GRE Vocabulary Mastery Quiz

English Language

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| By Thames

Thames

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Quizzes Created: 7053 | Total Attempts: 9,520,816

| Questions: 19 | Updated: Aug 4, 2025

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1. What does the term 'ballast' refer to?

Anything that gives mental, moral, or political stability orsteadiness: the ballast of a steady income.

A small wooden boat used for transportation.

A type of fish commonly found in the ocean.

A method of gardening involving the use of rocks and pebbles.

The correct answer defines 'ballast' as something that provides stability or steadiness, not related to fish, boats, or gardening.

Explanation

The correct answer defines 'ballast' as something that provides stability or steadiness, not related to fish, boats, or gardening.

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About This Quiz

Enhance your vocabulary with this focused quiz designed to prepare you for the GRE. Assess your understanding of advanced English words, crucial for excelling in graduate-level exams. Ideal for prospective graduate students aiming to improve their verbal reasoning scores.

2. What's your name?

We’ll put your name on your report, certificate, and leaderboard.

2. What is the definition of DISCOMFITURE?

Joy or excitement

Ease and comfort

Certainty and satisfaction

Disconcertion; confusion; embarrassment.frustration of hopes or plans.

DISCOMFITURE refers to a feeling of disconcertion, confusion, embarrassment, or frustration of hopes or plans, and is the opposite of joy, excitement, certainty, satisfaction, ease, and comfort.

Explanation

DISCOMFITURE refers to a feeling of disconcertion, confusion, embarrassment, or frustration of hopes or plans, and is the opposite of joy, excitement, certainty, satisfaction, ease, and comfort.

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3. What does the term SOLICITOUS mean?

Anxious or concerned ; solicitous about a person's health.careful or particular: a solicitous housekeeper.

Carefree and relaxed

Indifferent and apathetic

Suspicious and skeptical

The correct answer describes someone who is caring, attentive, and concerned about another's well-being. The incorrect answers provide contrasting meanings that do not align with the definition of solicitous.

Explanation

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4. What does the word 'reprove' mean?

To ignore or overlook

To praise or reward

To criticize or correct, esp. gently: to reprove a pupil formaking a mistake.to disapprove of strongly; censure: to reprove a... To criticize or correct, esp. gently: to reprove a pupil formaking a mistake.to disapprove of strongly; censure: to reprove a baddecision.

To avoid or escape

The correct answer 'to criticize or correct, especially gently; to disapprove of strongly; censure' accurately defines the word 'reprove' as per the given question.

Explanation

The correct answer 'to criticize or correct, especially gently; to disapprove of strongly; censure' accurately defines the word 'reprove' as per the given question.

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5. INDURATE

Soften

Melt

Weaken

To make hard; harden, as rock, tissue, etc.: Cold induratesthe soil.to make enduring; confirm; establish: to indurate customthrough practice.

The term 'indurate' means the opposite of soften, weaken, or melt. It refers to making something hard, enduring, or confirmed.

Explanation

The term 'indurate' means the opposite of soften, weaken, or melt. It refers to making something hard, enduring, or confirmed.

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6. ARCANE

Known or understood by very few; mysterious; secret; obscure;esoteric:She knew a lot about sanskrit grammar and other arcanematters.

Accessible

Transparent

Common

The term 'ARCANE' refers to something that is known or understood by very few, mysterious, secret, obscure, or esoteric. Therefore, the incorrect answers 'Common', 'Transparent', and 'Accessible' do not align with the definition of 'ARCANE'.

Explanation

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7. IMPUGN

To challenge as false (another's statements, motives, etc.);cast doubt upon.attack, asperse, malign, criticize, censure.

Endorse

Admire

Embrace

The correct answer 'IMPUGN' means to challenge or cast doubt upon, which is the opposite of embracing, admiring, or endorsing something.

Explanation

The correct answer 'IMPUGN' means to challenge or cast doubt upon, which is the opposite of embracing, admiring, or endorsing something.

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8. What does it mean to DALLY?

1. to hurry; rush; expedite.

3. to ignore; neglect; disregard.

2. to focus; concentrate; deliberate.

1.to waste time; loiter; delay.2.to act playfully, esp. in an amorous or flirtatious way.3.to play mockingly; trifle: to dally with... 1.to waste time; loiter; delay.2.to act playfully, esp. in an amorous or flirtatious way.3.to play mockingly; trifle: to dally with danger.

DALLY means to waste time, act playfully, or play mockingly. It does not mean to hurry, focus, or ignore.

Explanation

DALLY means to waste time, act playfully, or play mockingly. It does not mean to hurry, focus, or ignore.

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9. What does the term 'flippant' mean?

Frivolously disrespectful, shallow, or lacking in seriousness;characterized by levity: The audience was shocked by hisflippant remarks about patriotism.

Honest and sincere

Formal and reserved

Serious and thoughtful

The term 'flippant' refers to an attitude or behavior that is not serious or respectful, often characterized by being shallow or lacking in seriousness. In this context, 'flippant' is the opposite of 'serious and thoughtful', 'honest and sincere', and 'formal and reserved.'

Explanation

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10. What does the term FRIABLE mean?

Easily crumbled or reduced to powder; crumbly: friable rock.

