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    GMAT Vocabulary List: A-Z Words to Know for GMAT 2025

    So, you're gearing up for the GMAT Focus Edition, and you know that a strong vocabulary is needed to ace the Verbal Reasoning section. 

    While Sentence Correction may no longer feature in the new GMAT format, don’t be fooled, vocabulary is still very much at the heart of the exam. 

    But here's the twist: the GMAT doesn't just test isolated words; it challenges you to understand and apply vocabulary in context. 

    Whether you're attempting Reading Comprehension or Critical Reasoning, having a strong vocabulary is absolutely needed.

    GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section

    As per the latest GMAT exam pattern, the Verbal Reasoning section is designed to test your ability to understand, analyse, and evaluate written material. This section includes two major components:

    • Reading Comprehension: You’ll be asked to read and interpret passages that test your ability to extract meaning, make inferences, and apply information.

    • Critical Reasoning: Here, you’ll evaluate and strengthen arguments, identify flaws, and draw logical conclusions.

    While both sections test your vocabulary, the key to success lies in understanding how words function in context. It’s not about memorising a list of words, it's about knowing how they’re used in sentences to shape meaning.

    How Does GMAT Evaluate Vocabulary Skills? 

    In the GMAT Focus Edition, your vocabulary skills are tested indirectly through reading and reasoning tasks. The test doesn’t ask you for a simple definition of words but expects you to comprehend and interpret them within complex passages. Here’s how it works:

    • In Reading Comprehension, words will appear in passages, and you must use context to understand their meaning. The ability to identify subtle differences in meaning is critical.

    • In Critical Reasoning, the vocabulary you encounter here will test your understanding of arguments, conclusions, and reasoning. You’ll need to be able to interpret tricky terms and phrases that carry significant weight in an argument.

    It’s less about memorising individual words and more about understanding how they work together in larger contexts. Essentially, the GMAT tests your ability to read, reason, and make sense of the information presented.

    GMAT Vocabulary List

    The right words can make all the difference in understanding complex questions and answering them accurately. This A-Z GMAT vocabulary list covers essential words frequently tested on the exam, helping you expand your vocabulary and improve your score: 

    Word

    Meaning

    Example

    A

       

    Abridge

    to shorten or condense, especially in writing

    The editor decided to abridge the long article to fit within the magazine’s word limit.

    Altruistic

    Unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others

    His altruistic behaviour made him beloved by all his colleagues.

    Ambivalent

    Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something

    She was ambivalent about accepting the job offer because it required relocating.

    Arduous

    Involving a lot of effort and difficulty

    Climbing the mountain was an arduous task, requiring hours of intense effort.

    Austere

    Severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance

    The austere decor in the office made the space feel cold and unwelcoming.

    B

       

    Benevolent

    Well-meaning and kindly

    The benevolent philanthropist donated a large sum to the children’s hospital.

    Blatant

    Very obvious, unashamed

    His blatant disregard for the rules surprised everyone in the meeting.

    Brusque

    Short, abrupt, and often rude

    His brusque response left everyone at the table in silence.

    Brevity

    Concise and exact use of words

    The brevity of her speech was appreciated, as it was to the point.

    Baffled

    Puzzled or confused

    The confusing instructions left the students completely baffled.

    C

       

    Cognizant

    Aware or conscious of something

    He was cognizant of the challenges ahead but was determined to succeed.

    Credible

    Believable or trustworthy

    The report from the scientist was credible and highly regarded by experts.

    Contrive

    to create or bring about through skill or planning

    The team contrived a brilliant solution to the complex problem.

    Complacent

    Showing uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements

    She was complacent with her recent successes, not realising she could achieve more.

    Cursory

    Hasty and therefore not thorough

    The manager gave a cursory glance at the report before approving it.

    D

       

    Diligent

    Showing care and effort in one’s work

    She was diligent in preparing for the GMAT, revising every day.

    Dubious

    Doubtful or uncertain

    His dubious explanation did not convince the audience.

    Defer

    to postpone or delay

    The meeting was deferred until the following week due to unforeseen circumstances.

