Words starting with F | Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) for GRE PDF Download

facetious: joking in an awkward or improper manner

His facetious sarcasm was inappropriate during his first staff meeting.

facilitate:  make easier; simplify

The new ramp by the door's entrance facilitated access to the building for those in wheelchairs.

facsimile:  copy; reproduction; replica

The facsimile of the elaborate painting was indistinguishable from the original.

faction:  a number of people in an organization working for a common cause against the main body

A faction of the student body supported the president's view.

fallacious: misleading

A used car salesman provided fallacious information that caused the naive man to purchase the old, broken car.

fallible: liable to be mistaken or erroneous

By not differentiating themselves from the popular band, the group was especially fallible.

fanatic:  enthusiast; extremist

The terrorist group was comprised of fanatics who wanted to destroy those who disagreed with them.

fastidious: difficult to please; dainty

The fastidious girl would not accept any offers as suitable.

The woman was extremely fastidious, as evident in her occasional fainting spells.

fathom:  to understand; a nautical unit of depth

It was difficult to fathom the reason for closing the institution.

The submarine cruised at 17 fathoms below the surface.

fatuous: lacking in seriousness; vain and silly

The fatuous prank was meant to add comedy to the situation.

His fatuous personality demands that he stop in front of every mirror.

fealty: loyalty

The baron was given land in exchange for his fealty to the king.

feasible: reasonable; practical

Increased exercise is a feasible means of weight loss.

fecund: productive

The construction crew had a fecund day and were able to leave early.

feign: pretend

It is not uncommon for a child to feign illness in order to stay home from school.

feint: to pretend to throw a punch, as in boxing; a fake show intended to deceive

The fighter feinted a left hook just before he went for the knockout.

ferment:  to excite or agitate

The rally cry was meant to ferment and confuse the opponent.

ferret:  to force out of hiding; to search for; a small, weasel-like mammal

The police will ferret the fugitive out of his hiding place.

I spent the morning ferreting for my keys I have a pet ferret.

fervent: passionate; intense

They have a fervent relationship that keeps them together every minute of every day.

fervid: intensely hot; fervent; impassioned

Her fervid skin alerted the doctor to her fever.

The fervid sermon of the preacher swayed his congregation.

fervor:  passion; intensity of feeling

The crowd was full of fervor as the candidate entered the hall.

fester:  to become more and more virulent and fixed

His anger festered until no one could change his mind.

fetid: having a smell of decay

The fetid smell led us to believe something was decaying in the basement.

fetish:  anything to which one gives excessive devotion

The clay figure of a fertility goddess was a fetish from an ancient civilization.

fetter:  a chain to bind the feet

A fetter kept the dog chained to the fence.

fickle: changeable; unpredictable

He is quite fickle; just because he wants something today does not mean he will want it tomorrow. Because the man was fickle he could not be trusted to make a competent decision.

fidelity:  faithfulness; honesty

His fidelity was proven when he turned in the lost money.

figment:  something made up in the mind

The unicorn on the hill was a figment of his imagination.

finesse:  the ability to handle situations with skill and diplomacy

The executor with the most finesse was chosen to meet with the diplomats.

finite: measurable; limited; not everlasting

It was discovered decades ago that the universe is not finite; it has unknown limits which cannot be measured.

The finite amount of stored food will soon run out.

fissure:  a cleft or crack

The earthquake caused a fissure which split the cliff face.

flaccid: lacking firmness

The old dog's flaccid tail refused to wag.

flag: to become weak; to send a message

The smaller animal flagged before the larger one.

flagrant: glaringly wrong

The flagrant foul was apparent to everyone.

flamboyant: being too showy or ornate

The flamboyant nature of the couple was evident in their loud clothing.

fledgling: inexperienced person; beginner

The fledgling mountain climber needed assistance from the more experienced mountaineers.

The course was not recommended for fledgling skiers.

flinch:  wince; drawback; retreat

The older brother made his younger sister flinch when he jokingly tried to punch her arm.

flippant: talkative; disrespectful

The youngsters were flippant in the restaurant.

The teacher became upset with the flippant answer from the student.

flout:  to mock or jeer

Do not flout an opponent if you believe in fair play.

fluency:  ability to write easily and expressively

The child's fluency in Spanish and English was remarkable.

The immigrant acquired a fluency in English after studying for only two months.

flux: a flow; a continual change

With the flux of new students into the school, space was limited.

foist: to falsely identify as real

The smuggler tried to foist the cut glass as a priceless gem.

foray: to raid for spoils, plunder

The soldiers were told not to foray the town.

forbearance: patience; self-restraint

He exhibited remarkable forbearance when confronted with the mischievous children.

forensic: pertaining to legal or public argument

The forensic squad dealt with the legal investigation.

formidable: something which causes dread or fear

The formidable team caused weak knees in the opponents.

fortitude: firm courage; strength

It is necessary to have fortitude to complete the hike.

fortuitous: happening accidentally

Finding the money under the bush was fortuitous.

foster:  encourage; nurture; support

A good practice routine fosters success.

After the severe storm the gardener fostered many of his plants back to health.

fractious: rebellious; apt to quarrel

Fractious siblings aggravate their parents.

fraught: loaded; charged

The comment was fraught with sarcasm.

frenetic: frenzied

A frenetic call was made from the crime scene.

fret:  to make rough or disturb

The pet will fret the floor if he continues to scratch.

frivolity: giddiness; lack of seriousness

The hard-working students deserved weekend gatherings filled with frivolity.

froward: not willing to yield or comply with what is reasonable

The executive had to deal with a froward peer who was becoming increasingly difficult.

frugality:  thrift; economical use or expenditure

His frugality limited him to purchasing the item for which he had a coupon.

Preparing to save money to send their daughter to college, the parents practiced extreme frugality for several years.

fulminate:  to blame, denunciate

It is impolite to fulminate someone for your mistakes.

Senator Shay fulminated against her opponent's double-standard on campaign finance reform.

fulsome: disgusting due to excess

The man became obese when he indulged in fulsome eating.

fundamental: basic; necessary

Shelter is one of the fundamental needs of human existence.

furtive: secretive; sly

The detective had much difficulty finding the furtive criminal.

fustian:  pompous talk or writing

The fustian by the professor made him appear arrogant.

futile: worthless; unprofitable

It was a futile decision to invest in that company since they never made any money.