Skip to content
GREMockTests
GRE vocabulary

apocryphal

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore A words

of doubtful authenticity, though widely circulated

Word origin: From Greek apokryphos, hidden or obscure, from apokryptein to hide away.

In a sentence

Apocryphal in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing apocryphal in a sentence.

The colorful story about the founder is almost certainly apocryphal.

The widely repeated tale of the inventor's deathbed confession turned out to be apocryphal.

Synonyms
dubiousunverifiedspurious
Antonyms
authenticgenuineverified
Usage & nuance

Using “apocryphal” well

Apocryphal describes a story of dubious authenticity that is nonetheless widely circulated. It does not mean simply false; it implies a claim that is popular yet unverified.

Common questions

Questions about “apocryphal

Apocryphal (adjective) means of doubtful authenticity, though widely circulated
Here is apocryphal used in an example sentence: "The colorful story about the founder is almost certainly apocryphal." Another example: "The widely repeated tale of the inventor's deathbed confession turned out to be apocryphal."
Common synonyms for apocryphal include dubious, unverified, spurious.
Antonyms of apocryphal include authentic, genuine, verified.
Apocryphal pairs with dubious, unverified, and spurious in GRE Verbal. Its antonyms authentic, genuine, and verified mark the confirmed truth a passage may set against it.
Yes. Apocryphal is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

Learn words the way the GRE tests them.

Vocabulary sticks when you meet it in real sentences. Practise these words inside text completion and sentence equivalence questions.