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What exactly separates the toughest GRE words from the not so tough ones? Is it simply because these words are really obscure like “irrefrangible”? Is it because they are really long like “unprepossessing” or strange-looking like “quixotic”? Really, none of the above.
Hard GRE words are those that are difficult to remember or tough to wrap your head around. This can be because their meaning is nuanced and multilayered. For instance, the word “specious” means falsely attractive (learn more below!).
Another reason a tough GRE word can be hard to remember is it sounds or looks like another word. And here’s the kicker: that word often means something quite different. Many of the words in this article fall into this category.
Lastly, and this one is a real doozy, the difficult GRE word has two definitions both of which are opposite of each other. These types of words are known as “Janus words,” based on the Greek god Janus who has two faces (one happy, one sad), and are often the toughest GRE words.
In this article I share 12 of the most advanced GRE words, broken into three categories based on their difficulty. Each word includes full-descriptions, example sentences, and mnemonics to help you master these words.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- Why Studying Advanced GRE Vocabulary is Essential
- The Top 12 Tough GRE Words You Need to Know
- Effective Strategies to Learn Difficult GRE Words
- Practice GRE Questions with Challenging Vocabulary
- Conclusion: Conquer More Tough Words and Ace the GRE
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What’s Next?
Let’s begin by discussing why it’s important to learn advanced vocabulary for the GRE.
Why Studying Advanced GRE Vocabulary is Essential
For those looking to score well on the GRE, you have to do well on the first Verbal section. Doing so allows you to get the “hard Verbal section” as your second section, and getting the hard section means you’ll see more advanced vocabulary than you would on the easier sections.
Tough GRE vocabulary isn’t just plucked from the deepest recesses of the dictionary. These words tend to be used in academic discourse, as well as in publications such as The Economist. This advanced vocabulary tends to be difficult to memorize, either because it looks like other words (but means something different) or has a subtle definition. Sometimes both!
Words with these challenging characteristics tend to show up over and over again on the exam. They are high-frequency words that are also difficult words. Learning tough GRE words well — meaning understanding how they function in context — will give you an advantage on the exam. This is especially true on the more difficult Verbal section — the gateway to a high score.
TTP PRO TIP:
Make sure to start by learning the most common GRE words.
Now that we understand the importance of mastering advanced vocabulary, let’s examine the top 12 tough GRE words to learn.
The Top 12 Tough GRE Words You Need to Know
Here are the hardest GRE words broken up into three different tiers: top, upper, and still tricky. Even within these most difficult words, there are varying degrees of difficulty.
Top Tier
In the top tier are the most deceptive words on the GRE. Many have multiple, often contradictory meanings. As we learned in the intro, these kinds of words are known as Janus words. Put on your thinking hats because your brain is about to get some twisting!
1. Appropriate
Is this the most difficult GRE word? Well, it has three definitions, two of which are GRE words. The common definition, which you probably know, has nothing to do with the GRE definitions. And the two GRE definitions are Janus words. I know, how inappropriate!
GRE definition #1: to take by force. “Land appropriation” is a phrase that sometimes pops up in the news. This is when the government, or some other authority, seizes somebody’s land.
GRE definition #2: to allocate and give funds to. You often hear this in the context of an “appropriation committee,” which allocates funds or assets to another entity.
In other words, “appropriate” can either mean to strip someone of their possessions or to transfer over a possession. Here’s the tricky part—both meanings often appear in governmental contexts:
“The expanding city appropriated farmland from several families to build the new highway” (seize by force)
“Congress appropriated millions of dollars to fund the new education initiative” (allocate funds)
TTP PRO TIP:
Next time you see “appropriate” on the GRE, ask yourself: are they taking something away, or giving something out? The context will be your best friend here!
2. Enormity
You might have read or heard someone say, “the enormity of the situation” and not batted an eyelid. After all, doesn’t “enormity” mean something that is enormous? Well, traditionally “enormity” described something that was terribly wicked or evil.
Over time, though, people started to use “enormity” to describe something that is enormous. However, language purists — among whom you can certainly count the GRE test-makers — do not look fondly upon this colloquial usage. So, you have to “unthink” the many times you’ve probably heard this word misused.
GRE Definition: something terribly wicked or evil.
