Mastering Intermediate GRE Vocabulary
The GRE Verbal Reasoning section tests your ability to understand and analyze written material, as well as your command of vocabulary. While some words might seem obscure, many fall into an 'intermediate' category – common enough to be encountered, but not always immediately familiar. This module focuses on building your proficiency with these crucial words.
Why Intermediate Words Matter
Intermediate vocabulary is the bridge between basic comprehension and advanced analytical skills. Mastering these words allows you to:
- Understand complex sentence structures and nuances in reading comprehension passages.
- Accurately identify synonyms and antonyms in Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions.
- Express your own ideas more precisely and effectively, which can indirectly help in essay writing.
Strategies for Learning Intermediate Words
Common Intermediate GRE Words and Their Usage
Here are some examples of intermediate GRE words, categorized by their common usage patterns. Remember to look up these words and practice using them in sentences.
| Word | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Abnegate | To deny or renounce | She had to abnegate her personal desires for the good of the team. |
| Ambiguous | Open to more than one interpretation; unclear | The politician's statement was deliberately ambiguous, leaving voters unsure of his true stance. |
| Capricious | Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior | His capricious nature made it difficult to predict his reactions. |
| Deleterious | Causing harm or damage | The long-term effects of the pollution were deleterious to the environment. |
| Ephemeral | Lasting for a very short time | The beauty of the cherry blossoms is ephemeral, lasting only a week or two. |
| Gregarious | Fond of company; sociable | He was a gregarious individual, always the life of the party. |
| Inadvertent | Not intended; accidental | The mistake was inadvertent, a simple oversight. |
| Meticulous | Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise | The artist was meticulous in her brushstrokes, creating a hyper-realistic painting. |
| Nefarious | Wicked or criminal | The villain's nefarious plan was to steal the city's water supply. |
| Pernicious | Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way | The pernicious influence of gossip can ruin reputations. |
Putting Your Knowledge to the Test
The best way to solidify your understanding of these words is through practice. Try to incorporate them into your daily vocabulary exercises and GRE practice tests. Pay attention to how they appear in different question types.
Don't just memorize definitions; aim to understand the nuance and context in which each word is used. This will be crucial for tackling complex GRE verbal questions.
Next Steps
Continue to build your vocabulary systematically. Focus on understanding word families, synonyms, antonyms, and how words function in sentences. Consistent practice is the key to GRE verbal success.
Learning Resources
Provides curated lists of GRE vocabulary words, often categorized by difficulty, with definitions and example sentences.
Offers interactive flashcards for GRE vocabulary, allowing users to test themselves and track progress. Includes definitions and example sentences.
Official practice materials from the GRE test makers, essential for understanding question formats and difficulty levels.
Offers strategic advice on how to approach GRE vocabulary learning, focusing on effective memorization and usage techniques.
A comprehensive online etymology dictionary that helps understand the roots, prefixes, and suffixes of words, aiding in vocabulary acquisition.
Free video lessons and practice exercises covering various aspects of GRE Verbal Reasoning, including vocabulary strategies.
Provides academic strategies for building vocabulary, applicable to standardized tests like the GRE, focusing on context and active learning.
A curated list of high-frequency GRE vocabulary words with detailed explanations and usage examples.
While a book, this is a highly recommended resource for systematically building vocabulary through root words and contextual learning. (Note: This is a link to purchase, but the content is widely recognized).
Official guidance from ETS on how to approach Text Completion questions, which heavily rely on vocabulary knowledge.