veracious, verdant, voluptuous, voracious, wan: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from GRE Vocabulary set 200. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. veracious · adjective/vəˈreɪ.ʃəs/

   habitually truthful and accurate

   Her veracious accounts of the events were trusted by everyone in the community.

   Synonyms: truthful, honest, accurate

   Origin: from Latin 'verax', meaning 'truthful, true', from 'verus', meaning 'true'.

2. verdant · adjective/ˈvɜr.dənt/

   green with grass or other rich vegetation

   The hikers were delighted to discover the verdant landscape filled with vibrant wildflowers.

   Synonyms: lush, green, leafy

   Origin: derived from the Latin word 'viridans', meaning 'to be green'

3. voluptuous · adjective/vəˈlʌp.tʃu.əs/

   characterized by luxury, sensuality, or physical pleasure

   The voluptuous curves of the sculpture captured the attention of everyone in the gallery.

   Synonyms: sensuous, luscious, curvaceous

   Origin: from Latin 'voluptuosus', meaning 'full of pleasure', from 'voluptas', meaning 'pleasure'

4. voracious · adjective/vəˈreɪʃəs/

   having a huge appetite or eagerness for something

   She has a voracious appetite for reading, devouring several books each week.

   Synonyms: insatiable, ravenous, greedy

   Origin: From Latin 'vorax' meaning 'devouring' or 'greedy', which is derived from 'vorare', meaning 'to devour'

5. wan · adjective/wɔn/

   pale and weak in appearance

   After weeks of illness, she appeared wan and fragile, her once vibrant complexion now dull and lifeless.

   Synonyms: pale, ashen, sallow

   Origin: Middle English 'wan', from Old English 'wān' meaning 'lacking color, pale'.