    Diminish

    to make or become less

    The manager’s praise for the project did not diminish the hard work required.

    Discord

    Disagreement or lack of harmony

    There was discord within the team over the project’s direction.

    E

       

    Eclectic

    Deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad range of sources

    His eclectic music taste included everything from jazz to techno.

    Epitome

    A perfect example of something

    She was the epitome of professionalism during the conference.

    Exacerbate

    to make a situation worse

    His comments only served to exacerbate the tense atmosphere.

    Exuberant

    Full of energy, excitement, or cheerfulness

    The exuberant crowd cheered as the team scored the winning goal.

    Eloquent

    Fluent or persuasive in speech or writing

    Her eloquent presentation won the admiration of the entire room.

    F

       

    Frugal

    Economical, avoiding waste

    His frugal lifestyle meant he always looked for the best deals when shopping.

    Fervent

    Having or displaying passionate intensity

    She gave a fervent speech about the importance of education.

    Feasible

    Possible and practical

    The new strategy was feasible within the company's current resources.

    Fallacious

    Based on a mistaken belief or unsound reasoning

    His fallacious argument failed to persuade the jury.

    Facilitate

    to make an action or process easier

    The new software will facilitate the entire data analysis process.

    G

       

    Gratuitous

    Unnecessary or unwarranted

    His gratuitous comments about her appearance were uncalled for.

    Gregarious

    Sociable, outgoing

    He was a gregarious host, making everyone feel welcome at the party.

    Grandiose

    Impressive or magnificent but impractical

    The grandiose plans for the new building were eventually scaled down.

    Garrulous

    Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters

    His garrulous nature made it difficult to get any work done.

    Guile

    Sly or cunning intelligence

    The detective’s guile helped him solve the complex case.

    H

       

    Hubris

    Excessive pride or self-confidence

    His hubris led him to believe he could complete the project without any help.

    Heinous

    Shockingly wicked or criminal

    The heinous crime shocked the entire community.

    Hapless

    Unfortunate or unlucky

    The hapless traveller lost his passport just before his flight.

    Hallowed

    Revered or honoured as holy

    The hallowed tradition of family dinners was upheld every Sunday.

    Harmonic

    Forming a pleasing or consistent whole

    The team’s harmonic collaboration led to a successful project.

    I

       

    Indifferent

    Having no particular interest or sympathy

    She was indifferent to the outcome of the game as it didn’t affect her.

    Infallible

    Incapable of making mistakes

    His method for solving the equation seemed almost infallible.

    Inevitable

    Certain to happen, unavoidable

    The collapse of the building seemed inevitable given the structural damage.

    Ingenuous

    Innocent, simple, and frank

    The ingenuous child asked the most straightforward questions.

    Incisive

    Clear, sharp, and direct

    His incisive remarks left no room for debate.

    J

       

    Juxtapose

    to place two things side by side for comparison

    The artist chose to juxtapose modern art with classical works in the exhibit.

    Jaded

    Tired, bored, or lacking enthusiasm

    After years of working in the same field, she felt jaded by the routine.

    Jovial

    Cheerful and friendly

    His jovial attitude made him the life of the party.

    Judicious

    Showing good judgment or sense

    The judicious decision to invest in stocks paid off handsomely.

    Jarring

    Causing a shock or conflict in a way that is unpleasant

    The jarring noise from the construction site interrupted the meeting.

    K

       

    Keen

    Having a sharp or intense feeling or perception

    She had a keen interest in environmental issues, often volunteering for campaigns.

    Knavery

    Dishonesty or trickery

    The politician was exposed for his knavery in the funding scandal.

    Kinetic

    Related to or produced by motion

    The kinetic energy of the car during the crash was enormous.

    Kudos

    Praise and recognition for an achievement

    He received kudos from his colleagues for the innovative solution.

    Kindred

    Related or similar in character or nature

    They felt a kindred connection, as both were passionate about animal rights.

    L

       

    Lethargic

    Sluggish and lacking in energy

    She felt lethargic after the long flight and needed some rest.

