GRE Vocabulary

#721

pith

Noun

Example sentences

1. The pith of his message was simple: work together.
2. She quickly understood the pith of the argument.
3. The teacher asked us to explain the pith of the story.

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#722

pithy

Adjective

Example sentences

1. He gave a pithy answer in one sentence.
2. The poster uses a pithy slogan.
3. Her pithy comments were easy to remember.

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#723

pittance

Noun

Example sentences

1. He worked long hours for a pittance.
2. The family received only a pittance in compensation.
3. She sold the valuable painting for a pittance.

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#724

placate

Verb

Example sentences

1. The mother tried to placate the crying child.
2. The company offered a refund to placate customers.
3. His apology did not placate the angry crowd.

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#725

placid

Adjective

Example sentences

1. The lake was placid in the early morning.
2. She remained placid during the argument.
3. The baby had a placid expression.

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#726

platitude

Noun

Example sentences

1. The speech offered a platitude instead of a real solution.
2. He repeated the old platitude that time heals everything.
3. A simple platitude may sound empty during a crisis.

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#727

plodding

Adjective

Example sentences

1. The horse moved at a slow, plodding pace.
2. The book is careful but plodding.
3. His plodding work finally produced good results.

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#728

ploy

Noun

Example sentences

1. The free gift was a ploy to attract customers.
2. Pretending to be ill was only a ploy.
3. The politician used a clever ploy to change the subject.

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#729

plucky

Adjective

Example sentences

1. The plucky child faced the operation with courage.
2. A plucky team continued to fight after losing its best player.
3. Her plucky attitude inspired everyone.

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#730

poignant

Adjective

Example sentences

1. The film ends with a poignant farewell.
2. Her letter was simple and poignant.
3. The empty playground was a poignant reminder of the past.

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#731

polemic

Noun

Example sentences

1. He wrote a polemic against the new law.
2. The book is more of a political polemic than a history.
3. Her angry polemic divided the audience.

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#732

pollyannaish

Adjective

Example sentences

1. His pollyannaish view ignored the real risks.
2. She remained pollyannaish despite many warning signs.
3. The plan is too pollyannaish to handle serious problems.

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#733

ponderous

Adjective

Example sentences

1. The old book is long and ponderous.
2. A ponderous truck moved slowly up the hill.
3. His ponderous speech tired the audience.

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#734

pontificate

Verb

Example sentences

1. He likes to pontificate about subjects he barely understands.
2. The guest began to pontificate on how others should live.
3. She listened as the professor continued to pontificate.

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#735

portentous

Adjective

Example sentences

1. Dark clouds gave the sky a portentous look.
2. He spoke in a portentous voice about the future.
3. The sudden silence felt portentous.

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#736

posit

Verb

Example sentences

1. The study will posit a link between sleep and memory.
2. Let us posit that the information is correct.
3. Some scientists posit a different explanation.

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#737

powwow

Noun

Example sentences

1. The managers held a quick powwow before the meeting.
2. We need a short powwow to discuss the plan.
3. The team gathered for a private powwow.

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#738

pragmatic

Adjective

Example sentences

1. She took a pragmatic approach to the problem.
2. A pragmatic leader focuses on what can work.
3. The decision was practical and pragmatic.

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#739

precarious

Adjective

Example sentences

1. The ladder stood in a precarious position.
2. Many families live in a precarious financial situation.
3. The peace agreement remains precarious.

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#740

precedent

Noun

Example sentences

1. The decision may set a dangerous precedent.
2. The judge looked for a legal precedent.
3. There is no precedent for such a sudden change.

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