Core GMAT Vocabulary Words (50+)
Strong vocabulary is a crucial skill for success on the GMAT, especially in the Verbal Reasoning and Reading Comprehension sections.
This list of 50 advanced words has been curated to match the style and level of GMAT passages. Each word includes a clear definition, its essence (or word sense), example usage, and a practice MCQ to reinforce learning.
acumen
Example: Her financial acumen helped the firm navigate a volatile quarter.
‘Acumen’ most nearly means:
aggregate
Example: In aggregate, the three divisions generated $12M in revenue.
In finance, ‘aggregate’ most nearly means:
ambiguous
Example: The CEO’s ambiguous memo left teams unsure about priorities.
An ‘ambiguous’ statement is:
anomaly
Example: The spike in churn was an anomaly linked to one region.
An ‘anomaly’ in data is best described as an:
articulate
Example: She was articulate in outlining the merger rationale.
An ‘articulate’ presenter is most likely:
assert
Example: The analyst asserted that the valuation was conservative.
To ‘assert’ a claim is to:
astute
Example: Her astute negotiation saved the company 12% in costs.
An ‘astute’ decision is:
buttress
Example: New customer testimonials will buttress the marketing claims.
To ‘buttress’ an argument is to:
candor
Example: We value candor in post‑mortems to improve quickly.
‘Candor’ most nearly means:
consensus
Example: The team reached consensus on the product roadmap.
‘Consensus’ refers to:
contention
Example: A key contention was whether to prioritize growth over profit.
A ‘contention’ in an argument is a:
delineate
Example: The proposal delineates the KPIs for each quarter.
To ‘delineate’ a plan is to:
disparate
Example: We analyzed disparate data sources to triangulate insights.
‘Disparate’ most nearly means:
empirical
Example: The recommendation is grounded in empirical results from A/B tests.
An ‘empirical’ approach relies on:
extrapolate
Example: We extrapolated Q4 demand from Q2 and Q3 trends.
To ‘extrapolate’ is to:
feasible
Example: Given the budget, a phased rollout is most feasible.
A ‘feasible’ plan is:
mitigate
Example: A hedge can mitigate currency risk.
To ‘mitigate’ risk is to:
paradigm
Example: The SaaS paradigm changed how software is delivered.
A ‘paradigm’ is a:
scrutinize
Example: Investors scrutinized the company’s cash‑flow statements.
To ‘scrutinize’ a report means to:
substantiate
Example: Please substantiate your forecast with market data.
To ‘substantiate’ a claim is to:
tenuous
Example: The argument for expanding overseas was tenuous at best.
A ‘tenuous’ claim is:
ubiquitous
Example: Mobile payments have become ubiquitous in urban centers.
‘Ubiquitous’ most nearly means:
validate
Example: The survey validated our assumptions about customer needs.
To ‘validate’ a result is to:
vindicate
Example: Strong quarterly results vindicated the risky strategy.
To ‘vindicate’ a decision is to:
volatile
Example: Energy prices remain highly volatile this year.
A ‘volatile’ market is:
warrant
Example: The evidence does not warrant further investigation.
To ‘warrant’ action is to:
zealous
Example: The manager was zealous about hitting every KPI.
‘Zealous’ most nearly means:
adversarial
Example: Negotiations turned adversarial after the initial offer.
An ‘adversarial’ relationship is:
alleviate
Example: The policy aims to alleviate the tax burden on startups.
To ‘alleviate’ pain is to:
antithesis
Example: His cautious style was the antithesis of her boldness.
‘Antithesis’ most nearly means:
circumspect
Example: Investors were circumspect after last year’s losses.
A ‘circumspect’ manager is:
cohesive
Example: The report was cohesive and easy to follow.
A ‘cohesive’ argument is:
convoluted
Example: The legal contract was so convoluted that few understood it.
‘Convoluted’ most nearly means:
criterion
Example: Profitability is one criterion for evaluating new ventures.
A ‘criterion’ is a:
didactic
Example: The case study had a didactic purpose for new MBA students.
A ‘didactic’ lecture is meant to:
elicit
Example: The survey elicited candid feedback from employees.
To ‘elicit’ a response means to:
fluctuate
Example: Currency values fluctuate daily in global markets.
When values ‘fluctuate’, they:
implicit
Example: There was implicit trust between the partners.
An ‘implicit’ agreement is:
inherent
Example: There are inherent risks in investing in startups.
An ‘inherent’ quality is:
lucid
Example: Her lucid explanation simplified a complex theory.
A ‘lucid’ explanation is:
meticulous
Example: The accountant was meticulous in checking every transaction.
A ‘meticulous’ person is:
mitigate
Example: Insurance helps mitigate financial losses.
To ‘mitigate’ risk means to:
obfuscate
Example: The report was written to obfuscate the real issues.
To ‘obfuscate’ means to:
paradigm
Example: The company became a paradigm of innovation.
A ‘paradigm’ is a:
pragmatic
Example: She took a pragmatic approach to solving the budget issue.
A ‘pragmatic’ solution is:
precarious
Example: The startup was in a precarious financial position.
A ‘precarious’ situation is:
quintessential
Example: He is the quintessential entrepreneur—driven and innovative.
‘Quintessential’ most nearly means:
redundant
Example: The report was filled with redundant phrases.
‘Redundant’ information is:
salient
Example: The report highlighted the salient points of the discussion.
A ‘salient’ feature is:
succinct
Example: Her presentation was succinct and impactful.
A ‘succinct’ explanation is: