prevaricate, inundate, upbraid, mitigate, eschew: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from GRE Vocabulary set 9. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. prevaricate · verb/prɪˈvɛrɪˌkeɪt/

   to speak or act in an evasive way

   When pressed for details about the project, she began to prevaricate, dodging the questions rather than providing clear answers.

   Synonyms: equivocate, deceive, lie

   Origin: The word 'prevaricate' originates from the Latin 'praevaricari,' meaning 'to walk crookedly or to stray.'

2. inundate · verb/ˈɪn.ənˌdeɪt/

   to overwhelm with a flood or a large amount of something

   The organization was inundated with requests for assistance after the natural disaster struck the region.

   Synonyms: flood, overwhelm, engulf

   Origin: from Latin 'inundare', from 'in-' meaning 'upon' and 'undare' meaning 'to wave or flood'.

3. upbraid · verb/ʌpˈbreɪd/

   to scold or criticize someone severely

   The teacher decided to upbraid the student for repeatedly coming to class late.

   Synonyms: rebuke, reprimand, scold

   Origin: Middle English 'upbraiden', from 'up-' + 'braiden', which means 'to reproach, scold'.

4. mitigate · verb/ˈmɪtɪˌɡeɪt/

   to make less severe, serious, or painful

   Implementing strict safety protocols can help to mitigate potential risks in the workplace.

   Synonyms: alleviate, reduce, diminish

   Origin: from Latin 'mitigare', which means 'to soften', derived from 'mitis' meaning 'soft' and 'agere' meaning 'to do or act'.

5. eschew · verb/ɪsˈtʃu/

   to deliberately avoid using or engaging in something

   Many health enthusiasts eschew processed foods in favor of whole, natural ingredients.

   Synonyms: avoid, shun, evade

   Origin: from Old French 'eschever', from Latin 'ex- + cavare' (to avoid).