GMAT RC Vocab - GMAT Specific GMAT Notes | EduRev

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GMAT RC - High Frequency Vocab 
 
1. Supposedly: used to show that you do not believe that something you have been told is true 
Well, the tickets are supposedly in the mail. 
 
2. Laudable: (of actions and behaviour) deserving praise, even if there is little or no success 
a laudable aim/ambition 
The recycling programme is laudable, but does it save much money? 
 
3. Radically: believing or expressing the belief that there should be great or extreme social or 
political change 
He was known as a radical reformer/thinker/politician. 
These people have very radical views. 
 
4. Paltry: low in quality 
She made some paltry excuse and left. 
 
5. Outrageous: describes something or someone that is shocking because they are unusual or 
strange 
outrageous clothes/behaviour 
an outrageous character 
 
6. Thereby: as a result of this action 
Diets that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol tend to clog up our arteries, thereby 
reducing the blood flow to our hearts and brains. 
 
7. Bulging: to stick out in a round shape 
Her bags were bulging with shopping. 
 
8. Clandestine: planned or done in secret, especially describing something that is not officially 
allowed 
The group held weekly clandestine meetings in a church. 
He has been having a clandestine affair with his secretary for three years. 
 
9. Provenance: he place of origin of something 
jewels of uncertain provenance 
This raised doubts about the provenance of the painting. 
 
10. Geologically active: It describes the ongoing changes to the surfaces of terrestrial worlds. 
This is because terrestrial surfaces change over time. The moon and mercury are considered 
geologically dead because their surfaces have remained the same for billions of years. 
 
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GMAT RC - High Frequency Vocab 
 
1. Supposedly: used to show that you do not believe that something you have been told is true 
Well, the tickets are supposedly in the mail. 
 
2. Laudable: (of actions and behaviour) deserving praise, even if there is little or no success 
a laudable aim/ambition 
The recycling programme is laudable, but does it save much money? 
 
3. Radically: believing or expressing the belief that there should be great or extreme social or 
political change 
He was known as a radical reformer/thinker/politician. 
These people have very radical views. 
 
4. Paltry: low in quality 
She made some paltry excuse and left. 
 
5. Outrageous: describes something or someone that is shocking because they are unusual or 
strange 
outrageous clothes/behaviour 
an outrageous character 
 
6. Thereby: as a result of this action 
Diets that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol tend to clog up our arteries, thereby 
reducing the blood flow to our hearts and brains. 
 
7. Bulging: to stick out in a round shape 
Her bags were bulging with shopping. 
 
8. Clandestine: planned or done in secret, especially describing something that is not officially 
allowed 
The group held weekly clandestine meetings in a church. 
He has been having a clandestine affair with his secretary for three years. 
 
9. Provenance: he place of origin of something 
jewels of uncertain provenance 
This raised doubts about the provenance of the painting. 
 
10. Geologically active: It describes the ongoing changes to the surfaces of terrestrial worlds. 
This is because terrestrial surfaces change over time. The moon and mercury are considered 
geologically dead because their surfaces have remained the same for billions of years. 
 
 
 
11. Ethos: the set of beliefs, ideas, etc. about social behaviour and relationships of a person or group 
national ethos 
working-class ethos 
12. Indignities: a loss of respect or self-respect, or something which causes this 
lint suffered the indignity of being called 'Puppy' in front of his girlfriend. 
 
13. Perceptible: that can be seen, heard or noticed 
There was a barely perceptible movement in his right arm. 
The past year has seen a perceptible improvement in working standards. 
 
14. Longstanding: having existed for a long time 
a long-standing agreement 
 
15. Allegiance: loyalty and support for a ruler, country, group or belief 
Soldiers must swear allegiance to the Crown/the King. 
 
16. Terrestrial: "Terrestrial" means "pertaining to land". The word comes from the latin root "terre" 
(pronounced "tare"), meaning "land", and is related to the word "terrain". 
 
17. Confront: to face, meet or deal with a difficult situation or person 
As she left the court, she was confronted by angry crowds who tried to block her way. 
 
18. Arboreal: of or living in trees 
arboreal animals 
Many people believe that humans evolved from arboreal ancestors. 
 
19. To wiggle: to (cause to) move up and down and/or from side to side with small quick movements 
He tried wiggling the control stick but nothing happened. 
She wiggled her toes in the water. 
 
20. Pragmatic: solving problems in a realistic way which suits the present conditions rather than 
obeying fixed theories, ideas or rules 
In business, the pragmatic approach to problems is often more successful than an idealistic one. 
 
