Advanced Vocabulary for the GRE - Success Is a Sure Thing, Failure Is Not!

Here you will learn some English words about success and failure, such as "skeptic", "halcyon", "kudos", etc. that are needed for the GRE exam.

review

flashcard

spelling

quiz

start-learning

to ascertain [verb]

to determine something with certainty by careful examination or investigation

Ex: The doctor ascertained the diagnosis by performing various medical tests .

desideratum [noun]

a thing that is essential or desired

Ex: Access to clean water remains a vital desideratum for many developing countries .

to flummox [verb]

to completely confuse someone

Ex: The complicated instructions for assembling the furniture flummoxed the new homeowners , causing them to seek help .

juncture [noun]

a certain stage or point in an activity, a process, or a series of events, particularly important

Ex: The project is at a juncture where we need to finalize the design before moving forward .

quandary [noun]

a state of uncertainty about what decision to make in a challenging situation

Ex: They found themselves in a quandary over which path to take .

skeptic [noun]

an individual who regularly questions and doubts the validity of ideas, beliefs, or information, particularly those that are commonly accepted

Ex:

warranted [adjective]

having reasons that are acceptable and valid

Ex:

to default [verb]

to fail at accomplishing an obligation, particularly a financial one

Ex:

egregious [adjective]

bad in a noticeable and extreme way

Ex: His egregious disregard for safety regulations endangered the lives of his coworkers .

feasible [adjective]

having the potential of being done successfully

Ex: The engineer presented a feasible solution to the problem , taking into account technical constraints and budgetary limitations .

halcyon [adjective]

full of calmness, happiness, and prosperity

Ex:

heyday [noun]

a period in which someone or something was at its height of success, fame, or strength

Ex: In its heyday , the amusement park attracted visitors from all over the country .

illustrious [adjective]

highly distinguished, admired, or well-known due to exceptional and outstanding characteristics or features

Ex: The illustrious writer Jane Austen won high acclaim for her notable works .

to impede [verb]

to create difficulty or obstacles that make it hard for something to happen or progress

Ex: The language barrier may impede effective communication in a multicultural team .

inadvertent [adjective]

occurring unintentionally or without deliberate thought or planning

Ex: The driver made an inadvertent wrong turn and ended up in an unfamiliar neighborhood .

incentive [noun]

something that is used as an encouraging and motivating factor

Ex: The company offered a bonus as an incentive for employees to meet their sales targets .

insufferable [adjective]

cannot be endured due to being extremely annoying, uncomfortable, or unpleasant

involved [adjective]

complex and difficult to understand due to many connected parts

Ex: She found herself lost in the involved legal language of the contract .

kudos [noun]

the admiration, praise, and recognition someone receives for their achievements, deeds, or social standing

Ex: His groundbreaking research earned him widespread kudos in the scientific community .

onerous [adjective]

difficult and needing a lot of energy and effort

Ex: The task of organizing the event fell on her shoulders , and she soon realized it was more onerous than she had anticipated .

peccadillo [noun]

a small excusable offense or mistake

Ex: Flirting at a party was dismissed as an inessential peccadillo rather than a breach of faith .

primacy [noun]

the state in which a person or thing is of the highest importance, rank, or power

Ex: The primacy of environmental concerns drove the new policy initiatives in the government .

to quail [verb]

to experience or express the feeling of fear

Ex:

to reap [verb]

to gain something, particularly something beneficial, as the result of one's actions

Ex: Investing wisely in the stock market can allow you to reap financial gains over time .

remedial [adjective]

intending to correct or improve a thing that is unsuccessful or wrong

Ex: The book offered a remedial guide to understanding the complex concepts introduced in the previous chapters .

remiss [adjective]

failing to give the needed amount of attention and care toward fulfilling one's obligations

Ex: The company was remiss in maintaining workplace safety standards , leading to several accidents .

to resolve [verb]

to make a decision with determination

Ex: They resolved to work together to find a solution to the problem .

schadenfreude [noun]

a delightful feeling gained from other people's misfortunes or troubles

Ex: Her schadenfreude was evident when she laughed at her competitor ’s misstep during the competition .

serendipity [noun]

the fact of accidentally experiencing or discovering something that is pleasant or valuable

Ex: His serendipity in finding a rare coin in his grandfather ’s attic made him a wealthy collector .

stalwart [adjective]

possessing a lot of physical strength

Ex: The stalwart lumberjack swung his axe with precision , chopping through the thick tree trunk in minutes .

to stem [verb]

to stop something, particularly something undesirable, from developing or spreading

Ex: The implementation of strict environmental regulations aims to stem the pollution of rivers .

subterfuge [noun]

the use of deceptive methods or devices to achieve something

Ex: His elaborate subterfuge involved fake documents and misleading statements to get what he wanted .

unpropitious [adjective]

(of circumstances) unlikely to result in success

Ex: The economic climate was unpropitious for starting a new business venture .

unviable [adjective]

cannot do what it is intended to successfully

Ex: The construction site was found to be unviable due to environmental and logistical issues .

viable [adjective]

(of biological organisms) capable of living or growing, often in a particular environment or under specific conditions

Ex: The seeds are viable and should sprout once planted in the right conditions .

wanting [adjective]

not sufficient in amount, quality, or degree

Ex:

to stymie [verb]

to prevent the occurrence or achievement of something

Ex: The legal obstacles stymied the company 's plans to expand into new markets .

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