30 Must-Know GRE Vocabulary Words with Mnemonics – Set A5
Introduction
Learning GRE vocabulary with mnemonics can dramatically enhance your verbal reasoning performance, especially in Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence, and Reading Comprehension. This fifth A-word vocabulary set (Set A5) focuses on words related to duality, emotion, conflict resolution, science, and clarity. All 30 words include definitions, GRE-style example sentences, and mnemonic tricks to help you memorize faster and retain longer. Download your flashcards and quiz yourself at the end!
💡 GRE Vocabulary List (With Mnemonics)
| Word | Meaning | GRE Sentence Example | Mnemonic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aloof | Emotionally distant | He remained aloof during the debate. | Roof = high = distant |
| Amicable | Friendly without conflict | Their breakup was surprisingly amicable. | Amicable = no animosity |
| Amiable | Pleasant and friendly | She had an amiable smile. | Ami = friend |
| Amity | Friendship and harmony | The two nations signed a treaty of amity. | Amity = am + unity |
| Altruism | Selfless concern for others | His altruism led him to volunteer at the shelter. | Always true = Altruism |
| Ambivalence | Contradictory feelings | She felt ambivalence about the job offer. | Ambi = both + valence = value |
| Ambivalent | Having mixed feelings | He was ambivalent toward his promotion. | Ambi = dual + valent = feel |
| Amenable | Open to suggestions | She was amenable to trying new strategies. | Amen! = agreeable |
| Amuse | To entertain or make someone laugh | The comedian’s jokes amused the audience. | Amuse = make muse (laugh) |
| Altercation | A loud or angry dispute | The neighbors had a loud altercation. | Alter = change + cation = clash |
| Amnesty | Official pardon | The prisoners received amnesty from the president. | Amnesia = forget = forgive |
| Amend | To change formally for improvement | The constitution was amended last year. | Amend = fix, make amends |
| Ameliorate | To improve or make better | Policies were introduced to ameliorate poverty. | Ameliorate = Make better |
| Ambiguous | Unclear or open to multiple meanings | The contract language was ambiguous. | Ambi = both + guess |
| Analogous | Comparable or similar | The heart is analogous to a pump. | Analog = analogy |
| Ampere | Unit of electric current | The device draws 2 amperes of current. | Amp = current |
| Analgesic | Pain reliever | He took an analgesic for his back pain. | Ana = without + gesic = pain |
| Amphibian | Animal that lives on land and water | Frogs are classic amphibians. | Amphibian = both environments |
| Amble | To walk slowly or leisurely | We ambled through the park at sunset. | Ramble = amble |
| Ambulatory | Able to walk | Post-surgery, she was finally ambulatory. | Ambulance = moving |
| Amputate | Surgically remove a limb | Doctors had to amputate the infected leg. | Amp = remove part |
| Amorphous | Lacking a clear shape | The idea was still amorphous in her mind. | Morph = shape + A = not |
| Amplify | Increase intensity or volume | The microphone amplified his voice. | Amp = increase |
| Anachronism | Something out of place in time | A smartphone in a medieval film is an anachronism. | Chron = time + ana = against |
| Anachronistic | Outdated or placed in the wrong era | The outfit was anachronistic in the modern city. | Not chrono = wrong time |
| Anarchy | Absence of government or control | The country plunged into anarchy after the coup. | No arch = no ruler |
| Ample | More than enough | The room had ample space for everyone. | Ample = a lot |
| Amenity | Useful or pleasant feature | The hotel offered all modern amenities. | Amen = feel good |
| Amalgamate | To combine into one | The companies amalgamated to form a giant. | Amalgam = mix |
| Ambidextrous | Skilled with both hands | Being ambidextrous gave her an edge in fencing. | Ambi = both + dexterous = hands |
GRE Sentence Completion Practice – Duality & Emotion
1. She remained ________ at the party, avoiding most conversations.
A) amicable B) aloof C) affable D) agile
✅ Answer: B) aloof
2. The message was so ________ that it could be interpreted in two different ways.
A) ambiguous B) amenable C) analytical D) altruistic
✅ Answer: A) ambiguous
3. The revolutionary group called for total ________ and the removal of all government control.
A) advocacy B) amendment C) anarchy D) adversity
✅ Answer: C) anarchy
💬 Verbal Reasoning Tip of the Day
Words like ambivalent, ambiguous, and amorphous may appear similar but differ in application.
- Ambivalent = mixed feelings
- Ambiguous = unclear meaning
- Amorphous = no definite shape or structure
Knowing these distinctions boosts sentence completion accuracy.
📥 Download GRE Flashcards – Set A5
🎓 Reinforce your vocabulary with a handy set of printable flashcards.
👉 📥 Download Master Flashcards A121 – A150
📚 Resources
Here are all GRE blog posts in this vocabulary series. Continue your learning:
