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Essential Vocabulary for the GRE - Hard Times

Here you will learn some English words about failure, such as "abdicate", "fiasco", "languish", etc. that are needed for the GRE exam.

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Essential Words Needed for the GRE

to not accept or complete an obligation or duty

Ex: She felt she had no choice but abdicate her position after failing to meet the expectations .
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to have a result contrary to what one desired or intended

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at the expense of
[preposition]

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

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an existing weakness or fault in someone or something

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to elude
[Verb]

to cleverly avoid or escape from someone or something

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to doom
[Verb]

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

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fiasco
[noun]

a quick and unexpected downfall

Ex: The charity auction was fiasco when technical problems prevented bids from being placed .
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to remain the same and fail to make any progress

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

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futile
[Adjective]

unable to result in success or anything useful

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hassle
[noun]

a situation that is disturbing because it causes difficulty or problems

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ill-fated
[Adjective]

bringing bad fortune or ending in failure

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

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inauspicious
[Adjective]

putting someone or something at a disadvantage

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difficulties caused by something that makes one irritated or uncomfortable

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in vain
[Adverb]

without success or achieving the desired result

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to fail to be successful or make any progress

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a thing or person that is impossible to improve or succeed

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to fail to achieve a desired outcome

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nonentity
[noun]

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

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

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pathetic
[Adjective]

deserving pity due to perceived weakness or sadness

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to plague
[Verb]

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

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precarious
[Adjective]

unstable or insecure, often causing anxiety

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

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setback
[noun]

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

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to not succeed in doing or accomplishing something

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

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

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underdog
[noun]

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

Ex: underdog film , with its low budget and unknown actors , became a surprise box office hit .
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unattainable
[Adjective]

not possible to reach or obtain

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thorny
[Adjective]

causing problem or difficulty

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

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to fall flat
[phrase]

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

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fatally
[Adverb]

in a way that results in an absolute failure or disaster

Ex: The strategy fatally ineffective , leading to the project 's collapse .
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to haunt
[Verb]

to stay in the thoughts of someone for a long time

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to fail in achieving the desired result

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Essential Vocabulary for the GRE
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