So, if you see it on the GRE, think “Wicked,” like the movie (though not like that film’s box office haul.) Here are two uses. See if you can spot which one the GRE would approve of:
“The enormity of the dictator’s crimes against humanity shocked the international court.”
“The enormity of the blue whale makes it difficult to study in captivity.”
The first sentence is correct because it refers to wickedness. The second is incorrect because we are talking about the blue whale’s enormous size, not its wickedness.
And more example sentences never hurt so here’s one more showing the correct use case.
“Voldemort’s enormity, as depicted in the Harry Potter series, is so great that others dare not even utter his name.”
TTP PRO TIP:
If you can replace “enormity” with “huge size” in the sentence, you’re probably dealing with the incorrect usage. If you can replace it with “extreme wickedness” or “moral horror,” you’re using it correctly!
3. Sanction
Thought those last two were confusing? This word might have the distinction of being the toughest GRE Word. Introducing the Janus word “sanction,” a word in which its two opposite meanings often show up in the same context. Take the following sentence:
The city government sanctioned the use of motorless scooters downtown.
Does that mean the city allows or does not allow motorless scooters downtown? I’m not sure, we’ll have to ask the city government. The good news is that on the GRE, the context will usually include other words to give you a better idea of which meaning they are using.
Still, that doesn’t make this word any easier to grapple with on the GRE, especially because it can also be used as a noun.
GRE Definition #1: punishments some authority imposes on some entity.
GRE Definition #2: to give official approval to.
Here are two sentence examples using the opposite definition of sanction in each:
The international community sanctioned the rogue nation for its failure to comply with laws governing the use of fossil fuels.
The outdoor auditorium had to spend several years obtaining permits before the city finally sanctioned its opening.
My hot take: sanction should be sanctioned on the GRE. (From the context above, you can probably guess which meaning I’m referring to.)
TTP PRO TIP:
Context is key to understanding which definition of “sanction” makes sense in a sentence.
4. Belie (v) – to expose as false vs. to disguise
“Belie,” the only top tier most difficult GRE word that is not a Janus word, can be difficult to grasp. But instead of just telling you, I’m going to show you. Below is what comes up when you google the definition (courtesy of Oxford Languages.)
What exactly does that first part of the first definition mean? And how does that relate to the second part, to “disguise or contradict”?
When something “belies” something else, there’s always a mismatch between appearance and reality. This can work in two ways:
GRE Definition #1: something’s appearance disguises its true nature.
“His lively, alert manner belied his years.” (He seems younger than he really is.)
GRE Definition #2: something exposes another thing as false.
“The notebooks belie Darwin’s later recollection.” (The notebooks show Darwin’s memory was wrong.)
Think of it like a detective story: sometimes appearances are hiding the truth (definition 1), and sometimes evidence exposes a lie (definition 2). Either way, what you see doesn’t match what’s real. Which definition is being used in the below sentence?
The oak tree’s withered trunk belied its true strength — it was one of few remaining trees in the wake of a powerful tornado. (Definition 1: to disguise)
TTP PRO TIP:
Whether something is hiding the truth or exposing it as false, “belie” signals that appearances are deceiving.
Upper Tier
Fortunately, no Janus words here. Nonetheless, this tier of hardest GRE words includes lookalikes or meanings that contradict what the word sounds like. Other words simply have nuanced definitions that take a bit of time to truly grasp.
5. Proscribe
It’s hard not to mix up “proscribe” with “prescribe.” After all, they differ by only one letter and when you say them really quickly, they sound the same. But think of it like this: doctors prescribe, governments proscribe.
“Take two and call me in the morning” is the quintessential doctorly prescription. Being told you can’t drive on the left side of the street or loiter in the park after dark is a government proscription. That is not to say that governments are the only ones that proscribe. Anyone vested with power who is prohibiting something is proscribing it.
GRE Definition: to prohibit.
The principal proscribed the use of electrical pencil sharpeners during class as she felt they disrupted the learning flow.
6. Specious
Specious has two elements going on, making it twice as sophisticated as your average GRE word. First off, something needs to appear attractive or authentic at first glance. But then, after more scrutiny, it reveals itself to be false.
