Essential Vocabulary for the GRE - Certainty & Likelihood

Here you will learn some English words about doubt and certainty, such as "halting", "cinch", "robust", etc. that are needed for the GRE exam.

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certitude [noun]

the feeling of complete certainty

Ex: His decision was made with absolute certitude , leaving no room for doubt .

conviction [noun]

a belief or opinion that is very strong

Ex: The artist expressed his convictions through powerful paintings that portrayed themes of equality and justice .

robust [adjective]

remaining strong and effective even when facing challenges or difficulties

Ex: The theories have been tested in robust ways .

tentative [adjective]

not firmly established or decided, with the possibility of changes in the future

Ex: His acceptance of the job offer was tentative , as he wanted to discuss the salary before finalizing anything .

decidedly [adverb]

in a way that is certain and beyond any doubt

Ex: He was decidedly uninterested in the topic of the conversation .

supposedly [adverb]

used to suggest that something is assumed to be true, often with a hint of doubt

Ex: The new restaurant is supposedly the best in town , according to online reviews .

presumably [adverb]

used to say that the something is believed to be true based on available information or evidence

Ex: The CEO 's sudden resignation is presumably linked to the company 's financial challenges .

inconclusive [adjective]

not producing a clear result or decision

Ex: The experiment 's results were inconclusive , raising questions about the validity of the methodology .

notional [adjective]

being solely based on imagination or theory rather that reality

Ex: They discussed a notional budget for the project , which was not yet finalized .

surmise [noun]

an idea or conclusion formed on the basis of limited or uncertain evidence

Ex: Without full data , her report remained largely a surmise .

educated guess [noun]

a guess that is made according to one's experience or knowledge thus is more likely to be true

Ex: His educated guess about the market trends was supported by recent data .

conjecture [noun]

an idea that is based on guesswork and not facts

Ex: The judge warned against making conjecture without concrete evidence in the trial .

to guesstimate [verb]

to estimate something by calculating and guessing

Ex: We need to guesstimate how much time it will take to complete the project .

to check over [verb]

to inspect something closely to ensure accuracy, quality, or its overall condition

Ex:

to swear by [verb]

to be certain that something is good or useful

Ex: Many athletes swear by the benefits of proper hydration for peak performance .

speculative [adjective]

according to opinions or guesses instead of facts or evidence

Ex: The proposal was rejected due to its speculative nature , lacking feasibility studies or supporting evidence .

to second-guess [verb]

to predict or anticipate an event or someone's reaction

Ex:

reputedly [adverb]

used to say that something is true according to what people say, although it is uncertain

Ex: The artist is reputedly inspired by the landscapes of his homeland .

halting [adjective]

acting or talking with hesitation due to uncertainty or lack of confidence

Ex:

probabilistic [adjective]

based on the likelihood of an event or outcome occurring

Ex: Statistical analysis often involves examining probabilistic relationships between variables .

concrete [adjective]

according to facts instead of opinions

Ex: The company 's decision-making process is based on concrete data and market analysis rather than speculation .

the dust [settle] [phrase]

to allow or wait for a situation to become calmer or more stable after a significant change or serious dispute

Ex: They will let the dust settle before announcing any changes to the company structure .

paradoxical [adjective]

appearing contradictory or conflicting but potentially true

Ex: The paradoxical nature of quantum mechanics challenges traditional understandings of reality .

foregone conclusion [noun]

something that is assumed to be true or already decided upon before any evidence or arguments are presented

Ex: The academic 's research was so thorough that it made the success of her groundbreaking theory a foregone conclusion .

to cross-check [verb]

to check the accuracy or validity of something by using alternative sources or methods

Ex:

categorical [adjective]

without a doubt

Ex: The scientist 's categorical statement confirmed the theory with certainty .

cinch [noun]

something that will surely happen

Ex: The contract was a cinch once all the terms were agreed upon .

beyond doubt [phrase]

in a way that is absolutely certain and cannot be questioned

Ex: The mathematical proof was beyond doubt , leaving no room for skepticism among the academic community .

if in doubt [phrase]

‌used to offer advice or instructions to someone who is incapable of making decisions

Ex: Review the guidelines carefully ; if in doubt , follow the established procedures .

long shot [noun]

an attempt made without having any high hopes of achieving success

Ex: Starting a successful business with no prior experience is a long shot , but with hard work and determination , it can be done .

Essential Vocabulary for the GRE
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