    Luminous

    Emitting light, bright

    The luminous glow of the streetlights made the night seem magical.

    Laudable

    Worthy of praise or approval

    Her efforts to improve the community were laudable.

    Lugubrious

    Looking or sounding sad and dismal

    The film’s lugubrious atmosphere left the audience in tears.

    Lacklustre

    Lacking energy, enthusiasm, or brightness

    His lacklustre performance in the competition surprised his fans.

    M

       

    Meticulous

    Showing great attention to detail

    She was meticulous in checking her GMAT answers before submitting them.

    Morose

    Sullen, gloomy, or depressed

    His morose attitude made it difficult for him to enjoy the celebration.

    Munificent

    Very generous

    The munificent donation helped build a new wing in the hospital.

    Malleable

    Capable of being shaped or influenced

    His ideas were malleable, allowing the team to adjust to new perspectives.

    Monotonous

    Lacking in variety or interest; dull

    The monotonous lecture made it hard to stay focused during the session.

    N

       

    Nefarious

    Wicked or criminal

    The nefarious plot was uncovered before it could cause harm.

    Nostalgic

    Feeling sentimental or wistful about the past

    She felt nostalgic about her childhood as she walked through the old park.

    Nebulous

    Vague, unclear

    His explanation was nebulous, leaving everyone confused about his point.

    Noxious

    Harmful, poisonous

    The noxious chemicals in the factory caused environmental damage.

    Nuance

    A subtle difference or distinction

    The artist captured the nuance of light in her painting perfectly.

    O

       

    Ominous

    Threatening or giving the impression of impending danger

    The ominous clouds signaled an approaching storm.

    Opulent

    Wealthy or luxurious

    The opulent mansion had every amenity imaginable.

    Obsolete

    Outdated or no longer in use

    The old model was considered obsolete after the new version was released.

    Ostentatious

    Characterised by vulgar or pretentious display

    His ostentatious display of wealth made him unpopular with his peers.

    Onerous

    Involving heavy obligations or burdensome

    The onerous task of preparing for the GMAT left him feeling exhausted.

    P

       

    Plausible

    Seemingly reasonable or likely to be true

    His explanation sounded plausible, so the team accepted it.

    Pragmatic

    Dealing with things sensibly and realistically

    She took a pragmatic approach to solving the problem at work.

    Prolific

    Producing large quantities or volumes of something

    The prolific writer produced several best-selling novels in a year.

    Pensive

    Engaged in serious thought, often wistful or reflective

    He sat in a pensive mood, contemplating his future after the exam.

    Perfunctory

    Done with minimal effort or attention

    His perfunctory response did not address the concern effectively.

    Q

       

    Quixotic

    Extremely idealistic, unrealistic

    His quixotic vision of changing the world was inspiring but impractical.

    Quaint

    Attractively unusual or old-fashioned

    The quaint village was the perfect place for a peaceful retreat.

    Quintessential

    Representing the most perfect or typical example of something

    The British tea ceremony is the quintessential English tradition.

    Querulous

    Complaining in a petulant or whining manner

    The querulous customer demanded a refund for a minor issue.

    Quell

    to suppress or put an end to something, especially a rebellion

    The authorities quickly quelled the protests with force.

    R

       

    Resilient

    Able to recover quickly from difficult conditions

    His resilient attitude helped him bounce back from failure.

    Recalcitrant

    Stubbornly disobedient or resistant to authority

    The recalcitrant student refused to follow the school's rules.

    Ravenous

    Extremely hungry

    After the long hike, we were ravenous and devoured everything in sight.

    Recondite

    Difficult to understand, obscure

    The professor’s recondite lecture left many students feeling lost.

    Rhetoric

    The art of persuasive speaking or writing

    His use of rhetoric was so effective that it convinced everyone in the room.

    S

       

    Sagacious

    Wise and showing good judgment

    Her sagacious advice helped me prepare for the challenges ahead.

    Sycophant

    A person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage

    The sycophant constantly flattered the manager to gain favours.

