GRE Vocabulary — Set 126

Set 126 of GRE Vocabulary covers 5 words: discreet, ravenous, abject, pugnacious, covert. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. discreet · adjective/dɪsˈkrit/

   showing careful judgment in speech or action to avoid causing offense or revealing confidential information

   She was very discreet in handling sensitive information about her colleague's personal life.

   Synonyms: tactful, cautious, prudent

   Origin: from Latin 'discretus', meaning 'separated', from 'discernere' meaning 'to separate, distinguish'

2. ravenous · adjective/ˈræv.ən.əs/

   extremely hungry or famished

   After the long hike, we were all ravenous and couldn't wait to eat the delicious feast prepared for us.

   Synonyms: starving, famished, voracious

   Origin: Derived from Middle English 'ravinous', from Old French 'ravineux', from 'ravine' meaning to seize, from Latin 'rapere' meaning to seize or carry off.

3. abject · adjective/ˈæb.dʒɛkt/

   extremely bad, unpleasant, or degrading

   After losing his job and facing financial struggles, he fell into abject poverty, forced to live on the streets.

   Synonyms: wretched, miserable, pitiful

   Origin: from Latin 'abjectus', meaning 'thrown away, cast off' (past participle of 'abjacere').

4. pugnacious · adjective/pʌɡˈneɪʃəs/

   eager or quick to argue or fight

   His pugnacious attitude often led to heated debates with his colleagues.

   Synonyms: belligerent, combative, quarrelsome

   Origin: from Latin 'pugnax', meaning 'inclined to fight', from 'pugnare', to fight

5. covert · adjective/ˈkoʊ.vɜrt/

   not openly acknowledged or displayed

   The organization conducted a covert operation to gather intelligence without attracting attention.

   Synonyms: hidden, secret, clandestine

   Origin: from Old French 'covert', from Latin 'covertus', meaning covered or concealed