etc. that are needed for the GRE exam.

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aplomb [noun]

a type of manner that is composed and confident, often when one is facing a difficult situation

Ex: Her aplomb in dealing with the crisis impressed everyone .

boor [noun]

an insensitive and uneducated person who lacks culture and manners

Ex: The boor 's disregard for etiquette was evident in every social setting .

chagrin [noun]

a state of embarrassment due to failing, getting humiliated, or disappointed

Ex: Despite his best efforts , he could n't conceal his chagrin at being overlooked for the promotion .

curmudgeon [noun]

a bad-tempered person who is easily annoyed and angered, usually old in age

Ex: Her grandfather played the role of the curmudgeon , always grumbling about the weather .

effrontery [noun]

a way of behaving that is shamelessly rude and bold

Ex: He displayed remarkable effrontery by interrupting the speaker repeatedly .

hauteur [noun]

a prideful and unfriendly manner of behaving that showcases one's belief of being better than others

Ex: The diplomat ’s hauteur alienated him from his colleagues .

insouciance [noun]

a way of behaving that is relaxed, as if one has no problems or concerns

Ex: She wore a smile of insouciance , ignoring the tension around her .

to badger [verb]

to repeatedly annoy or harass someone with requests or questions

Ex: He felt badgered by the constant emails from his boss .

to browbeat [verb]

to force a person into doing something by threatening or frightening them

Ex: She was browbeaten into apologizing , even though she felt she was right .

to deign [verb]

to do something in a reluctant and condescending manner

Ex: The celebrity finally deigned to sign autographs for her fans .

to lacerate [verb]

to make someone suffer from a lot of emotional or mental pain

Ex: The loss of her beloved pet lacerated her soul , plunging her into a deep sense of grief .

amenable [adjective]

(of people) open and willing to let suggestions influence them

Ex: He remained amenable throughout the negotiation process .

approbative [adjective]

displaying approval or praise

Ex: They exchanged approbative glances after the presentation .

arduous [adjective]

requiring so much effort, mostly physical, that will cause exhaustion

Ex: He found the task of moving all the furniture an arduous chore .

avid [adjective]

extremely enthusiastic and interested in something one does

Ex: He 's an avid sports fan , never missing a game of his favorite team .

complacent [adjective]

overly satisfied or content with one's current situation or achievements, often to the point of neglecting potential risks or improvements

Ex:

conversant [adjective]

knowledgeable or experienced with something

Ex: The team member is conversant with the software used in the office .

craven [adjective]

not having even the smallest amount of courage

Ex: His craven refusal to stand up for his beliefs was disappointing .

debonair [adjective]

(particularly of a man) handsome, stylish and full of confidence

Ex:

derelict [adjective]

neglectful toward obligations and duties

Ex:

disquieting [adjective]

making one feel worried about something

Ex: The disquieting silence in the abandoned house sent shivers down her spine .

dolorous [adjective]

causing or displaying great sadness or distress

Ex: The dolorous letter from her friend left her feeling heartbroken .

$fractious$

fractious [adjective]

easily getting annoyed, angry, or upset

Ex: He tried to avoid the fractious neighbor who was always complaining .

impervious [adjective]

resistant to being affected or damaged by something

Ex: She appeared impervious to the stress of her demanding job .

mendacious [adjective]

(of a person) deliberately telling lies

Ex: The journalist exposed the politician as mendacious .

obtuse [adjective]

slow or reluctant to understand things or respond emotionally to something

Ex: The teacher grew frustrated with the obtuse student who seemed unwilling to engage with the material .

overweening [adjective]

having too much pride or confidence in oneself

Ex:

peremptory [adjective]

demanding immediate obedience, particularly in a way that sounds unfriendly or rude

Ex: LIsa 's peremptory request for the documents was both abrupt and forceful .

perspicacious [adjective]

quick to understand and judge people, things, and situations accurately

Ex:

picayune [adjective]

considered to be of small importance or value

Ex:

prosaic [adjective]

lacking excitement or imagination

Ex: He was disappointed by the prosaic nature of the film ’s ending .

punctilious [adjective]

paying a lot of attention to the correctness of behavior or to detail

Ex: At the meeting , his punctilious notes captured every point discussed .

redoubtable [adjective]

causing fear due to greatness or being impressive

Ex: Facing such a redoubtable opponent in the debate proved to be a formidable challenge .

ribald [adjective]

vulgar, indecent, or coarse, often with sexual connotations

Ex:

splenetic [adjective]

easily angered or annoyed

Ex: He was known for his splenetic personality , often getting upset over small matters .

stolid [adjective]

staying calm and displaying little or no interest or emotions

Ex: He gave a stolid performance , displaying little emotion .

supercilious [adjective]

treating others as if one is superior to them

Ex: Her supercilious attitude toward the junior staff was noted by management .

Advanced Vocabulary for the GRE
Likes and Dislikes	Features and Attributes	Characteristics and Disposition	Traits and Behavior
Quality and Temperament	Aspects and Manners	Hold an Opinion, Give an Advice!	What's on Your Mind?
Everyone Is Entitled to Their Own Opinion!	Make Up Your Mind!	Open and Shut Case	Ripples in a Pond
Only Change Is Constant!	The Soul of a Soulless World	Civil Society and Religiosity	Cultural Sphere and Arts
Artsy Endeavors	Government as a Necessary Evil	Appearance Could be Deceptive!	As It Appears!
Beyond Measure!	Ensure Good Health!	Success Is a Sure Thing, Failure Is Not!	Experiment, Learn, and Repeat!
Stay on the Safe Side!	From Rags to Riches