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Advanced Vocabulary for the GRE - The Soul of a Soulless World

Here you will learn some English words about society and religion, such as "disperse", "dogma", "litany", etc. that are needed for the GRE exam.

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Advanced Words Needed for the GRE
to alienate

to make one feel isolated or hostile toward a person or group

Ex: His rude comments began to alienate him from his colleagues.Ā 
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to disperse

to part and move in different directions

Ex: As the school bell rang, students began to disperse from the courtyard to their respective classrooms.Ā 
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to supplicate

to ask or request humbly and earnestly, typically in a religious or devotional context

Ex: She supplicated for guidance before making her decision.Ā 
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to venerate

to feel or display a great amount of respect toward something or someone

Ex: The community venerated the wise elder for her wisdom and guidance.Ā 
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apotheosis

the act of elevating a person's rank to that of a god

Ex: The emperor’s apotheosis was celebrated with grand ceremonies and rituals.Ā 
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atavism
atavism
[noun]

an ancestral or ancient trait, feeling, outlook, activity, etc. that modern humans revert to

Ex: The sudden aggression he displayed seemed like an atavism from a primal past.Ā 
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chauvinist

someone who strongly believes that their gender, race, country, or group is superior

Ex: He was labeled a chauvinist for insisting that men are naturally better leaders.Ā 
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epiphany
epiphany
[noun]

a moment in which one comes to a sudden realization

Ex: She had an epiphany about her true calling while on a quiet walk.Ā 
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exegesis
exegesis
[noun]

an interpretation and thorough explanation of a piece of writing, particularly a religious one

Ex: The professor’s exegesis of the ancient text provided new insights into its meaning.Ā 
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hedonist
hedonist
[noun]

an individual who acts according to the belief that pursuing pleasure is of the highest importance in life

Ex: The hedonist lived each day seeking out new experiences and pleasures.Ā 
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iconoclast

a person who challenges or rejects established beliefs, customs, or values, often with the intent to provoke change or expose flaws

Ex: The philosopher was an iconoclast, questioning every moral assumption of his time.Ā 
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libertine
libertine
[noun]

an individual who is not concerned with morality and overindulges in pleasure, particularly sexual pleasure

Ex: The novel’s main character was a notorious libertine, living a life of excess and indulgence.Ā 
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litany
litany
[noun]

a religious service that consists of the leading person saying some prayers followed by set responses from the people who are participating

Ex: The priest led the congregation in a solemn litany of prayers and responses.Ā 
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mores
mores
[noun]

the customs and values of a society that characterize it

Ex: The mores of a traditional society often dictate strict gender roles and expectations for behavior.Ā 
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occult
occult
[noun]

all that relates to the magical and supernatural, their events, practices, powers, etc.

Ex: She was fascinated by the occult and spent years studying ancient magical texts.Ā 
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prognostication

a statement meaning to predict or guess the events of the future

Ex: The weather forecast was a form of prognostication about the upcoming storm.Ā 
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recluse
recluse
[noun]

an individual who lives by themselves and avoids all sorts of contact with other people

Ex: Deep in the forest, the hermit lived as a recluse for decades in a small cabin he built with his own hands.Ā 
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solecism
solecism
[noun]

an act that is considered to be impolite or unacceptable

Ex: The actor’s solecism of interrupting the director was noted as unprofessional.Ā 
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turpitude
turpitude
[noun]

a disposition or behavior that is extremely immoral or wicked

Ex: The scandal revealed the turpitude of the politician's actions.Ā 
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arcane
arcane
[Adjective]

requiring specialized or secret knowledge to comprehend fully

Ex: The arcane nature of the formula made it difficult for outsiders to grasp.Ā 
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benighted
benighted
[Adjective]

lacking in intellect, culture, knowledge, or morals

Ex: The isolated village was considered benighted due to its lack of modern education.Ā 
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contrite
contrite
[Adjective]

expressing or experiencing deep regret or guilt because of a wrong act that one has committed

Ex: She wrote a contrite letter to apologize for her mistakes.Ā 
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diabolical
diabolical
[Adjective]

tremendously wicked or evil, just like the Devil

Ex: The villain’s diabolical plan aimed to cause chaos and suffering.Ā 
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disjointed
disjointed
[Adjective]

not connected in an orderly or coherent way

Ex: His disjointed speech made it difficult to understand his main point.Ā 
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fanatical
fanatical
[Adjective]

extremely enthusiastic or obsessed about something

Ex: The town was wary of the group's fanatical teachings and their intense recruitment efforts.Ā 
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gregarious
gregarious
[Adjective]

(of people) delighted by the company of others

Ex: Sarah is known for her gregarious nature, always making friends wherever she goes.Ā 
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indifferent
indifferent
[Adjective]

unbiased and not favoring one side

Ex: The judge remained indifferent, making a decision based solely on the evidence.Ā 
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orthodox
orthodox
[Adjective]

following established beliefs, traditions, or accepted standards

Ex: The school required students to adhere to orthodox dress codes, including uniforms and modest attire.Ā 
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pious
pious
[Adjective]

having strong faith in a religion and living according to it

Ex: The pious man donated a significant portion of his income to support religious causes.Ā 
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principled
principled
[Adjective]

behaving in a manner that shows one's high moral standards

Ex: She is known for her principled stance on environmental issues, always advocating for sustainable practices.Ā 
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polarized
polarized
[Adjective]

divided into groups that strongly disagree

Ex: The election results highlighted a polarized nation, with stark differences in voter preferences.Ā 
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sacrosanct
sacrosanct
[Adjective]

extremely important, to the point that it is not allowed to be condemned or changed

Ex: The family ritual was sacrosanct to her, holding deep personal and cultural significance.Ā 
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secular
secular
[Adjective]

not concerned or connected with religion

Ex: The school is secular, meaning it does not promote any specific religious beliefs.Ā 
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unseemly
unseemly
[Adjective]

behaving in a manner that is impolite and not in accordance with the situation

Ex: The unseemly comments made during the meeting caused discomfort among the team members.Ā 
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