Imagine two people debating. One makes a valid argument and then the other responds, using flashy words and clear diction. You find yourself nodding along to the response. But then you pause to think about what they’re actually saying. Under all the eloquence, the logic doesn’t come together: the second person used specious reasoning.
Specious is often used to describe claims or arguments but can describe anything that seems better on the surface than it actually is.
GRE Definition: something that appears true but is actually false.
The beautiful old Victorian house’s specious charm masked serious structural problems — what looked like original hardwood floors and ornate moldings were actually cheap modern imitations covering rotting beams.
The realtor’s specious claim that “home values in this area never go down” seemed convincing until buyers noticed he was only showing data from the last 2 years of a historic housing boom.
TTP PRO TIP:
When you see “specious” as an answer choice on the GRE, think of fool’s gold — shiny on the surface but worthless underneath.
7. Gainsay
It’s easy to think this word means something positive because it starts off with the word “gain.” However, the “gain” comes from some old English root meaning “against.” Not that anyone would know that! A good idea, then, is to remember that to gainsay something is to speak out against it.
Imagine a person who tries to contradict everything you say. For instance, you point out that it’s 83 degrees Fahrenheit outside. You even show them the weather app. But they still find a way to gainsay you (well, the “real feel” temperature is probably warmer!).
On the GRE, gainsaying often appears when discussing established theories or findings. Theories and claims are gainsaid (yep, that’s the correct past tense form), as are experts (by other experts, of course.)
GRE Definition: to deny, contradict, or declare false; to oppose.
While some historians attempted to gainsay the document’s authenticity, carbon dating confirmed it was indeed from the 12th century.
TTP PRO TIP:
When you see “gainsay” on the GRE, think “deny” or “contradict.” If someone is gainsaying something, they’re simply saying “no” to it.
8. Impugn
First off, this word looks like it shouldn’t even be a word, given how it ends in ‘pugn.’ How does one even say that?
But “impugn” (im-pyoon) is indeed a difficult GRE word, and it’s more specific than just criticizing someone. To impugn means to attack or criticize someone’s character, motives, or reputation, often in a way that casts doubt on their integrity. Think of it as criticism with a personal edge.
For instance, when a defense attorney cross-examines a witness, they might impugn the witness’s credibility by bringing up past dishonesty. Or during political debates, candidates often impugn their opponents’ motives rather than addressing the actual policy issues.
GRE Definition: To criticize or dispute; to attack as false or wrong.
The journalist’s article didn’t just disagree with the CEO’s business decisions—it impugned her character by suggesting she had a hidden financial agenda.
TTP PRO TIP:
When you think “impugn,” think “criticism with a personal edge.” You’re not just attacking an argument but attacking the person behind the argument.
Still Tricky
These hard GRE words share characteristics with some of the words above but aren’t quite as tricky. Still, they are difficult words to really wrap your head around and warrant being on this list of toughest GRE words.
9. Inure
At five short letters and no discernible roots, “inure” has very little for our minds to grasp onto. It means to get used to something negative. To become accustomed to the intrinsic difficulty of this word — or to become inured to “inure” — try to come up with relevant examples to your own life.
For example, you can become inured to the process of learning hundreds of GRE words by coming up with colorful mnemonics. You can become inured to cold weather by simply spending more time in cold climes. And you can become inured to criticism by reassuring yourself that you are surely not as bad as critics say.
On the GRE, inured often appears in more serious contexts, particularly when discussing how people adapt to harsh conditions or persistent negativity.
GRE Definition: To become accustomed to something negative or undesirable.
The workers had become so inured to the factory’s harsh conditions that they no longer noticed the constant noise and heat.
TTP PRO TIP:
Think of inure as being “in your” head. That is, the pain from the cold, noise, or heat (or whatever it is) is part mental, it’s “in your” head. Once you can convince yourself the discomfort is not that bad, you’ve become inured to it.
10. Fulsome
“Fulsome” is confusing because its colloquial use — “full and abundant” — matches up with the way it sounds. Like the word “enormity,” you have to unthink the common usage to learn the second definition, the one on the GRE.
GRE Definition: something so excessive it becomes insincere and off-putting. (Typically used to describe excessive praise or flattery).
Think of that person who compliments absolutely everything you do, to the point where you start doubting their sincerity. That’s fulsome praise. It’s not just enthusiastic — it’s overdone to the point of being suspicious.