Stretchy and flexible

Sticky and gooey

Hard and solid

Friable refers to something that is easily crumbled or reduced to powder, making the correct answer the opposite of hard and solid, stretchy and flexible, or sticky and gooey.

Explanation

Friable refers to something that is easily crumbled or reduced to powder, making the correct answer the opposite of hard and solid, stretchy and flexible, or sticky and gooey.

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11. What is the definition of JEJUNE?

1. Full of excitement and energy: a jejune party. 2. Mature and knowledgeable: jejune responses. 3. Rich in flavor and... 1. Full of excitement and energy: a jejune party. 2. Mature and knowledgeable: jejune responses. 3. Rich in flavor and nutrients: a jejune meal.

1.without interest or significance; dull; insipid: a jejune novel.2.juvenile; immature; childish: jejune behavior.3.lacking knowledge or experience; uninformed: jejuneattempts to design... 1.without interest or significance; dull; insipid: a jejune novel.2.juvenile; immature; childish: jejune behavior.3.lacking knowledge or experience; uninformed: jejuneattempts to design a house.4.deficient or lacking in nutritive value: a jejune diet.

The correct answer defines 'jejune' as something that is lacking in interest, significance, or knowledge, and can also refer to immaturity or deficiency in value. The incorrect answers provided present different interpretations of 'jejune' that do not align with its actual meaning.

Explanation

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12. What does the term 'pedantic' mean?

1.ostentatious in one's learning.2.overly concerned with minute details or formalisms, esp. in teaching.

3. Showing off one's intelligence without substance.

2. Lacking attention to detail or accuracy.

1. Displaying great knowledge in a humble manner.

The correct definition of 'pedantic' involves being overly focused on minor details or formal rules, particularly in the context of teaching or learning.

Explanation

The correct definition of 'pedantic' involves being overly focused on minor details or formal rules, particularly in the context of teaching or learning.

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13. What does TAINT mean?

1. a pleasant scent or fragrance.

1.a trace of something bad, offensive, or harmful.2.a trace of infection, contamination, or the like.3.a trace of dishonor or discredit.

3. an indication of cleanliness or purity.

2. a sign of good luck or fortune.

TAINT means a trace of something negative or harmful, not something positive or pleasant.

Explanation

TAINT means a trace of something negative or harmful, not something positive or pleasant.

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14. What does the term TORPOR mean?

1.sluggish inactivity or inertia.2.lethargic indifference; apathy.3.a state of suspended physical powers and activities.4.dormancy, as of a hibernating animal.

3. hyperactivity and restlessness.

1. energetic activity and vitality.

2. alertness and attentiveness.

Torpor is a state of physical lethargy, inactivity, and dormancy. It is characterized by a lack of energy and sluggishness, not by high levels of activity, alertness, or hyperactivity.

Explanation

Torpor is a state of physical lethargy, inactivity, and dormancy. It is characterized by a lack of energy and sluggishness, not by high levels of activity, alertness, or hyperactivity.

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15. HALE

Being sick or weak; lacking vitality

Free from disease or infirmity; robust; vigorous: hale and heartymen in the prime of life.

Mentally unstable and confused

Fragile and delicate; easily broken

The correct definition of HALE is being free from disease or infirmity, robust, and vigorous, as seen in the phrase 'hale and hearty men in the prime of life.' The incorrect answers provided do not align with the definition of HALE.

Explanation

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16. BRAZEN

1.shameless or impudent: brazen presumption.2.made of brass.3.like brass, as in sound, color, or strength.brazen out / through, to... 1.shameless or impudent: brazen presumption.2.made of brass.3.like brass, as in sound, color, or strength.brazen out / through, to face boldly or shamelessly: Heprefers to brazen it out rather than admit defeat.

3. humble

1. shy

2. timid

The correct answer describes the word 'brazen' as shameless or impudent, made of brass, or bold in action. The incorrect answers shy, timid, and humble are the opposite in meaning to brazen.

Explanation

The correct answer describes the word 'brazen' as shameless or impudent, made of brass, or bold in action. The incorrect answers shy, timid, and humble are the opposite in meaning to brazen.

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17. What does the term 'citizenry' refer to?

A type of democracy

Citizens collectively.to placate an outraged citizenry.

A specific citizen's rights

A form of government

The term 'citizenry' refers to all citizens collectively, not to a type of democracy, form of government, or specific citizen's rights.

Explanation

The term 'citizenry' refers to all citizens collectively, not to a type of democracy, form of government, or specific citizen's rights.

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18. What does the acronym SERE stand for?

Safe Escape Recovery Exercise

Dry; withered.

Search, Evade, Rescue, Evade

Special Emergency Response Exercise

SERE stands for Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape. It is a program designed to train military personnel how to survive if they become isolated in enemy territory or taken as prisoners of war.

Explanation

SERE stands for Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape. It is a program designed to train military personnel how to survive if they become isolated in enemy territory or taken as prisoners of war.

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19. What does the term FEALTY mean?

Treason; disloyalty; infidelity

Disloyalty; betrayal; dishonesty

Apathy; indifference; negligence

Fidelity; faithfulness.loyalty, devotion.

Fealty is a term that signifies loyalty, faithfulness, and devotion to a person, cause, or country.

Explanation

Fealty is a term that signifies loyalty, faithfulness, and devotion to a person, cause, or country.

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