Essential Vocabulary for the GRE - Describing Appearance

Here you will learn some English words about appearance, such as "stocky", "corpulent", "allure", etc. that are needed for the GRE exam.

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upright

[Adjective]

(of a person) standing or sitting with a straight back

Ex: His upright silhouette cut against the sunset .

to hunch

[Verb]

to bend the upper side of the body forward and make a rounded back

Ex: In the haunted house , visitors hunched in fear as unexpected sounds echoed through the dark corridors .

deft

[Adjective]

having quick and skillful movements

Ex: She was a deft pianist , her fingers moving effortlessly across the keys .

languidly

[Adverb]

slowly and without much energy, sometimes in an attractive way

Ex: After the long hike , they lounged languidly by the campfire .

nimble

[Adjective]

quick and light in movement or action

Ex: The nimble cat leaped gracefully over obstacles in its path .

lumbering

[Adjective]

moving slowly or in an awkward way because of being heavy

Ex: The elephant's lumbering gait contrasted with the graceful movement of the gazelles.

ungainly

[Adjective]

moving in a way that is awkward and not smooth

Ex: The puppy 's ungainly paws tripped over themselves as it ran to greet its owner .

to slouch

[Verb]

to adopt a drooping, slumped, or lazy posture

Ex: She tried not to slouch while standing in line .

lithe

[Adjective]

slender, flexible, and graceful in movement

Ex: The lithe cat moved stealthily through the bushes , its movements barely making a sound .

supple

[Adjective]

slender and flexible, able to bend or move smoothly and with elegance

Ex: The cat 's supple leap carried it to the top shelf .

erect

[Adjective]

straight, with an upright position

Ex: Erect icicles gleamed like spears under the eaves .

sullen

[Adjective]

bad-tempered, gloomy, and usually silent

Ex: His sullen demeanor made it clear he was n't happy about the decision , but he said nothing .

to wince

[Verb]

to show a facial expression that signifies shame or pain

Ex: She tried to hide her wince when she accidentally bumped into the doorframe.

to sneer

[Verb]

to curl the lip in a contemptuous smile, showing scorn or disdain

Ex: He sneered as he walked past , clearly unimpressed by the exhibition .

to beam

[Verb]

to smile joyfully in an obvious way

Ex: When her favorite song came on, she couldn't help but beam and dance along with pure happiness.

to squint

[Verb]

to look with eyes half-opened when hit by light, or as a sign of suspicion, etc.

Ex: She squinted at the menu in the dimly lit restaurant , struggling to read the options .

countenance

[noun]

someone's face or facial expression

Ex: Her countenance betrayed her nervousness as she waited for the interview to begin .

complexion

[noun]

the natural color and appearance of someone's skin, especially the face

Ex: The facial cleanser promised to improve complexion within weeks .

to grimace

[Verb]

to twist our face in an ugly way because of pain, strong dislike, etc., or when trying to be funny

Ex: The student could n't hide his disgust and grimaced when he saw the grade on his test .

to grin

[Verb]

to smile widely in a way that displays the teeth

Ex: The comedian 's jokes had the entire audience grinning throughout the performance .

to smirk

[Verb]

to give a half-smile, often displaying satisfaction, superiority, or amusement

Ex: The villain in the movie smirked as his evil plot unfolded .

to blush

[Verb]

to become red in the face, especially as a result of shyness or shame

Ex: He blushed with embarrassment during the presentation .

to glower

[Verb]

to look or stare at someone angrily

Ex: The boss glowered at the employees who were late for the meeting .

stout

[Adjective]

(of a person) slightly fat and heavy

Ex: The stout woman huffed and puffed as she climbed the stairs , her heavyset frame slowing her progress .

petite

[Adjective]

(of a woman) small in an attractive way

Ex: Despite her advancing years , she maintained a petite figure through regular exercise and healthy eating habits .

stocky

[Adjective]

(especially of a man) having a short but quite solid figure with thick muscles

Ex: Despite his stocky stature , he moved with surprising agility on the basketball court .

brawny

[Adjective]

(of a person) physically strong with well-developed muscles

Ex: The brawny firefighter rushed into the burning building to rescue trapped occupants .

corpulent

[Adjective]

excessively overweight or obese

Ex: The fashion industry has been criticized for not adequately representing people of all body types , especially those who are corpulent.

plump

[Adjective]

(of a person) having a pleasantly rounded and slightly full-bodied appearance

Ex: Despite her best efforts to diet , she remained plump and curvaceous , embracing her natural body shape .

sinewy

[Adjective]

having a lean and muscular physique, characterized by strength and agility

Ex: The dancer's sinewy legs were perfect for executing complex routines.

allure

[noun]

the quality of attracting someone by being fascinating and glamorous

Ex: The mountain village had a rustic allure that attracted tourists year-round .

curvaceous

[Adjective]

(of a woman) having large breasts, wide hips and a narrow waist

Ex: The curvaceous dancer moved with grace and fluidity , captivating the audience .

luscious

[Adjective]

sexually attractive and very seductive

Ex: The actress was known for her luscious charm , captivating the audience with every scene .

dowdy

[Adjective]

(of a person or their clothing) lacking style, elegance, or fashionable appeal

Ex: Her hair was pulled back in a dowdy, unkempt style .

ravishing

[Adjective]

extremely attractive and pleasing

Ex: The ravishing actress graced the magazine cover, her stunning features highlighted perfectly by the photographer.

rugged

[Adjective]

(of a man's face) having strong, well-defined, and attractive features

Ex: He had a rugged appearance shaped by years of outdoor work .

scruffy

[Adjective]

(of a man's face) not having been shaved for a long time

Ex: Despite his scruffy appearance , he had a warm smile that instantly put people at ease .

voluptuous

[Adjective]

(of a woman's body) curvy and attractive with full breasts and wide hips

Ex: Despite her age , she maintained a voluptuous physique through regular exercise and healthy living .

swarthy

[Adjective]

having a naturally dark face or complexion

Ex: The travelers had developed swarthy tans after their long journey .

blemish

[noun]

a mark or spot on something or someone's skin that spoils the appearance

Ex: Despite the minor blemish, the painting was still considered a masterpiece .

callus

[noun]

an area of skin that has turned hard and rough by being constantly exposed to friction

Ex: He treated his calluses with a special cream to keep his hands smooth .

Essential Vocabulary for the GRE
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