So you've found yourself in a situation (be it an English class, job interview, or just hanging around your cousins who all went to Cornell) where you need to sound like you know what you're talking about. As a person whose 10th grade teacher referred to them as "barely literate" during a parent conference, I can safely say that I'm the expert on this matter. Here are seven GRE words you can sprinkle in your speech to sound smarter than you actually are.
1. Juxtapose
"Juxtapose" (JUCKS-sta-pose) is a verb that means "to put two very different things right next to each other." The noun "juxtaposition" can be used to describe any situation that's even remotely unusual. As used in a sentence: "The teacher decided to juxtapose me with someone who actually knew what they were doing in the debate."
2. Akimbo
"Akimbo" (ah-KIM-bo) is an adverb that describes the position when someone puts their hands on their hips and turns their elbows outwards. No one knows why we have a specific word for this. It can also mean guns-a-blazin', like Rambo or something. Used in a sentence: "The employer stood with his arms akimbo, glaring down at me when he realized I probably lied on my resume when I said I had 'strong communication skills.'"
3. Mitigate
"Mitigate" (mit-TUH-gate) is a verb that means "to make something less severe or offensive," but you can feel free to use it in any context you feel like. No one will call you out on it because nobody knows what this word means. Used in a sentence: "'Mitigate' is a word that I know. Please do not call my references."
4. Tangible
"Tangible" (TAN-jib-ul) is an adjective that means "tasting, smelling, or looking of tangerines." Used in a sentence: "Thank you for the lifetime achievement award, Neil deGrasse Tyson! And might I say, this homemade sangria you made has the most delicious tangible bits!"
5. Machiavellian
"Machiavellian" (MOCK-e-ah-vel-in-is-um) is an adjective that describes someone who is being sneaky, cunning, or scheming; in other words, a basic ass two face bitch that don't know shit. Used in a sentence: "The gathering of snitches, due to their Machiavellian schemes, was attacked; they were later relegated to the emergency room, where their wounds were given stitches to help speed the healing of their injuries."
6. Ennui
"Ennui" (ON-wee) is (believe it or not) a noun that means "a feeling of listlessness or dissatisfaction," and I think it might be French. In other words, what you feel when you're totally over this awful OK Cupid date. Used in a sentence: "I was so overwhelmed with a feeling of ennui during the philosophy class discussion that my eyes started bleeding."
7. Duchy
"Duchy" (DO-she) is an informal adjective that describes obnoxious or socially unacceptable behavior. It's root noun, "douchebag" (female: "douchbagette") describes someone who has shown themselves to be brainless, idiotic, or who counts their money and posted photos to social media. Used in a sentence: "The duke ruled over his duchy [behavior] with reckless abandon."
There are many other words you can mix into your speech to sound smarter than you actually are. If you try mixing fancy $5 words into your rhetoric at every possible opportunity, no one will dare to challenge you. If all else fails, try yelling and instantly win whatever conversation or argument you were involved in.
