GRE Short Passages
The passages are meant to allow you practice the GRE words after learning them. They will help you recall the meaning.
Click on the word to see its meaning
Day 01
Set 01
Desiccated, Proselytize, Pellucid, Gumption, Bridle
Desiccated, Proselytize, Pellucid, Gumption, Bridle
Once a vibrant speaker brimming with gumption, the philosopher’s recent lectures have become desiccated, drained of the vitality that once drew crowds. Though his ideas remain pellucid—remarkably clear and logically coherent—his tendency to proselytize rather than persuade has begun to alienate his audience. Many now bridle at his dogmatic tone, feeling more lectured at than engaged, as if intellectual dialogue had given way to moral sermonizing.
Set 02
Unimpeachable, Enormity, Self-effacing, Coterminous, Elegiac
The professor, known for his unimpeachable reputation and self-effacing demeanor, delivered a lecture that was both elegiac in tone and intellectually invigorating. Reflecting on the enormity of historical tragedies, he reminded the audience that academic inquiry and moral responsibility are often coterminous—sharing boundaries in both scope and purpose. Though his insights were profound, he never sought praise, preferring instead to highlight the contributions of others, a trait that only deepened respect for his unimpeachable character.
Set 03
Conflagration, Unassailable, Impervious, Appropriate, Malingerer
What began as a minor policy dispute soon escalated into a political conflagration, engulfing the entire administration in controversy. While some officials scrambled to distance themselves, the press secretary maintained an unassailable calm, her statements impervious to critique and scrutiny. Meanwhile, critics accused certain members of the cabinet of attempting to appropriate the moral high ground, despite their complicit silence during the scandal’s early days. One particularly vocal detractor went so far as to brand the deputy minister a malingerer, suggesting he had feigned illness to avoid public accountability during the height of the crisis.
Set 04
Stultify, Internecine, Hauteur, Panegyric, Pontificate
The boardroom debate, meant to foster collaboration, quickly devolved into an internecine clash of egos, with factions tearing into each other’s proposals more out of pride than principle. At the center of the conflict stood the CEO, whose hauteur alienated even his allies. Rather than mediating, he chose to pontificate at length about leadership and vision, offering platitudes instead of solutions. His speech, which he likely envisioned as a panegyric to his own legacy, did little to inspire confidence. On the contrary, it served to stultify innovation, creating an atmosphere where fresh ideas withered under the weight of condescension and inertia.
Set 05
Transmute
Transmute, Proscribe, Turgid, Dolorous, Solicitous
Despite the artist’s attempt to transmute personal grief into something universally resonant, the result was a turgid display of self-indulgent melancholy that left critics unimpressed. The exhibition, laden with overwrought symbolism and meandering monologues, was intended to evoke empathy, but instead it alienated its audience. Even the most solicitous observers, eager to appreciate the emotional vulnerability on display, found themselves struggling to connect with the work’s dolorous tone and lack of clarity. Some cultural commentators went as far as to proscribe such artistic expressions, arguing that unfiltered emotional catharsis should not masquerade as profound art.
Day 02
Set 01
Complaisant, Mendicant, Impugn, Conflate, Obtuse
The senator’s complaisant aides, always eager to please, rarely challenged his decisions—even when they clearly led to public backlash. In contrast, a lone journalist, once dismissed as a mere mendicant for truth, tirelessly investigated the campaign’s finances. When she began to publicly impugn the integrity of certain donations, accusing the team of impropriety, the senator deflected, accusing her of trying to conflate minor oversights with deliberate fraud. Yet his most obtuse move was underestimating the intelligence of the electorate, who saw through the vague defenses and demanded transparency.
Set 02
Vaunted, Palatable, Tyro, Afford, Abjure
The startup’s vaunted technology, hailed as revolutionary in press releases, turned out to be far less impressive when scrutinized by experts. While the concept was palatable to investors—appealing enough to secure funding—it lacked practical application. The lead engineer, a tyro fresh out of graduate school, had enthusiasm but little real-world experience. The design, though ambitious, failed to afford any real advantage over existing solutions. Eventually, the company was forced to abjure its bold claims and revise its goals, publicly distancing itself from its earlier hyperbole.
Set 03
Sardonic, Oblique, Canard, Bereft, Exiguity
When the documentary on ancient exploration aired, viewers were struck by the narrator’s sardonic humor—his dry, almost mocking remarks added unexpected levity to the subject. One segment explored an old canard about a lost civilization supposedly buried beneath the ocean, a story long since debunked but still retold with fascination. The archaeologist interviewed gave an oblique answer when asked about his belief in the legend, hinting at possibilities without ever stating his view directly. The ruins themselves, bereft of any inscriptions or artifacts, offered little to support the myth. The team’s biggest challenge, however, was the exiguity of light in the cave—just enough to see, but not enough to photograph anything clearly.
Set 04
Officious, Obtain, Evanescent, Concomitant, Modicum
The intern’s officious behavior—constantly offering unwanted help and inserting herself into every discussion—quickly wore thin with the senior staff. Though her enthusiasm was noted, it wasn’t clear whether her suggestions obtained in the current context; many of her ideas, though theoretically sound, didn’t apply to the company’s real-world constraints. Her excitement, while genuine, proved evanescent, fading within weeks as the pace of the job caught up with her. Fatigue and frustration soon became concomitant with her daily routine, and even a modicum of encouragement from supervisors might have helped her stay engaged longer.
Set 05
Pillory, Lachrymose, Veritable, Capitulate, Despot
Though once hailed as a reformer, the ruler quickly revealed himself to be a veritable despot, suppressing dissent with a ruthlessness that shocked even his former supporters. Journalists who dared question his policies were publicly pilloried, not just figuratively but in broadcasts meant to humiliate and silence. As resistance movements faltered under harsh crackdowns, their leaders were forced to capitulate, abandoning their causes in exchange for leniency. The population, weary and disillusioned, grew increasingly lachrymose, mourning not only lost freedoms but the betrayal of their hopes.
Day 03
Set 01
Debauchery, Exorbitant, Repudiation, Seasoned, Forthright
The senator’s downfall was precipitated by allegations of prolonged debauchery, which sharply contrasted with his once wholesome public image. Critics seized on the opportunity, calling his actions not merely irresponsible but emblematic of the exorbitant privileges afforded to those in power. His televised repudiation of the claims—though lengthy—struck many as evasive and insincere. In contrast, a more seasoned colleague offered a forthright assessment of the scandal, acknowledging its validity while calling for a more accountable political culture.
Set 02
Poignant, Trenchant, Egalitarian, Ebullient, Dissipate
The documentary offered a poignant look at communities displaced by industrial expansion, its emotional depth accentuated by a trenchant critique of unchecked corporate power. While the film advocated for an egalitarian approach to resource distribution, its message was delivered with such ebullient energy that even the most skeptical viewers were drawn in. Sadly, much of the initial momentum for reform would soon dissipate, lost in bureaucratic delays and squandered opportunities for real change.
Set 03
Enamored, Cataclysm, Loath, Frivolous, Estimable
Despite being enamored with the idea of a career in art, Jane soon realized that her initial enthusiasm was not enough to shield her from the harsh realities of the profession. The financial instability she faced, along with the looming threat of a cataclysm in the industry due to new technological changes, made her deeply loath to continue pursuing a path that seemed increasingly uncertain. Many of her peers, however, remained committed to what they saw as a noble cause, refusing to be swayed by the frivolous distractions that often accompanied fame. Jane, although uncertain, still held her mentor in high regard for being an estimable figure who had endured many of the same challenges.
Set 04
Infelicitous, row, adjudicate, raillery, halcyon
In the midst of the row between the two factions, the council convened to adjudicate the matter. The dispute, which had begun with infelicitous remarks, quickly escalated into heated arguments. Though the atmosphere was initially charged with tension, a few moments of raillery from an onlooker lightened the mood, reminding everyone of the more peaceful days, or the halcyon period, when such disagreements were rare. However, the council’s task remained clear: to restore order and resolve the conflict without further rancor.
Passage 05
Demonstrative, Hoodwink, Eponym, Bastardization, Flag (Wane)
The professor was demonstrative in his explanations, eager to clarify every concept, but some students still felt hoodwinked by the overly complex jargon. The eponym of the theory, a celebrated mathematician, would likely have disagreed with the bastardization of his original ideas. As the debate continued, it became clear that the excitement surrounding the theory had begun to flag, much like the interest in the subject itself.