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: She answered the difficult questions with the aplomb of an experienced speaker .

boor

[noun]

an insensitive and uneducated person who lacks culture and manners

Ex: Despite his wealth , he was seen as a boor due to his lack of refinement .

chagrin

[noun]

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

Ex: Her chagrin was evident when she discovered she had accidentally sent the email to the wrong recipient .

curmudgeon

[noun]

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

Ex: Everyone avoided the curmudgeon who lived next door due to his constant complaints .

effrontery

[noun]

a way of behaving that is shamelessly rude and bold

Ex: She was embarrassed by the effrontery of her friend ’s behavior at the dinner party .

hauteur

[noun]

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

Ex: His hauteur was evident when he dismissed the suggestions of his team .

insouciance

[noun]

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

Ex: Her insouciance about the upcoming exam impressed her friends .

to badger

[Verb]

to repeatedly annoy or harass someone with requests or questions

Ex: His friends badgered him into going to the party , even though he did n’t feel like it .

to browbeat

[Verb]

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

Ex: The politician browbeat his supporters into agreeing with his controversial proposal .

to deign

[Verb]

to do something in a reluctant and condescending manner

Ex: They were surprised when she deigned to join their simple gathering .

to lacerate

[Verb]

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

Ex: Each rejection lacerated his self-esteem , chipping away at his confidence bit by bit .

amenable

[Adjective]

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

Ex: The committee was amenable to considering alternative proposals .

approbative

[Adjective]

displaying approval or praise

Ex: Her approbative smile made the winner feel appreciated .

arduous

[Adjective]

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

Ex: Building the house from scratch was an arduous undertaking .

avid

[Adjective]

extremely enthusiastic and interested in something one does

Ex: The avid learner is constantly seeking new knowledge and skills to improve himself .

complacent

[Adjective]

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

Ex: The team 's early lead in the game made them complacent, leading to a surprise comeback by the opposing team .

conversant

[Adjective]

knowledgeable or experienced with something

Ex: The lawyer was conversant with all aspects of the case .

craven

[Adjective]

not having even the smallest amount of courage

Ex: He was labeled craven after he backed out of the challenge at the last minute .

debonair

[Adjective]

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

Ex: In the classic film, the debonair hero captivated audiences with his charisma.

derelict

[Adjective]

neglectful toward obligations and duties

Ex: The company suffered losses due to the derelict policies of its previous leadership.

disquieting

[Adjective]

making one feel worried about something

Ex: The disquieting sight of the dark figure lurking in the shadows filled her with a sense of foreboding .

dolorous

[Adjective]

causing or displaying great sadness or distress

Ex: He spoke in a dolorous tone about the recent losses in his life .

fractious

[Adjective]

easily getting annoyed, angry, or upset

Ex: She felt frustrated dealing with the fractious customer .

impervious

[Adjective]

resistant to being affected or damaged by something

Ex: The high-quality paint was impervious to fading and wear .

mendacious

[Adjective]

(of a person) characterized by lying

Ex: The mendacious character in the novel constantly deceived everyone around him .

obtuse

[Adjective]

slow or reluctant to understand things or respond emotionally to something

Ex: The boss 's obtuse leadership style created tension and confusion among the team members .

overweening

[Adjective]

having too much pride or confidence in oneself

Ex: They resented his overweening belief that he was always right .

peremptory

[Adjective]

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

Ex: The peremptory behavior of the new supervisor created tension in the office .

perspicacious

[Adjective]

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

Ex: The perspicacious teacher knows how each student learns best .

picayune

[Adjective]

considered to be of small importance or value

Ex: The politician's opponents tried to discredit him with picayune accusations that had no basis in reality.

prosaic

[Adjective]

lacking excitement or imagination

Ex: The novel ’s prosaic descriptions made the story feel lifeless .

punctilious

[Adjective]

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

Ex: Despite the casual setting , his punctilious behavior remained consistent and formal .

redoubtable

[Adjective]

causing fear due to greatness or being impressive

Ex: Facing the redoubtable general, the enemy army quickly lost morale.

ribald

[Adjective]

vulgar, indecent, or coarse, often with sexual connotations

Ex: Her ribald comments at the dinner table left everyone blushing and speechless.

splenetic

[Adjective]

easily angered or annoyed

Ex: The splenetic nature of his comments made it clear he was not in a good mood .

stolid

[Adjective]

staying calm and displaying little or no interest or emotions

Ex: She sat there with a stolid expression , unaffected by the excitement around her .

supercilious

[Adjective]

treating others as if one is superior to them

Ex: She acted with a supercilious air as if everyone else were beneath her .

Advanced Vocabulary for the GRE

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Advanced Vocabulary for the GRE - Aspects and Manners