GRE Word List S(part 4)

stalemate deadlock; situation in which further action is blocked
stalwart physically strong; brawny; steadfast; strong in mind or determination; Ex. stalwart supporter; N: stalwart follower
stamina power of endurance; strength; staying power
stammer speak with involuntarily pauses or repetitions
stamp step on heavily (so as to crush or extinguish); put an end to; imprint or impress with a mark, design, or seal; shape with a die; characterize; Ex. machine stamping out car bodies; Ex. newspaper stamping him as a liar; N. stamping; implement us
stampede sudden frenzied rush (of panic-stricken animals or people); V: participate in or cause stampede; Ex. stampede before the price rises
stanch stop or check flow of blood; Ex. stanch the gushing wound
standstill condition of no movement or activity; stop
stanza division of a poem (composed of two or more lines)
start move suddenly or involuntarily; Ex. start at the sight of a snake
stately formal; ceremonious; grand in style or size; majestic
static having no motion; unchanging; lacking development; N. stasis: stable state
statute law enacted by the legislature
statutory created by statute or legislative action; regulated by statute; Ex. statutory age limit
steadfast steadily loyal; unswerving; steady
stealth action of moving secretly or unseen; slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness; ADJ. stealthy
steep soak; saturate; Ex. steep the fabric in the dye bath; ADJ: precipitous
stellar pertaining to the stars; of a star performer; outstanding; Ex. stellar attraction of the entire performance
stem stop or check (the flow of); Ex. stem the bleeding from the slashed artery; N: main axis of a plant; stalk
stem_from arise from; originate from
stench strong foul odor; reek; stink
stentorian (of the voice) extremely loud; CF. Stentor: a loud herald in the Iliad
stereotype one regarded as embodying a set image or type; fixed and unvarying representation; standardized mental picture often reflecting prejudice; Ex. stereotype of the happy slave; V: make a stereotype of; represent by a stereotype; Ex. It is wrong to ster
sterile incapable of producing young; free from microorganism; V. sterilize
stickler perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right
stifle suppress; extinguish; inhibit; smother or suffocate
stigma token of disgrace; brand; V. stigmatize: mark with a stigma; characterize as disgraceful
stilted bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric; CF. stiff: formal
stink stench; V: emit a strong foul odor
stint supply; allotted amount of work; assigned portion of work; limitation; Ex. two-year stint in the army; Ex. without stint
stipend pay for services
stipple paint or draw with dots or short strokes
stipulate state as a necessary condition (of an agreement); make express conditions; specify; Ex. He stipulated payment in advance
stock standard; kept regularly in stock or supply; typical; routine; common; Ex. stock sizes of paper; Ex. stock excuse/character; N: goods for sale in a shop; OP. unique
stockade wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier
stodgy dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy book
stoic stoical; impassive; unmoved by joy or grief; N. CF. stoicism
stoke stir up a fire or furnace; feed plentifully
stolid dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong feelings are expected
stoop bend forward and down; lower or debase oneself; fall to a lower standard of behavior by doing something; condescend; Ex. stoop to lying
stout rather fat; strong in body; sturdy; resolute; determined; strong in determination; Ex. stout stick/supporter
straggle stray or fall behind (a main group); spread out in a scattered group; Ex. straggling marathon racer; Ex. straggling branch
strangle kill by choking or suffocating; suppress
stratagem deceptive scheme; clever trick
stratified divided into classes; arranged into strata; V. stratify
stratum layer of earth’s surface; layer of society; PL. strata
strew spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter; Ex. flower girl strewing rose petals
striated marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; Ex. striated rocks; V. striate; N. stria: thin groove or line
stricture severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or restriction
strident loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency
stringent (of rules) binding; rigid; marked by scarcity of money; Ex. stringent economic conditions
strut supporting bar; CF. airplane wing building support
studied carefully contrived; calculated; unspontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful; Ex. studied remark
studious given to diligent study
stultify make stupid in mind; cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; suppress; frustrate or hinder; Ex. stultifying effect of uninteresting work; Ex. stultify free expression
stumble trip and almost fall; proceed unsteadily; act falteringly; N.
stump base of a tree trunk left after the rest has been cut down; V: walk in a heavy manner; baffle; puzzle
stun make unconscious or numb as by a blow; amaze; astound
stupefy stun; make numb (as with a drug); amaze
stupor state of being stupefied; state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness
sturdy strong and firm (in the body)
stygian unpleasantly dark; gloomy; hellish; deathly; CF. Styx: the chief river in the subterranean land of the dead
stymie thwart; present an obstacle; stump
suavity urbanity; polish; ADJ. suave: smooth and courteous
subaltern subordinate
subdue less intense; quieter; Ex. subdued lighting; Ex. subdue: conquer; make less intense; quiet; Ex. subdue one’s anger
subjective influenced by personal feelings; occurring or taking place within the mind; unreal; Ex. subjective sensation of the ghostly presence
subjugate conquer; bring under control
sublimate refine; purify; replace (natural urges) with socially acceptable activities; change between a solid state and a gaseous state
sublime causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect, etc.; exalted; noble and uplifting; utter
subliminal below the threshold of conscious perception; Ex. subliminal advertisement
submerge place under water; dip; go under water; cover completely (as with water); Ex. submerged in work
submissive willing to obey orders; yielding; timid
subordinate occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive; N. V: put in a lower rank or class
suborn persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); N. subornation
subpoena writ(written command issued by a court) summoning a witness to appear in court; V: summon with a subpoena
subsequent following in time or order; later
subservient behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious; subordinate; N. subservience
subside sink to a lower level; settle down; sink to the bottom (as a sediment); descend; grow quiet; become less; moderate; abate
subsidiary serving to assist; subordinate; secondary; of a subsidy; N.
subsidy direct financial aid by government, etc.; V. subsidize: assist with a subsidy
subsistence existence; means of subsisting; means of support; livelihood; V. subsist: exist; maintain life (at a meager level)
substantial of substance; material; solid; essential or fundamental; ample; considerable; well-to-do; wealthy
substantiate support (a claim) with evidence; establish with evidence; verify
substantive substantial; essential; pertaining to the substance; substantial; considerable; Ex. substantive issues
subsume include (as a member of a group); encompass
subterfuge stratagem(deceptive scheme); pretense; evasion; Ex. resort to a harmless subterfuge
subtlety perceptiveness; ingenuity; delicacy; ADJ. subtle: delicate; so slight as to be difficult to detect; able to make fine distinctions; clever; Ex. subtle mind/differences in meaning
subversive tending to overthrow or ruin; V. subvert: overthrow completely (an established system); destroy completely; CF. undermine ?
succor assist (someone in difficulty); aid; comfort; N.
succulent juicy; full of juice or sap; full of richness; N: succulent plant such as a cactus
succumb yield (to something overwhelming); give in; die; Ex. succumb to the illness
suckle give or take milk at the breast or udder
suffocate die or kill from lack of air; suppress
suffragist advocate of the extension of voting rights (for women); CF. suffrage
suffuse spread through or over (with a color or liquid); charge; Ex. A blush suffused her cheeks.
suitor man who is courting a woman
sullen silently showing ill humor or resentment; dark; gloomy