Advanced Vocabulary for the GRE - Stay on the Safe Side!

Here you will learn some English words about danger and safety, such as "hardy", "plucky", "wary", etc. that are needed for the GRE exam.

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chary [adjective]

afraid and cautious of the possible outcomes of an action, thus reluctant to take risks or action

Ex: The team was chary of adopting the untested technology in their critical systems .

deleterious [adjective]

inflicting damage or harm on someone or something

Ex: Smoking is known to have deleterious impacts on overall health .

doughty [adjective]

overflowing with bravery and determination

Ex: They faced each setback with doughty perseverance , never losing hope .

hardy [adjective]

possessing bravery and boldness

Ex: Facing the blizzards , the hardy explorers pressed on without hesitation .

imminent [adjective]

(particularly of something unpleasant) likely to take place in the near future

Ex: The doctor warned the patient of the imminent risk of heart attack if lifestyle changes were not made .

incendiary [adjective]

utilized to set fire on a property

Ex: Her house was targeted with incendiary weapons , causing severe damage .

inflammable [adjective]

capable of easily catching fire

Ex: The inflammable material was stored in a secure area to prevent accidents .

innocuous [adjective]

not likely to cause injury, offense, or strong reaction

Ex: She made an innocuous joke that lightened the mood .

intrepid [adjective]

very courageous and not afraid of situations that are dangerous

Ex: His intrepid spirit was evident as he boldly faced the challenging climb .

mettlesome [adjective]

overflowing with courage and determination

Ex:

moribund [adjective]

approaching death

Ex: She whispered final words to her moribund father .

obstreperous [adjective]

unwilling to submit to authority or control

Ex: The toddler became obstreperous when told to leave the playground .

plucky [adjective]

possessing or displaying determination and bravery

Ex:

precarious [adjective]

full of danger or uncertainty, likely to cause harm or accidents

Ex: Driving in heavy fog can be precarious , as visibility is severely limited .

pugnacious [adjective]

eager to start a fight or argument

Ex: Her pugnacious response to criticism was unexpected but not entirely surprising .

sangfroid [noun]

the skill to stay calm when in a situation that is difficult or dangerous

Ex: Even in the face of danger , she maintained her sangfroid , leading the group effectively .

solicitous [adjective]

overflowing with anxiety, unease, or concern

Ex: During the crisis , the community ’s solicitous responses highlighted their collective unease .

timorous [adjective]

lacking bravery and confidence

Ex: In the face of confrontation , his timorous nature led him to avoid conflict .

unassailable [adjective]

not capable of being criticized, attacked, or doubted

Ex: Her unassailable confidence in her skills made her a natural leader in the project .

wary [adjective]

feeling or showing caution and attentiveness regarding possible dangers or problems

Ex: The company was wary of entering into partnerships without thorough research .

cataclysm [noun]

a sudden or disastrous event that destroys or changes a whole region or system

Ex: Emergence of the internet sparked a cataclysm in how people share information and do business .

charlatan [noun]

an individual who acts as if they possess special qualities, knowledge, or skills

Ex: She felt duped by the charlatan who pretended to be an expert in personal development .

conflagration [noun]

an extremely intense and destructive fire

Ex: Historical records describe the conflagration that swept through the city , destroying countless homes and landmarks .

firebrand [noun]

an individual who is passionate about a cause, particularly political, and urges others to take action toward said cause, normally leading to trouble

Ex: In the meeting , the firebrand 's rhetoric intensified the already heated discussion .

gambit [noun]

a strategic action or remark that is used to gain an advantage, particularly in the early stages of a situation, game, conversation, etc.

Ex: The politician 's gambit during the debate was designed to appeal to undecided voters .

haven [noun]

a place that provides safety, peace, and favorable living conditions for humans or animals

Ex: The tranquil garden was a haven for meditation and reflection , offering solace and serenity amidst the chaos of everyday life .

makeshift [noun]

a thing that is used as an inferior and temporary substitute for something that is not available

Ex: The crew created a makeshift from wooden planks and ropes to bridge the gap .

melee [noun]

a fight that is noisy, confusing, and involves many people

Ex: The cafeteria was filled with a melee of students arguing over seating .

presentiment [noun]

a feeling or suspicion that something, particularly something unpleasant, is about to take place

Ex: Despite no evidence , she could n’t shake the presentiment that her job was in jeopardy .

reprisal [noun]

the act of hurting or damaging one's opponent or enemy in retaliation for the hurt or damage they inflicted upon one

Ex: His harsh remarks were viewed as a reprisal for the criticism he had received .

row [noun]

a noisy bitter argument between countries, organizations, people, etc.

Ex: A diplomatic row flared up after the ambassador ’s comments were deemed offensive .

to daunt [verb]

to cause a person to feel scared or unconfident

Ex: Despite her determination , the complexity of the task daunted the student , causing her to doubt her abilities .

to dispatch [verb]

to send a person or thing somewhere for a specific purpose

Ex: The courier was dispatched to deliver the urgent package to the client .

to dog [verb]

to closely follow someone

Ex: The detective had to dog the suspect ’s every move to gather enough evidence .

to eschew [verb]

to avoid a thing or doing something on purpose

Ex: Some investors eschew risky stocks and prefer more stable , conservative investment options .

to hoodwink [verb]

to deceive a person, often by hiding the truth or using clever tactics to mislead them

Ex: Some politicians try to hoodwink voters by making false promises during election campaigns .

to hound [verb]

to constantly chase, pressure, or follow someone to gain or achieve something

Ex: Journalists may hound public figures for exclusive interviews .

to implode [verb]

to burst, fall, or collapse toward the inside violently

Ex: The structure seemed stable until it suddenly imploded , sending debris flying .

to inundate [verb]

to cover a stretch of land with a lot of water

Ex: The river 's overflow had the potential to inundate several nearby neighborhoods .

to unnerve [verb]

to make someone feel uneasy or anxious, disrupting their usual calm or confidence

Ex: The persistent failures were unnerving the athlete , affecting their performance .

to fortify [verb]

to secure a place and make it resistant against attacks, particularly by building walls around it

Ex: The army began to fortify their position by constructing additional barriers and trenches .

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