GRE Vocabulary Mastery

Rote memorization fails under pressure. To crack the GRE Verbal section, you need to connect words through Roots, Semantic Clusters, and Context.

Strategy 1: The Power of Root Words

60% of English words come from Latin or Greek. If you learn one root, you unlock dozens of words. Here are the "High-Yield" roots you must know.

BEN / BONGood / Well

Beneficial: Favorable, helpful.

Benevolent: Well-meaning, kind.

Bona fide: Genuine, real.

MAL / MALEBad / Evil

Malevolent: Having a wish to do evil.

Malign: To speak about someone in a spitefully critical manner.

Maladroit: Ineffective or clumsy.

LOQ / LOCSpeak / Talk

Loquacious: Talkative.

Eloquent: Fluent or persuasive in speaking.

Circumlocution: Using many words where fewer would do.

Strategy 2: Semantic Clusters

The GRE loves "Sentence Equivalence" questions where you must find two words that mean the same thing. Don't learn A-Z; learn by Topic.

Words for "Brief" or "Silent"

These words describe someone who speaks very little or something that is short and to the point.

TaciturnLaconicReticentTerseCurtConciseSuccinct
Words for "Criticize" or "Harsh"

The GRE loves conflict. These words describe harsh criticism or aggressive verbal attacks.

TiradeDiatribeCastigateLambasteVituperateExcoriateHarangue

Context is King

Don't just learn the definition.

The GRE tests secondary meanings and usage.

Example: You know "Flag" means a banner. But on the GRE, "to flag" often means "to lose energy or decline" (e.g., "His enthusiasm flagged after 3 hours").

Our interactive lessons teach you these nuances.

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