    Soporific

    Tending to induce sleep or drowsiness

    The lecture was so soporific that half the class fell asleep.

    Serene

    Calm, peaceful, and untroubled

    The serene atmosphere of the lake helped him clear his mind.

    Superfluous

    Exceeding what is necessary or required

    His superfluous comments only distracted from the main discussion.

    T

       

    Tantamount

    Equivalent in seriousness or effect

    His failure to meet the deadline was tantamount to a breach of contract.

    Trivial

    Of little importance or significance

    The arguments were trivial compared to the bigger issues at hand.

    Tantivy

    At a rapid pace, often used in reference to galloping

    The horse rode tantivy towards the finish line, winning the race.

    Trepidation

    A feeling of fear or anxiety

    He approached the final question with trepidation, unsure of the answer.

    Tenuous

    Very weak or slight

    His argument was based on tenuous reasoning, which weakened his point.

    U

       

    Ubiquitous

    Present, appearing, or found everywhere

    Mobile phones have become ubiquitous in modern society.

    Unilateral

    Done or decided by only one person or group

    The unilateral decision to cancel the meeting left others disappointed.

    Uncouth

    Lacking good manners or refinement

    His uncouth behaviour at the dinner table embarrassed his family.

    Undermine

    to weaken or harm something gradually or covertly

    His comments were designed to undermine her authority in the workplace.

    Usurp

    to take a position of power or importance illegally or by force

    The general tried to usurp the throne from the rightful king.

    V

       

    Voracious

    Having a very eager approach to something, especially eating

    He had a voracious appetite and devoured the entire pizza in minutes.

    Vicarious

    Experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another

    She lived vicariously through her friend’s adventures around the world.

    Venerable

    Commanding respect due to age or dignity

    The venerable professor was admired by all his students.

    Vocal

    Expressing opinions openly and strongly

    She was vocal about the need for environmental reform.

    Volatile

    Likely to change rapidly and unpredictably

    The volatile stock market made investors nervous.

    W

       

    Wistful

    Longing or yearning for something, often in a melancholic way

    She looked at the old photos with a wistful smile, missing the past.

    Whimsical

    Playfully quaint or fanciful

    His whimsical idea of turning the office into a treehouse was met with amusement.

    Warranted

    Justified or deserved

    Her actions were warranted given the circumstances.

    Wane

    to decrease in size, extent, or degree

    The moon began to wane, fading into the horizon.

    Wily

    Skilled at gaining an advantage through trickery

    His wily manoeuvres during the negotiation won him the contract.

    X

       

    Xenophobic

    Having or showing a dislike of people from other countries

    The xenophobic comments were met with immediate disapproval.

    Xerophyte

    A plant that can survive in dry conditions

    Cactus plants are xerophytes that thrive in arid deserts.

    Xenial

    Hospitable, especially to strangers

    Their xenial hospitality made visitors feel right at home.

    Xenogeny

    The origin of something foreign or from outside a particular group

    The study of xenogeny explores how cultures adopt foreign practices.

    X-factor

    A noteworthy special talent or quality

    His charisma and leadership skills were his X-factor in landing the role.

    Y

       

    Yen

    A strong desire or craving

    She had a yen for adventure and longed to travel the world.

    Yielding

    Giving way under pressure, flexible

    The tree’s branches were yielding in the strong wind, bending but not breaking.

    Yoke

    to join together, or something that binds

    The yoke of responsibility was heavy, but she bore it gracefully.

    Yonder

    Over there, at some distance

    The castle stood yonder, visible against the setting sun.

    Yowl

    A loud, wailing cry, especially of animals

    The cat let out a loud yowl when it was startled.

    Z

       

    Zealous

    Showing great enthusiasm or energy for a cause

    He was zealous in his support for the local charity.

    Zigzag

    A pattern of sharp turns or angles

    The path to the summit was a zigzag, winding up the steep hill.

    Zephyr

    A gentle breeze, often from the west

    The zephyr cooled us as we sat on the beach at sunset.

