GRE Word List N

nadir lowest point; point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith
naivet\’e(naivety) quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity; artlessness; gullibility; ADJ. naive(na\”ive): ingenuous; lacking worldliness; simple; credulous
narcissist conceited person; N. narcissism; CF. narcissus
narrative related to telling a story; N: narrated account; story; V. narrate: tell (a story); CF. narration
nascent incipient; coming into being or existence; Ex. nascent ability in music
natal connected with birth; CF. prenatal; CF. postnatal
natation swimming
natty neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart; Ex. natty dresser
nausea feeling of sickness and desire to vomit; disgust; CF. seasickness
nauseate cause to become sick; fill with disgust; fill nausea
nauseous causing nausea; feeling nausea
nautical pertaining to ships or navigation
navigable (of a body of water) wide and deep enough to allow ships to pass through; (of a ship or aircraft) able to be steered
nebula diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas; galaxy
nebulous vague; hazy; cloudy; of a nebula; Ex. nebulous proposal
necromancy black magic; sorcery; dealings with the dead; art that professes to communicate with the spirits of the dead so as to predict the future; CF. necromancer; CF. necro+divination; CF. necro-: death; Ex. necropolis
nectar drink of the gods; sweet liquid collected by bees
nefarious very wicked
negate cancel out; nullify; cause to have no effect; deny; N. negation
negligence neglect; failure to take reasonable care; ADJ. negligent: neglectful; lax; not taking enough care
negligible so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded
nemesis someone seeking revenge; source of downfall or ruin; CF. Nemesis
neologism new or newly coined word or phrase
neophyte recent convert; new member of a religious group; beginner; CF. plant
nepotism favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew
nether lower; Ex. nether garments/regions
nettle irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome
nexus connection
nib beak(bill); pen point
nicety precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference; Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely; Ex. distinguish between niceties
niggardly meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. niggard: stingy person
niggle spend too much time on minor points (esp. when finding fault); find fault; Ex. niggle over details; ADJ. niggling
nihilist one who considers traditional beliefs to be groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic; revolutionary terrorist; CF. nihilism: belief that nothing has meaning or value; belief that destruction of existing political or social institutio
nimble quick in movement; agile; quick in understanding; Ex. nimble climber/mind
nip snip off; stop something’s growth or development; bite; make numb with cold; Ex. nip the plan; Ex. A guard dog nipped the postman; Ex. fingers nipped by the extreme chill
nirvana in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude
nocturnal done or active at night; Ex. nocturnal animals/raids; CF. nocturne
noisome foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome
nomadic wandering; N. nomad: tribe who migrates from place to place
nomenclature terminology(system of specialized words); system of names or naming things
nominal in name only; of a name; trifling; (of a sum of money) very small; CF. nominate: propose as a candidate; appoint
nonchalance indifference; lack of concern; composure; ADJ. nonchalant: unconcerned; cool; indifferent; Ex. nonchalant attitude to his debts
noncommittal neutral; refusing commitment to a particular opinion; unpledged; undecided
nondescript undistinctive; ordinary; ordinary-looking; Ex. nondescript fellow in a crowd
nonentity person of no importance; nonexistence
nonplus put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; CF. no more
nonsense speech or writing with no meaning; foolish behavior or language; Ex. make (a) nonsense of: spoil; cause to fail
noose loop formed in a rope
nostalgia homesickness; longing for the past; Ex. nostalgia for the clothes of 1920s; ADJ. nostalgic
nostrum questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our (remedy)
notable conspicuous; worthy of note; remarkable; important; distinguished; noted
notch V-shaped cut in a surface; V.
notoriety disrepute; ill fame
nourish provide with food necessary for life and growth
nourishment something that nourishes; food
nova star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then returns to its original brightness
novelty something new; newness; ADJ. novel: new; original
novice beginner
noxious harmful; CF. obnoxious
nuance shade of slight difference in meaning or color; subtle distinction
nubile marriageable; of marriageable age; CF. connubial
nugatory worthless; futile
nullify make invalid; make null; invalidate
numismatist person who collects coins; N. numismatics: study or collection of money, coins, and medals
nuptial related to marriage or the wedding ceremony; N. nuptials: wedding ceremony
nurse suckle; take care of (as a nurse); bear in mind; Ex. nursing mother; Ex. nurse a hope/grudge against someone
nurture nourish; feed; educate; rear; care for while it is growing or developing; foster; cultivate; N: something that nourishes; rearing
nutrient nourishing substance; ADJ: providing nourishment
nutrition process of nourishing or being nourished; CF. malnutrition
nutritious providing nourishment