GRE words starting with O
98 GRE-level words that begin with O, each with its part of speech, a plain-English definition, and an example sentence. Tap any word for synonyms, antonyms, and more.
a stupid, clumsy, or boorish person
stubbornly refusing to change one's mind or course of action
a gesture or attitude of deep respect or submission
showing deferential respect or submissive obedience
a tapering stone pillar with a pyramidal top, typically erected as a monument
grossly overweight to a degree that poses a health risk
to make something deliberately unclear or confusing
the act of making something deliberately unclear or confusing
tending to make something deliberately obscure, confusing, or unclear
to scold or rebuke someone sharply
a harsh rebuke or severe scolding
expressing harsh rebuke or scolding
a thing offered or presented to a deity or for a religious purpose
required by rule, law, or custom
not expressed or done directly; slanting or evasive
the quality of being indirect, devious, or evasive; a divergence from moral rectitude
to destroy or wipe out completely
the state of being completely forgotten or of being unconscious of one's surroundings
completely unaware of what is happening around one
strong public criticism or verbal abuse, and the disgrace it brings
extremely unpleasant or objectionable in behavior or character
to darken, dim, or obscure as if with a cloud
the deliberate prevention of clarity or opposition to enlightenment
not clearly understood, or little known
excessively eager to please or obey, in a fawning way
an idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person's mind
a hard, dark, glass-like volcanic rock formed by the rapid solidification of lava
becoming obsolete, gradually passing out of use
no longer in use or out of date
stubbornly unwilling to change opinion or behavior
noisy and difficult to control
to impose oneself or one's ideas on others without invitation
noticeable in an unwelcome, intrusive way
to blunt or dull the force, sharpness, or sensitivity of something
slow to understand or perceive; lacking sharpness of mind
to prevent or make unnecessary by anticipating in advance
to block, close up, or obstruct a passage or opening
hidden from ordinary understanding or relating to the supernatural
a physician who specializes in diseases and care of the eyes
extremely unpleasant and deserving of hatred
widespread hatred or disgust directed at someone
having or giving off a strong, often unpleasant smell
the waste parts or organs of a butchered animal, or refuse and rubbish generally
done or said casually, without prior thought or preparation
asserting authority or offering help in an annoying, intrusive way
relating to the sense of smell
a form of government in which power rests with a small elite group
suggesting that something bad is about to happen
having unlimited or very great power
present everywhere at the same time
having unlimited or complete knowledge of everything
eating both plants and animals, or consuming everything available with great eagerness
involving a heavy, burdensome amount of effort or difficulty
the formation of a word that phonetically imitates the sound it describes
a fierce or destructive attack or surge of something overwhelming
showing shifting changes in color like those of an opal
hard to understand, or not allowing light to pass through
something that numbs the senses, dulls awareness, or causes passive acceptance
to state one's opinion
well suited to a particular moment; timely
expressing scornful reproach or carrying great disgrace
harsh public condemnation and the disgrace that follows wrongdoing
best or most favorable under a given set of circumstances
great wealth and luxuriousness displayed in a lavish manner
displaying great wealth and luxury
an artistic or literary work, especially one regarded as major
obscurely portentous, as if delivering ambiguous prophecies
a formal, often elaborate, public speech
a large-scale musical composition for orchestra and voices on a sacred or serious theme, performed without costumes or staging
the art of formal, eloquent public speaking
to order or decree something officially or by authority
an authoritative order or law issued by a government, especially a local municipality
the process of becoming familiar with a new situation, or the determination of one's position relative to surroundings
an opening, especially one in the body such as a nostril or mouth
elaborately or heavily decorated
the scientific study of birds
having a full, rich, pompous quality in voice or style; overly grand in manner
conforming to established or traditional beliefs and practices
the conventional spelling system of a language and the rules that govern it
to move or swing back and forth, or to waver between options
drowsy inattentiveness, often expressed through yawning
drowsily inattentive and prone to yawning
turned into bone or bony tissue, or made rigid and unable to change through habit or convention
to become rigid or fixed in habit and resistant to change
appearing to be true on the surface but possibly not genuine
marked by a showy display intended to impress others
exclusion from a group or society by general consent as a form of punishment
to exclude someone from a group or society
serving no useful purpose; pointless or superfluous
strange, bizarre, or unconventional to the point of seeming absurd
no longer fashionable or useful; out of date
to surpass or exceed someone or something in growth, achievement, or performance
an enthusiastic and prolonged display of public approval
to make someone or something seem less important or significant by comparison
done or shown openly, not hidden
an opening move or proposal intended to start something
showing excessive confidence, pride, or presumption
extremely agitated, or excessively elaborate in style
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