21. Rhetoric: speech or writing which is intended to be effective and influence people 
How far the president will be able to translate his campaign rhetoric into action remains to be 
seen. 
 
22. Pivotal: central and important 
a pivotal figure/role/idea 
 
23. Unwittingly: without knowing or planning 
Page 3


 
 
GMAT RC - High Frequency Vocab 
 
1. Supposedly: used to show that you do not believe that something you have been told is true 
Well, the tickets are supposedly in the mail. 
 
2. Laudable: (of actions and behaviour) deserving praise, even if there is little or no success 
a laudable aim/ambition 
The recycling programme is laudable, but does it save much money? 
 
3. Radically: believing or expressing the belief that there should be great or extreme social or 
political change 
He was known as a radical reformer/thinker/politician. 
These people have very radical views. 
 
4. Paltry: low in quality 
She made some paltry excuse and left. 
 
5. Outrageous: describes something or someone that is shocking because they are unusual or 
strange 
outrageous clothes/behaviour 
an outrageous character 
 
6. Thereby: as a result of this action 
Diets that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol tend to clog up our arteries, thereby 
reducing the blood flow to our hearts and brains. 
 
7. Bulging: to stick out in a round shape 
Her bags were bulging with shopping. 
 
8. Clandestine: planned or done in secret, especially describing something that is not officially 
allowed 
The group held weekly clandestine meetings in a church. 
He has been having a clandestine affair with his secretary for three years. 
 
9. Provenance: he place of origin of something 
jewels of uncertain provenance 
This raised doubts about the provenance of the painting. 
 
10. Geologically active: It describes the ongoing changes to the surfaces of terrestrial worlds. 
This is because terrestrial surfaces change over time. The moon and mercury are considered 
geologically dead because their surfaces have remained the same for billions of years. 
 
 
 
11. Ethos: the set of beliefs, ideas, etc. about social behaviour and relationships of a person or group 
national ethos 
working-class ethos 
12. Indignities: a loss of respect or self-respect, or something which causes this 
lint suffered the indignity of being called 'Puppy' in front of his girlfriend. 
 
13. Perceptible: that can be seen, heard or noticed 
There was a barely perceptible movement in his right arm. 
The past year has seen a perceptible improvement in working standards. 
 
14. Longstanding: having existed for a long time 
a long-standing agreement 
 
15. Allegiance: loyalty and support for a ruler, country, group or belief 
Soldiers must swear allegiance to the Crown/the King. 
 
16. Terrestrial: "Terrestrial" means "pertaining to land". The word comes from the latin root "terre" 
(pronounced "tare"), meaning "land", and is related to the word "terrain". 
 
17. Confront: to face, meet or deal with a difficult situation or person 
As she left the court, she was confronted by angry crowds who tried to block her way. 
 
18. Arboreal: of or living in trees 
arboreal animals 
Many people believe that humans evolved from arboreal ancestors. 
 
19. To wiggle: to (cause to) move up and down and/or from side to side with small quick movements 
He tried wiggling the control stick but nothing happened. 
She wiggled her toes in the water. 
 
20. Pragmatic: solving problems in a realistic way which suits the present conditions rather than 
obeying fixed theories, ideas or rules 
In business, the pragmatic approach to problems is often more successful than an idealistic one. 
 
21. Rhetoric: speech or writing which is intended to be effective and influence people 
How far the president will be able to translate his campaign rhetoric into action remains to be 
seen. 
 
22. Pivotal: central and important 
a pivotal figure/role/idea 
 
23. Unwittingly: without knowing or planning 
 
The two women claimed they were the unwitting victims of a drugs dealer who planted a large 
quantity of heroin in their luggage. 
 
24. Employ: to spend time doing something 
He was busily employed in lacing up his shoes. 
25. Acquisition: the process of getting something 
The acquisition of huge amounts of data has helped our research enormously. 
:something that someone buys, often to add to a collection of things 
The museum has been heavily criticized over its acquisition of the four-million-dollar sculpture. 
 
26. Carding: to ask someone to show you a document, especially an identity card, in order to prove 
how old they are 
 
27. Positing: to suggest something as a basic fact or principle from which a further idea is formed or 
developed 
If we posit that wage rises cause inflation, it follows that we should try to minimize them. 
 
28. Rearing: the practice of looking after children until they are old enough to look after themselves 
Why shouldn't a woman have a job after years of child-rearing?