The dictator’s speeches were met with fulsome applause from his terrified citizens, who knew the consequences of showing anything less than absolute adoration.
11. Obviate
This word is tough to remember because of its indelible link to the word “obvious.” However, the words “obviate” and “obvious” are not really connected.
GRE Definition #1: to eliminate the need for something.
The fact that everyone has their own smartphone has obviated the need for a landline.
Notice we say “obviated the need for” rather than just “obviated the landline.” “Obviate” typically pairs with abstract nouns like “need,” “use,” or “necessity.”
GRE Definition #2: to prevent something from happening.
The president’s veto of a controversial bill obviated the inevitable backlash.
While that distinction might not be (ahem) obvious, you can prevent something (like backlash) without eliminating the need for it. Similarly, you can eliminate the need for a landline, though you wouldn’t say “prevent the landline from occurring.”
Which definition of obviate does the following sentence use?
Diligent care of one’s automobile can obviate repairs down the road. (Definition 2: to prevent something from happening.)
TTP PRO TIP:
Think “obvious problem solver.” Obviate is about seeing a problem coming and either eliminating the need for something or preventing it entirely.
12. Facile
This word might jump out at you as being related to “facility,” as in she has a facility with words. However, “facile” describes a theory or explanation that lacks depth, failing to treat a complex issue with the nuance it deserves. The word comes from “ease” and is all about taking the easy road.
Typically, facile is used to describe thinking, where not much effort is involved and you’re just skimming the surface. While it might seem similar to “specious” (another tough GRE word), there’s an important distinction: specious arguments are fundamentally misleading or wrong, like fool’s gold, whereas facile arguments simply don’t dig deep enough.
You could have a facile analysis or explanation (one that lacks any depth) or a facile description. A facile description of vocabulary on the GRE Verbal section? It’s just a bunch of big words most people don’t know. That’s not entirely wrong but it only skims the surface. The “non-facile” take: GRE vocabulary features in academic settings but can also grace the pages of the New York Times. Here’s hoping that the entry of this complex word wasn’t facile!
GRE Definition: superficial ease or effortlessness.
The novelist felt the criticism leveled at her recent work was facile as it focused on surface embellishments rather than the deeper themes tying the work together.
TTP PRO TIP:
The key to “facile” is in the complexity. If something is complex, yet someone comes along and gives it a cursory treatment, that’s the perfect situation for “facile.”
Effective Strategies to Learn Difficult GRE Words
Now that you’ve been exposed to the toughest words on the GRE section, how do you retain them? One obvious method is GRE vocabulary flashcards, which I heartily endorse because they are effective. The TTP app offers customizable digital flashcards .
With these tough words, however, being able to parrot their definition from a flashcard is not the same as truly grasping them. To understand vocabulary, you have to be able to generate your own sentences, and you have to be able to do so without recently having looked at the definition. Meaning, reading the definition of “inure” and then instantly coming up with your own sentence isn’t going to help. You have to be able to wait 30 minutes after reading a word’s definition to come up with your own accurate sentence.
You’ll also have to make sure you correctly use the word, especially when the word has a complex meaning. “Belie” and “impugn” are two good examples above.
Comfortably wielding these difficult GRE words in writing, without looking them up, shows you’ve developed a deep understanding of them.
TTP PRO TIP:
As I’ve often done in this article (see “inure”), come up with your own creative way of remembering these words to help you recall their definitions and meanings.
Practice GRE Questions with Challenging Vocabulary
One other way that helps you recall difficult GRE words is through GRE practice vocabulary questions, where you see the words in context. Below I have some examples, from easiest to most difficult. Try not looking at the definitions of the words until you’ve completed the questions. This extra brain strain will help you develop a stronger connection with the word.
Questions
- The young professor’s seemingly rigorous methodology (i) _____ more fundamental issues with his research; what appeared to be thorough statistical analysis was actually a(n) (ii) _____ treatment of complex data that ignored crucial variables.
Blank (i)
- belied
- sanctioned
- obviated
Blank (ii)
- appropriate
- facile
- prosaic
- The critic’s colorful barbs and witty rejoinders often belied the (i) ______ of his commentary. Indeed, his own detractors often pointed out that the critic simply enjoyed (ii) ______ any film, offering superficial critiques dressed up in clever language.
