GRE Vocabulary — Set 69

Set 69 of GRE Vocabulary covers 5 words: berate, exacerbate, alleviate, apprise, ascertain. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. berate · verb/bɪˈreɪt/

   to scold or criticize someone angrily

   The teacher decided to berate the students for their lack of preparation for the exam.

   Synonyms: rebuke, reprimand, scold

   Origin: from the prefix 'be-' meaning 'about' and 'rate' from Old French 'reprocher' or Latin 'reprehendere', meaning to seize or hold back; combined to suggest the act of holding someone back through criticism.

2. exacerbate · verb/ɪɡˈzæs.ər.beɪt/

   to make a problem, situation, or feeling worse

   The lack of sleep can exacerbate stress levels, making it harder to cope with daily challenges.

   Synonyms: aggravate, intensify, worsen

   Origin: derived from the Latin word 'exacerbare', which means 'to make harsh' or 'to irritate', composed of 'ex-' (intensifying prefix) and 'acer' (meaning sharp or bitter)

3. alleviate · verb/əˈliː.vi.eɪt/

   to make something less severe or intense

   The new medication helped to alleviate the pain in her back after the injury.

   Synonyms: ease, mitigate, relieve

   Origin: from Latin 'alleviare', meaning 'to lighten' or 'to relieve', composed of 'ad-' (to) and 'levis' (light)

4. apprise · verb/əˈpraɪz/

   to inform or notify someone about something

   Please apprise me of any updates regarding the project.

   Synonyms: inform, notify, alert

   Origin: from the Middle French 'appriser' meaning to assess or appraise, from 'a-' meaning to, and 'priser' meaning to taste or to prize.

5. ascertain · verb/ˌæsərˈteɪn/

   to find out or determine with certainty

   To ascertain the cause of the delay, the manager held a meeting with the team.

   Synonyms: discover, determine, establish

   Origin: Late Middle English: from Old French 'assertainir', from 'a' (to) + 'certain' (certain).