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GRE vocabulary

GRE words starting with T

82 GRE-level words that begin with T, each with its part of speech, a plain-English definition, and an example sentence. Tap any word for synonyms, antonyms, and more.

tacitadjective

understood or implied without being openly stated

taciturnadjective

habitually reserved and uncommunicative in speech

tangentialadjective

only loosely relevant; diverging from the main point

tangibleadjective

perceptible by touch or concrete enough to be grasped

tangleverb

to twist together into a confused or knotted mass

tantamountadjective

equivalent in effect or value to something else

tarnishverb

to dull or damage the luster, reputation, or purity of something

tautologicaladjective

needlessly repeating an idea using different words

tautologynoun

needless repetition of the same idea in different words

tawdryadjective

cheap and showy in a way that lacks taste or quality

tediousadjective

tiresome because of length, dullness, or monotony

teemverb

to be full of or swarming with something

teemingadjective

swarming with or full of a great number of things

temeritynoun

reckless boldness or nerve disregarding danger

temperancenoun

moderation and self-restraint, especially in appetites

temporaladjective

relating to time or to worldly rather than spiritual affairs

temporizeverb

to stall or act evasively in order to gain time or avoid committing oneself

tenableadjective

able to be defended or maintained against objection

tenaciousadjective

holding firmly to a course, belief, or grip

tendentiousadjective

promoting a particular cause or viewpoint in a biased way

tenebrousadjective

dark, shadowy, and obscure

tenetnoun

a principle or belief held as part of a doctrine

tentativeadjective

not fully worked out, certain, or final; provisional

tenuousadjective

weak, slight, or lacking a solid basis

tepidadjective

lacking warmth, enthusiasm, or conviction

tergiversateverb

to avoid a clear statement by repeatedly shifting one's stance or making contradictory claims

tergiversationnoun

the act of evading by shifting one's position or deserting a stance previously held

terrestrialadjective

relating to the earth or land as opposed to water or air, or of this world rather than a celestial or spiritual one

terseadjective

brief and to the point, sometimes to the point of curtness

thrasonicaladjective

given to bragging or empty boasting in a swaggering manner

thriftlessadjective

wasteful and lacking economy or foresight with money

thwartverb

to prevent someone from accomplishing something; to frustrate a plan

timelyadjective

happening at a suitable or opportune moment

timorousadjective

showing or marked by fearfulness and lack of confidence

tiradenoun

a long, angry, and often abusive outburst of speech

toadynoun

a person who flatters and defers to others to gain favor

toadyismnoun

the habitual practice of fawning servility to win favor

toilverb

to work long and hard at something laborious

tomenoun

a large, heavy, often scholarly book

toploftyadjective

haughtily superior or condescending in attitude

torpidadjective

sluggish and inactive; lacking energy or motion

torpiditynoun

the condition of being dormant, sluggish, or inactive

torpornoun

a state of sluggish inactivity or mental dullness

torridadjective

intensely hot, or full of passionate intensity

tortuousadjective

full of twists, turns, or complicated indirectness

touchstonenoun

a standard or criterion by which something is judged

toutverb

to promote or praise energetically as superior

tractableadjective

easily managed, controlled, or shaped

traduceverb

to damage someone's reputation by speaking falsely or maliciously of them

tranquiladjective

calm, peaceful, and free from disturbance

transcendverb

to rise above or go beyond the limits of something

transgressverb

to violate a law, command, or moral boundary

transgressionnoun

an act that goes against a law, rule, or moral principle

transientadjective

lasting only a short time; impermanent

transitoryadjective

not permanent; existing only briefly

translucentadjective

allowing light to pass through but not fully transparent

transmuteverb

to change something into a different form or substance

transparentadjective

easily seen through or readily understood; open and honest

travestynoun

a grotesque or absurd imitation that distorts something serious

treacherousadjective

guilty of betrayal, or dangerously unstable and deceptive

tremulousadjective

shaking or quivering, often from fear or weakness

trenchantadjective

sharply incisive and effective in expression

trepidationnoun

a feeling of fear or anxiety about a coming event

tribulationnoun

a state of great trouble, suffering, or hardship

triflingadjective

of little value or importance; trivial

triteadjective

overused and therefore lacking freshness or originality

trivialadjective

of little importance, value, or seriousness

truantnoun

a person who stays away from duty or school without permission

truckleverb

to submit or yield meekly and obsequiously to another's will

truculencenoun

aggressive defiance and eagerness to fight or quarrel

truculentadjective

eager to argue or fight; aggressively defiant

truismnoun

a statement so obviously true it adds little to a discussion

trumperynoun

showy but worthless stuff or empty, specious pretense

truncateverb

to shorten by cutting off a part

tumbledownadjective

falling or fallen into ruin, dilapidated

tumultnoun

a loud, confused commotion or violent disturbance

tumultuousadjective

loud, excited, and emotional, or involving disorder and uproar

turbidadjective

cloudy or muddy from stirred-up sediment; confused

turgidadjective

swollen, or pompous and overblown in language

turpitudenoun

depravity or wickedness of character or action

tutelagenoun

instruction, guidance, or protective oversight by a teacher or guardian

tyronoun

a beginner or novice in some activity

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