GRE Words Starting with P (214 words)

placate

make (someone) less angry or hostile.

The administration placated protesters by agreeing to consider their demands.

proclivity

a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition towards a particular thing.

The word 'proclivity' is commonly used in GRE vocabulary.

puerile

childishly silly and immature.

a puerile comedy

polarize

divide or cause to divide into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs.

polarize light waves

prodigal

A prodigal person, a spendthrift.

The word 'prodigal' is commonly used in GRE vocabulary.

paradigmatic

A writer of memoirs of religious persons, as examples of Christian excellence.

The word 'paradigmatic' is commonly used in GRE vocabulary.

pedantic

excessively concerned with minor details or rules; overscrupulous.

a pedantic teacher

placid

Calm and quiet; peaceful; tranquil

placid skies

polemical

of or involving strongly critical or disputatious writing or speech.

Her book is a fierce polemic against the inequalities in our society.

precipitate

cause (an event or situation, typically one that is undesirable) to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely.

The word 'precipitate' is commonly used in GRE vocabulary.

profundity

great depth of insight or knowledge.

the profundity of his thoughts/insights

prophetic

accurately predicting what will happen in the future.

Her warning proved to be prophetic . [=the thing that she warned would/could happen did happen]

prudent

acting with or showing care and thought for the future.

The word 'prudent' is commonly used in GRE vocabulary.

punctilious

showing great attention to detail or correct behavior.

She's very punctilious about grammar.

panache

flamboyant confidence of style or manner.

The palace guard had a panache on his helmet.

plodding

slow-moving and unexciting.

The word 'plodding' is commonly used in GRE vocabulary.

prosaic

having or using the style or diction of prose as opposed to poetry; lacking imaginativeness or originality.

He has a prosaic writing style.

pertinacious

holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action.

The word 'pertinacious' is commonly used in GRE vocabulary.

presumptuous

(of a person or their behaviour) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate/overconfident

It would be presumptuous (of me) to tell the manager how to do things.

probity

the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.

a person of probity

proliferate

increase rapidly in number; multiply.

New problems have proliferated in recent months. [=many new problems have occurred in recent months]

plastic

A synthetic, solid, hydrocarbon-based polymer, whether thermoplastic or thermosetting.

The word 'plastic' is commonly used in GRE vocabulary.

platitude

a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.

His speech was filled with familiar platitudes about the value of hard work and dedication.

prescient

having or showing knowledge of events before they take place.

The word 'prescient' is commonly used in GRE vocabulary.

pristine

in its original condition; unspoilt.

the hypothetical pristine lunar atmosphere

palpable

Capable of being touched, felt or handled; touchable, tangible.

palpable lymph nodes

perfidy

the state of being deceitful and untrustworthy.

They are guilty of perfidy .

profuse

(especially of something offered or discharged) very plentiful; abundant.

She grew profuse amounts of zucchini and pumpkins.

pugnacious

eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.

There's one pugnacious member on the committee who won't agree to anything.

precarious

not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse.

He earned a precarious livelihood/living by gambling.

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