Advanced Vocabulary for the GRE - Appearance Could be Deceptive!

Here you will learn some English words about appearance, such as "austere", "opaque", "turgid", etc. that are needed for the GRE exam.

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amorphous [adjective]

lacking a clear or distinct shape or form

Ex: The jelly on the plate was soft and amorphous .

austere [adjective]

simple in design or style and lacking embellishments

Ex: The institutional building was built in an austere style , emphasizing functionality over decoration .

cadaverous [adjective]

very thin or pale in a way that is suggestive of an illness

Ex: The actor underwent a drastic weight loss regimen to portray the cadaverous character accurately .

ethereal [adjective]

extremely delicate, light, as if it belongs to a heavenly realm

Ex: The ethereal mist enveloped the forest , lending an otherworldly atmosphere .

heterogeneous [adjective]

composed of a wide range of different things or people

Ex: The classroom was heterogeneous , with students of different ages and abilities .

homogeneous [adjective]

composed of things or people of the same or very similar type

Ex: The music festival attracted a homogeneous crowd of rock music enthusiasts .

incongruous [adjective]

peculiar and not like what is considered suitable or appropriate for a situation

Ex: Her humorous remarks were incongruous with the serious nature of the board meeting .

lackluster [adjective]

(of hair or eyes) without shine, sheen, or brightness

Ex: Despite her efforts , the shampoo could n’t revive her lackluster locks .

opaque [adjective]

(of an object) blocking the passage of light and preventing objects from being seen through it

Ex: The glass was opaque , preventing anyone from seeing inside the locked room .

peripheral [adjective]

relating or belonging to the edge or outer section of something

Ex: She decorated the room with artwork , placing the most striking pieces on the walls and the more subtle ones in peripheral areas .

pronounced [adjective]

immediately noticed due to being apparent

Ex: The new policy had a pronounced impact on employee morale , leading to noticeable changes in productivity .

sardonic [adjective]

humorous in a manner that is cruel and disrespectful

Ex: Her sardonic tone when discussing her colleague ’s promotion showed her jealousy and disdain .

specious [adjective]

falsely giving a pleasing appearance

Ex: Despite the specious logic in the proposal , the committee approved it without a thorough review .

surreptitious [adjective]

doing something secretly in an attempt to avoid notice

Ex: Her surreptitious glances at the clock showed she was eager to leave .

tenuous [adjective]

very delicate or thin

Ex: The tenuous branches of the tree swayed gently in the breeze , threatening to snap under the weight of the snow .

turgid [adjective]

(of speech or writing) using a serious and elevated style that makes it tedious and complicated

Ex: The novel 's turgid narrative style made it a challenging read for most people .

to dovetail [verb]

to fit together in a satisfactory or suitable way

Ex: The novel ’s themes dovetail with the author ’s previous works , creating a cohesive literary universe .

to mesmerize [verb]

to capture someone's attention and interest completely, in a way that they forget about everything else

Ex: The stunning artwork in the gallery mesmerized visitors , drawing them into its beauty .

disposition [noun]

the inherent qualities that one is normally characterized by

Ex: The manager ’s assertive disposition ensured that the team stayed focused and productive .

fringe [noun]

the marginal, or outer part of something, such as an area, activity, or group

Ex: He was involved in the fringe activities of the organization , far from the central decision-making processes .

goose bumps [noun]

a state in which little bumps appear on the skin and bodily hair becomes upright because of excitement, cold, or fear

Ex:

semblance [noun]

a condition or situation that is similar or only appears to be similar to something

Ex: The peace treaty provided only a semblance of resolution to the ongoing conflict .

eclectic [adjective]

containing what is best of various ideas, styles, methods, beliefs, etc.

Ex: Their wedding had an eclectic theme , combining elements from different cultural traditions and personal tastes .

verisimilitude [noun]

the state or quality of implying the truth

Ex: The film ’s realistic dialogue contributed to its overall verisimilitude , making the story more engaging .

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