    Zenith

    The highest point or peak

    The company reached its zenith in the late 1990s before its decline.

    Zany

    Amusingly unconventional or eccentric

    His zany antics always made the group laugh.

    How to Improve GMAT Vocabulary?

    In comparison to the GRE, the vocab is tested through reading comprehension and critical thinking. So, to know the GMAT English vocabulary, we have shortlisted some of the best strategies which can help you to improve your knowledge of GMAT words.

    1. Read Magazines & Newspapers

    The most reliable way of learning new GMAT words is through reading books, newspapers and magazines. to score well in the GMAT verbal reasoning section, you must be familiarised with the sophisticated English language. In addition to reading story books, you must also read magazines and newspapers such as The Economist, New York Times, National Geographic and Scientific American to gain indispensable knowledge on GMAT vocabulary.

    2. Make A List Of Important Vocabulary Words

    Make a comprehensive list of all the new vocabulary words you come across along with their meanings. to give an overview we have compiled the most updated GMAT vocabulary list 2025.

    3. Make Vocabulary Flashcards

    The best way to learn and memorise new words is by making your own GMAT vocabulary flashcards. These flashcards will contain the new vocab words and its usage in context to sentences. If you do not want to prepare manual flashcards, you can use digital flashcards and keep a track of your progress. Take up 5-10 words every day and reshuffle the flashcard deck once you have learned them.

    4. Practise GMAT Mock Tests

    Whether you are a fresher or repeat test-taker, practising GMAT sample questions will help you get prepared for the actual test day. You can take the GMAT™ Official Starter Kit + Practice Exams 1 & 2 for free to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, you can take Kaplan's GMAT Test Practice and Magoosh GMAT Practice Test for some extra practice.

    5. Use Apps For Vocab Practice

    GMAT preparation apps will help you study for GMAT on the go. You can stay updated with the GMAT vocabulary list 2025 with the help of below-listed applications:

    • Manhattan Prep GMAT
    • Ready4 GMAT (Prep 4 GMAT)
    • GMAT Exam Prep (Pocket Prep, Inc.)
    • Economist GMAT Tutor
    • GMAT Prep Course (Veritas Prep)

    Best Books for Practicing GMAT Vocabulary 

    to truly master the vocabulary required for the GMAT, having the right resources is key. Here are some of the best books to help you along the way:

    1. The Official Guide for GMAT Review: This book is a staple for anyone preparing for the GMAT. It includes a section dedicated to verbal reasoning, which naturally integrates vocabulary words into context-based questions, offering a solid foundation for vocabulary development.

    2. Manhattan Prep GMAT Vocabulary Flashcards: Aimed specifically at building your GMAT vocabulary, this set of flashcards covers over 500 words commonly tested on the exam. With its compact design, you can review words anywhere, anytime, perfect for busy schedules.

    3. Kaplan GMAT Vocabulary Prep: This vocabulary book features a strategic focus on essential GMAT words, categorising them based on their likelihood to appear on the exam. The easy-to-understand explanations, example sentences, and helpful mnemonic devices make learning fun and memorable.

    4. Barron’s GMAT Vocabulary: If you're looking for a comprehensive approach, Barron’s offers a detailed guide packed with over 1,000 words, complete with meanings, sample sentences, and practice questions. The book also helps with idioms, a critical aspect of GMAT verbal reasoning.

    5. GMAT Word Problems (Verbal Workbook): A specialised workbook that includes vocabulary learning with verbal reasoning skills. This book helps strengthen your grasp on word meanings by testing you on their usage in various contexts.

    From the Desk of Yocket

    While preparing for the GMAT Focus Edition, don’t underestimate the power of vocabulary. Even though Sentence Correction is gone, strong vocabulary is still vital, especially for Verbal Reasoning. It's not about memorising lists but understanding how words function in context.

    With Yocket Prep, you’ll get targeted practice and tools to strengthen your vocabulary and ace the GMAT. Practising with these words daily will boost your skills for both the test and beyond.Good luck with your prep!

    Frequently Asked Questions on GMAT Vocabulary

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