GRE Word List W

wade walk through a substance, such as water, that impedes movement
waffle speak equivocally about an issue; N.
waft move gently (in air or in seas) by wind or waves; Ex. leaves wafting past the window
wag shake repeatedly from side to side; Ex. The dog wagged its tail; N: humorous person; wit
wage begin and continue (a war)
waggish humorous; mischievous; tricky
waif homeless child or animal; Ex. waifs and strays
waive give up temporarily; yield; N. waiver: waiving a right or claim; document that waives a right or claim
wake trail of ship or other object through water; path of something that has gone before; Ex. hunger followed in the wake of the war
wallow roll in mud; indulge in; (of a ship) roll in a rough sea; become helpless; Ex. wallow in the mud/luxury
wan having a pale or sickly color; pallid
wanderlust strong longing to travel
wane decrease in size or strength (after being full); grow gradually to an end; Ex. The moon waxes and wanes every month; N.
wangle achieve by cleverness or trick; wiggle out; fake; Ex. She tried to wangle an invitation to the party.
wanton unrestrained; gratuitously cruel; willfully malicious; unchaste; sexually improper; promiscuous; Ex. wanton spending/killing; CF. having no just cause
warble (of a bird) sing; babble; N.
ward administrative division of a city; division in a hospital or prison; incompetent person placed under the protection of a guardian; V: guard; ward off: avert
warp twist out of shape; N.
warrant justification; written order that serves as authorization (esp. a judicial writ); Ex. search/death warrant; V: justify; guarantee
warranted justified; authorized
warranty guarantee; assurance by seller
warren tunnels in which rabbits live; overcrowded living area; crowded conditions in which people live
wary very cautious; watchful
wastrel waster; profligate
waver move or swing back and forth; be uncertain or unsteady in decision or movement; Ex. wavering between accepting and refusing
wax increase gradually (as the moon); grow
waylay ambush; lie in wait for and attack
wean accustom a baby not to nurse; accustom (the young of a mammal) to take nourishment other than by suckling; give up a cherished activity; cause to gradually leave (an interest or habit); Ex. wean oneself from cigarettes
weary tired after long work; V.
weather pass safely through (a storm or difficult period); endure the effects of weather or other forces
weird eerie; strange; unnatural
well-bred of good upbringing; well-mannered and refined
welt raised mark from a beating or whipping
welter wallow (as in mud or high seas); lie soaked (as in blood); Ex. The victims weltered in their blood.
wheedle deceive, persuade, or obtain by flattery; cajole; coax; Ex. wheedle a promise out of her
whelp young animal (esp. of the dog or cat family); young wolf, dog, tiger, etc.
whet sharpen; stimulate; Ex. whet someone’s appetite
whiff puff or gust (of air, scent, etc.); short-lasting smell; hint; Ex. whiff of perfume/scandal
whim sudden capricious idea; fancy
whimsical capricious; fanciful; amusingly strange
whimsy whim; tendency to behave amusingly strangely; Ex. story full of whimsy
whine complain (in a sad voice); make a high sad sound (as in pain or supplication)
whinny neigh like a horse; CF. neigh: make the sound which horses make
whit small amount; smallest speck; Ex. not a whit of
whittle pare; cut away thin bits (from wood); fashion in this way; reduce gradually; trim
wholesome conducive to mental or physical health; healthful
whorl ring of leaves around stem; ring; circular arrangement; Ex. whorls on the fingers
wiggle wriggle; move from side to side with irregular twisting motions
willful wilful; intentional; headstrong
willowy flexible; pliant; slender; CF. willow
wilt loose freshness; droop
wily crafty; cunning; artful; N. wile: deceitful stratagem
wince move back suddenly; shrink back; flinch; Ex. She winced as she touched the cold body.
windfall fallen fruit; unexpected lucky event
winnow sift; separate the chaff from grain by blowing; separate good parts from bad; CF. wind
winsome charming (in a childlike way); agreeable; gracious; engaging
wisp small bunch (of hair); faint streak (of smoke)
wispy thin; slight; barely discernible
wistful sadly thoughtful (because of desires or memories); sadly pensive; vaguely longing
withdrawn introverted; retiring; remote remote/distant in manner; aloof
wither (of a plant) dry up from loss of moisture; lose freshness; shrivel; decay
withhold refuse to give; hold back; Ex. withholding tax
withstand stand up against; resist successfully
witless lacking intelligence or wit; foolish; idiotic
witticism witty saying; wisecrack(clever joking remark)
wizardry sorcery; magic
wizened shriveled; withered; Ex. wizened apple/old lady
woe great sorrow; deep inconsolable grief; affliction; suffering; Ex. financial woes
woeful sad; (of something bad) deplorable; deplorably bad; Ex. woeful housing conditions
wont (the stated person’s) habit or custom; habitual procedure; ADJ. wonted: customary
worldly engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual; of the material world
wrangle quarrel noisily; obtain through arguing; herd cattle; N.
wrath anger; fury
wreak inflict; Ex. wreak one’s vengeance on
wrench twist; pull; strain; Ex. He wrenched the gun out of her hands.
wrest obtain by pulling violently; pull away; take by violence; Ex. wrest victory from their grasp
wretch miserable person; bad or despicable person; ADJ. wretched: miserable; bad; contemptible; vile
wring twist (to extract liquid); extract by twisting; wrench painfully (necks or hands)
wrinkle small ridge on a smooth surface (face or cloth); V.
writ written command issued by a court (telling someone to do or not to do something)
writhe twist in coils; contort in pain
wrongheaded stubbornly wrong
wry (esp. of an expression of the face) twisted; with a humorous twist (expressing displeasure)