Essential Vocabulary for the GRE - Hard Times

to not accept or complete an obligation or duty

to have a result contrary to what one desired or intended

causing a negative consequence or cost to someone or something in order to benefit another

a flaw, weakness, or shortcoming that reduces the effectiveness, quality, or completeness of something

to cleverly avoid or escape from someone or something

to intentionally cause something or someone to fail or experience a negative outcome by creating specific conditions

a quick and unexpected downfall

to remain the same and fail to make any progress

to experience confusion, indecision, or difficulty in finding a solution

unable to result in success or anything useful

a situation that is disturbing because it causes difficulty or problems

bringing bad fortune or ending in failure

(of a system, organization, etc.) to experience a sudden or dramatic failure

putting someone or something at a disadvantage

difficulties caused by something that makes one irritated or uncomfortable

without success or achieving the desired result

to fail to be successful or make any progress

a thing or person that cannot be fixed, saved, or made successful

to fail to achieve a desired outcome

a person who lacks influence or importance in a particular setting or community

to go beyond limits of one's power or authority, often resulting in negative consequences or failure

deserving pity due to perceived weakness or sadness

to continually cause someone or something difficulty, pain, or worry

unstable or insecure, often causing anxiety

to do something in order to cause something such as an opportunity or plan to fail

a problem that gets in the way of a process or makes it worse

to not succeed in doing or accomplishing something

(of a scheme, system, organization, etc.) to begin to fail or fall apart

to speak to someone in a way that suggests they are inferior or less intelligent than the speaker

an individual, team, etc. who is regarded as weaker compared to others and has little chance of success as a result

not possible to reach or obtain

causing problem or difficulty

(of a relationship, negotiation, etc.) to fail to function properly

(of a joke, remark, event, etc.) to be completely unsuccessful in amusing people or having the desired effect

in a way that results in an absolute failure or disaster

to stay in the thoughts of someone for a long time

to fail in achieving the desired result

to bring about the destruction of a system, organization, etc.