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: An upright sitting position reduces back pain .

to hunch [verb]

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

Ex: She hunched slightly to avoid hitting her head on the low doorway .

deft [adjective]

having quick and skillful movements

Ex: She was a deft seamstress , stitching intricate patterns with precision .

languidly [adverb]

slowly and without much energy, sometimes in an attractive way

Ex: She spoke languidly , her words slow and deliberate .

nimble [adjective]

quick and light in movement or action

Ex: The nimble fingers of the pianist danced across the keys .

lumbering [adjective]

moving slowly or in an awkward way because of being heavy

Ex:

ungainly [adjective]

moving in a way that is awkward and not smooth

Ex:

to slouch [verb]

to adopt a drooping, slumped, or lazy posture

Ex:

lithe [adjective]

slender, flexible, and graceful in movement

Ex: The lithe dancer glided across the stage with effortless grace .

supple [adjective]

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

Ex: The gymnast 's supple body arched effortlessly in mid‑air .

erect [adjective]

straight, with an upright position

Ex: An erect guillotine blade awaited its grim duty .

sullen [adjective]

bad-tempered, gloomy, and usually silent

Ex: She greeted his cheerful " good morning " with a sullen nod , still upset about their argument the night before .

to wince [verb]

to show a facial expression that signifies shame or pain

Ex:

to sneer [verb]

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

Ex: She could n't help but sneer at the ridiculous costume he was wearing .

to beam [verb]

to smile joyfully in an obvious way

Ex: She beamed with pride as she showcased her artwork to the admiring crowd .

to squint [verb]

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

Ex: As he entered the dark room , he squinted to adjust his vision to the low light .

countenance [noun]

someone's face or facial expression

Ex: The actor 's countenance reflected the character 's inner turmoil perfectly .

complexion [noun]

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

Ex: Despite the long hours outdoors , his complexion remained tan-free .

to grimace [verb]

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

Ex: She grimaced at the taste of the bitter medicine .

to grin [verb]

to smile widely in a way that displays the teeth

Ex: Seeing the old photographs , they could n't help but grin at the memories .

to smirk [verb]

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

Ex: The mischievous child smirked after playing a clever prank on his sibling .

to blush [verb]

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

Ex: He tends to blush easily in social situations .

to glower [verb]

to look or stare at someone angrily

Ex: Despite his smile , he was glowering and that unsettled me .

stout [adjective]

(of a person) slightly fat and heavy

Ex: The stout man struggled to squeeze through the narrow doorway , his large belly grazing the frame .

petite [adjective]

(of a woman) small in an attractive way

Ex: His petite girlfriend stood on tiptoe to kiss him goodbye , her small frame fitting perfectly into his arms .

stocky [adjective]

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

Ex: The stocky construction worker effortlessly carried heavy loads at the job site .

brawny [adjective]

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

Ex: The brawny wrestler dominated his opponents with his sheer power and imposing stature .

corpulent [adjective]

excessively overweight or obese

Ex: She struggled to find fashionable clothes that would fit her corpulent frame .

plump [adjective]

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

Ex: The actress gained weight for the role , appearing plump and round-faced to portray the character accurately .

sinewy [adjective]

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

Ex:

allure [noun]

the quality of attracting someone by being fascinating and glamorous

Ex: He could n't resist the allure of adventure in far-off lands .

curvaceous [adjective]

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

Ex: The curvaceous model was featured on magazine covers for her stunning physique .

luscious [adjective]

sexually attractive and very seductive

Ex: His luscious eyes were a deep brown , full of warmth and kindness .

dowdy [adjective]

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

Ex: He avoided dowdy shoes and preferred sleek , modern designs .

ravishing [adjective]

extremely attractive and pleasing

Ex:

rugged [adjective]

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

Ex: A rugged jawline and deep-set eyes gave him a commanding presence .

scruffy [adjective]

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

Ex: His scruffy appearance gave him a rough-around-the-edges charm that many found endearing .

voluptuous [adjective]

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

Ex: Her voluptuous curves filled out the elegant gown , accentuating her feminine silhouette .

swarthy [adjective]

having a naturally dark face or complexion

Ex: His swarthy appearance stood out among the fair-skinned locals .

blemish [noun]

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

Ex: The dermatologist recommended a cream to reduce facial blemishes .

callus [noun]

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

Ex: She developed a callus on her foot after wearing tight shoes for too long .

Essential Vocabulary for the GRE
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