Advanced Vocabulary for the GRE - Ripples in a Pond

able to bring about dangerous or destructive consequences

possessing the quality of being the most important or basic part of something

simultaneously occurring with something else as it is either related to it or an outcome of it

producing results that are contrary to what was intended

of no determination, competence, or strength

not relevant or significant to the current situation, discussion, etc.

just beginning to take shape

lacking significance or importance

lasting for only a brief period

without any value or importance

capable of easily being molded or shaped into taking another form

extraordinary and serving as a warning or sign of future events, often suggesting something bad or threatening

referring or relating to a past event

to make a person or thing seem more important or impressive than they actually are

to end or lessen a person's anger by giving in to their demands

to take away from something's effect, value, size, power, or amount

to have a rapid development or growth

to restrict the things someone can or wants to do

to end by coming to a climactic point

to stop a person from doing what they initially intended

to raise someone or something to a higher rank or better position

to encourage or provoke something, especially trouble or conflict

to push someone into taking action, particularly by evoking a strong emotion in them

to help someone feel relaxed and calm or to help them fall asleep

to grow in strength, size, intensity, etc.

to incorrectly state what or who created or caused something

to be widely common, applied, or recognized

to move back and forth in a regular rhythm between two or more states, positions, or opinions

to cause a person or thing to come across as less significant

to expand to every part of a thing

to cause something to increase rapidly in number or size

to forcefully bring the development or growth of something that is troubling to an end

to take something or someone's position or place, particularly due to being more effective or up-to-date

a thing that reduces the chances of someone doing something because it makes them aware of its difficulties or consequences

the moment in which a situation or life is at its lowest or worst

someone or something that comes before another of the same type, acting as a sign of what will come next

to keep something bad under control in order to prevent deterioration or to slow down its spread or development

(of roads, paths, lines, etc.) to lead toward a point that connects them

the situation or condition that is currently at hand

to help reduce the severity of an unpleasant feeling

the highest point that a certain celestial body reaches, directly above an observer