📘 30 Powerful GRE Vocabulary Words on Law, Logic, and Human Behavior (with Mnemonics)
Preparing for the GRE Verbal section?
Master this specially curated list of 30 high-frequency words that are commonly tested in the GRE Verbal Reasoning section—especially in Text Completion, Reading Comprehension, and Sentence Equivalence.
Each word includes its meaning, a GRE-style sentence, and an easy-to-remember mnemonic.
💡 GRE Word List (with Mnemonics)
| Word | Meaning | GRE Sentence Example | Mnemonic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accomplice | A person who helps in a crime | The accomplice was arrested alongside the main suspect. | Accompany in crime |
| Adjudicate | To judge or settle a legal dispute | The matter was adjudicated by the Supreme Court. | Judge + educate |
| Accord | An agreement or harmony | The nations reached an accord after lengthy negotiations. | Accord = According to agreement |
| Admonish | To firmly warn or reprimand | The teacher admonished the student for being disrespectful. | Ad + Monish (warnish) |
| Admonitory | Serving as a warning or reprimand | Her tone was admonitory, hinting at impending punishment. | Monitor tone |
| Accost | To approach aggressively and speak | He was accosted by a stranger demanding money. | A-cost = approach + cost |
| Acrimonious | Angry and bitter, especially in argument | Their divorce ended in an acrimonious court battle. | Acrid speech |
| Acrimony | Bitterness or ill feeling | The debate was full of acrimony. | Acrimony = Angry ceremony |
| Acquiesce | To accept without protest | She acquiesced to the committee’s decision. | Quietly agree |
| Adamant | Refusing to change one’s mind | He was adamant about not changing his vote. | Adam is firm |
| Addendum | An addition to a document | An addendum was added to the contract. | Add + end (at the end) |
| Adjunct | A non-essential addition | The adjunct professor taught part-time. | Added junk |
| Adage | A wise old saying | “Honesty is the best policy” is an adage. | Add + age = old saying |
| Acerbic | Harsh or sharp in tone | Her acerbic wit was both admired and feared. | Acid-like speech |
| Acrid | Sharp and harsh (usually in smell) | The acrid smoke from the fire was unbearable. | Acid = Acrid |
| Adept | Highly skilled or proficient | He is adept at solving complex problems. | Adapt + expert |
| Acquisitive | Eager to acquire and possess things | The company had an acquisitive strategy in the market. | Acquire + possessive |
| Adherent | A follower or supporter | The politician’s adherents defended his actions. | Adhere to idea |
| Accretion | Gradual buildup or growth | Coral reefs form through accretion of calcium. | Accumulate creation |
| Accrue | To accumulate or grow over time | Interest will accrue if you leave the money untouched. | Accumulate revenue |
| Actuate | To trigger or activate | The engineer actuated the system remotely. | Activate action |
| Acuity | Sharpness or keenness | The acuity of his vision is remarkable. | Acute eye |
| Acumen | Quick decision-making and insight | She has strong business acumen. | Accurate judgment |
| Acute | Sharp or severe; insightful | She has an acute sense of humor. | Acute angle = sharp |
| Addle | To confuse | The heat addled his brain. | Addled = scrambled egg |
| Addled | Confused or mentally disoriented | The old man was addled by medication. | Addled = muddled |
| Adapt | To adjust to new conditions | He adapted well to his new role. | Adjust + apt |
| Adequate | Sufficient in quantity or quality | The evidence was adequate for a conviction. | Equal + quality |
| Adhesive | Sticky; able to adhere | She used adhesive tape to seal the package. | Adhesive = sticks |
🎯 Practice Section: GRE Sentence Completion
1. The judge was called to ________ the dispute between the two companies.
A) admonish B) adjudicate C) abrogate D) abate
✅ Answer: B) adjudicate
2. Their conversation was filled with ________, making any resolution unlikely.
A) accord B) acquiescence C) acrimony D) affluence
✅ Answer: C) acrimony
3. Despite the pressure, she remained ________ in her decision to resign.
A) adept B) adamant C) admonitory D) accosted
✅ Answer: B) adamant
💬 GRE Verbal Tip of the Day
Beware of tone shifts in sentence completions.
Words like “however,” “although,” and “despite” usually signal a contrast. Always ask yourself: What role does the blank play in the sentence?
📅 Download Flashcards (PDF)
Download this list of 30 GRE vocabulary words with definitions, examples, and mnemonics in flashcard format for easy offline study.
👉 Click here to download Master Flashcards A31-A60
👉 Click here to download Master Flashcards A1-A30
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