Blank(i)
- fulsomeness
- speciousness
- proscription
Blank(ii)
- gainsaying
- impugning
- obviating
- The local paper’s editorial quipped that the city council was so dilatory in (i) ______ excessive noise after 10pm that by the time the noise ordinance was enacted the denizens had long become (ii)______ to the usual ruckus.
Blank (i)
- appropriating
- gainsaying
- proscribing
Blank (ii)
- fulsome
- inured
- belied
TTP PRO TIP:
Try to come up with your own word for the blanks and then match that word to an answer choice.
Explanations
Question 1:
The clue here is “seemingly rigorous.” The methodology looked good but it had “fundamental issues.” Aha! There’s a mismatch: the exterior seemed positive, but the interior was negative. That perfectly matches up with A) belied.
B) sanctioned doesn’t work in either sense of the word. You can’t punish nor approve issues. C) prosaic, while not on this list, is another good tough GRE vocab word. It means lacking originality. Not what we’re going for here!
For the second blank we need something that matches with the clue ‘treatment of complex…’ not giving complex information enough attention? That’s E) facile in a nutshell.
Question 2:
Here, we get “belied” in the sentence. The mismatch here is between his colorful writing style and his commentary. At the end of the sentence we get “superficial critiques.” this points to B) speciousness, which means superficially attractive.
For the second blank, the “any film” shows that the critic enjoys critiquing all movies. E) impugn is close but focuses more on attacking a person’s credibility. D) gainsaying is a great fit: according to the detractors, the critic enjoys speaking against any film.
Question 3:
This is a hard one. The word “dilatory” means slow to act. The time contrast “by the time that” signals that the denizens (city inhabitants) had become used to — E) inured — the excessive noise.
For the first blank, we need something around banning loud noises. This matches up with answer C) proscribing.
TTP PRO TIP:
Sometimes it’s easier to discern the correct word for the second blank. So, don’t get stuck on the first blank if you can’t think of a word. Read through the entire question before you answer.
Conclusion: Conquer More Tough Words and Ace the GRE
The 12 toughest GRE words listed above are a great step for any GRE aspirant, especially those looking for a top score. Make sure to use these words, writing example sentences with them.
That said, these words are only the beginning of your GRE journey into advanced vocabulary. While other hard words might not be as tricky, there are still dozens upon dozens for you to learn.
A great way to solidify the top 12 tough GRE words, as well as new tough GRE words you don’t know, is to look at a high-frequency word usage list. Then, find those words that you are totally unfamiliar with and/or that seem to have a complicated definition. Finally, use a great online flashcard deck that allows for spaced learning repetition.
Armed with this approach, you’ll be able to proscribe the appearance of tough words on the GRE — by that point, you’ll know them all!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. How do you memorize GRE words?
“Use it or lose it.” Learn five words at a time and then go for a walk. Try to recall those words and actively use them. Doing so is far more effective than reading a GRE word list for two hours. Mnemonics, where you come up with creative associations (as I’ve done in this article), is another good way to retain words in long-term memory.
Q. Can flashcards help with memorizing difficult GRE words?
Flashcards are another helpful tool to learn tough GRE words. They randomize the order of words. To maximize their effect make sure you use spaced repetition. That’s where you return to words you struggled with in fixed time internals. For instance, 2 hours after the first exposure, then 1 day, etc.
That said, flashcards should not make up the totality of your vocab practice. They often lead to a superficial understanding of the word, where you can parrot the definition but lack a good understanding of how the word functions in context. So make sure to supplement your learning with useful example sentences from this comprehensive vocabulary resource.
Q. Can I improve my GRE Verbal score by focusing on hard words?
The key is focusing on high-frequency GRE words. The words in this GRE vocabulary list are both high-frequency and hard. But while many words are hard words — tergiversate, polysemous, banausic — they aren’t likely to show up on the GRE.
A good idea is taking an excellent high-frequency word list and finding those words that you struggle with. These are your hard words: learn them and improve your score!
What’s Next?
Want to learn more GRE words? Read the Top X Most common GRE Words and 10 GRE Root Words and Prefixes You Should Know
Want a list of 1200 GRE vocabulary words? Download this free vocabulary PDF.
