Synonym Clusters — Negative & Critical

QuestionAnswer
a GRE synonym for 'lying' meaning habitually untruthful and disposed to falsehood
mendacious
The mendacious politician was eventually caught fabricating his entire resume.
a GRE synonym for 'two-faced' meaning practising deliberate double-dealing and deception
duplicitous
His duplicitous behaviour destroyed the trust of everyone who had supported him.
a GRE synonym for 'insincere' meaning not truly candid; giving a false appearance of frankness
disingenuous
Her apology seemed disingenuous, as she repeated the same offence the very next day.
a GRE synonym for 'traitorous' meaning deceitful and untrustworthy; betraying a sacred trust
perfidious
The perfidious ally switched sides on the eve of the decisive battle.
a GRE synonym for 'disloyal' meaning guilty of or involving betrayal of trust; dangerous
treacherous
The treacherous mountain path claimed several lives each winter.
a GRE synonym for 'fake' meaning obtained or achieved through deliberate trickery and dishonesty
fraudulent
The investigation revealed that fraudulent claims had cost the insurer millions.
a GRE synonym for 'hot-headed' meaning bad-tempered and quick to feel rage
choleric
His choleric outbursts made colleagues reluctant to share any negative feedback.
a GRE synonym for 'combative' meaning eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight
pugnacious
The pugnacious debater challenged every point with relentless vigour.
a GRE synonym for 'fierce' meaning eager to fight and defiantly savage
truculent
The truculent protester hurled insults at the police line without provocation.
a GRE synonym for 'cheap' meaning extremely poor or characterised by extreme stinginess
penurious
His penurious habits left him wealthy but utterly friendless.
a GRE synonym for 'tight-fisted' meaning hoarding wealth and spending as little as possible
miserly
The miserly uncle left his vast fortune to charity rather than share it while alive.
a GRE synonym for 'stingy' meaning ungenerous with money; meanly small or inadequate
niggardly
The niggardly budget allocation left the department unable to meet basic needs.
a GRE synonym for 'penny-pinching' meaning reluctant to part with money; very reluctant to spend
tightfisted
The tightfisted manager never approved expenses for team-building events.
a GRE synonym for 'greedy' meaning having an insatiable desire for wealth and material gain
avaricious
The avaricious developer displaced hundreds of families to maximise his profits.
a GRE synonym for 'empty' meaning offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging
vapid
The vapid celebrity interview contained nothing beyond rehearsed talking points.
a GRE synonym for 'cliched' meaning lacking originality from being used too often
trite
The greeting card was filled with trite sentiments that lacked any personal touch.
a GRE synonym for 'domineering' meaning assuming power without justification; overbearing
imperious
The imperious manager issued commands without ever soliciting input from her team.
a GRE synonym for 'snobbish' meaning behaving as though one thinks oneself superior to others
supercilious
The supercilious waiter looked down his nose at guests who mispronounced menu items.
a GRE synonym for 'proud' meaning arrogantly superior and disdainful toward perceived inferiors
haughty
The haughty aristocrat refused to acknowledge anyone below her social rank.
a GRE synonym for 'self-important' meaning affectedly grand and dignified beyond reason
pompous
The pompous professor lectured as though he alone understood the subject.
a GRE synonym for 'presumptuous' meaning showing excessive confidence or bold self-regard
overweening
His overweening ambition blinded him to the risks that eventually ruined his career.
a GRE synonym for 'patronising' meaning acting superior and treating others as if they are less intelligent
condescending
The condescending tone of the email offended every member of the team.
a GRE synonym for 'work-shy' meaning reluctant to work or make effort; culpably idle
slothful
His slothful approach to chores left the household in perpetual disarray.
a GRE synonym for 'dormant' meaning mentally or physically inactive; in a state of sluggish inaction
torpid
The torpid economy showed no signs of recovery throughout the quarter.
a GRE synonym for 'droopy' meaning displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion
languid
On languid summer afternoons, the village seemed to move in slow motion.
a GRE synonym for 'apathetic' meaning lacking energy, enthusiasm, or interest in anything
listless
The heat left everyone listless and unable to concentrate on their tasks.
a GRE synonym for 'sharp-tongued' meaning sharp, forthright, and biting in comment or tone
acerbic
The reviewer's acerbic wit left no film safe from devastating critique.
a GRE synonym for 'venomous' meaning extremely harsh and filled with bitter criticism
vitriolic
The vitriolic editorial provoked outrage from supporters of the policy.
a GRE synonym for 'cutting' meaning having or showing a sharp wit used to wound
mordant
His mordant commentary on social media culture went viral within hours.
a GRE synonym for 'incisive' meaning vigorous or effective in expression and sharply penetrating
trenchant
The journalist's trenchant analysis exposed the flaws in the government's proposal.
a GRE synonym for 'withering' meaning severely critical and damaging in tone
scathing
The scathing review ensured that the restaurant lost most of its bookings overnight.
a GRE synonym for 'unyielding' meaning unwilling to change one's views or to agree about something
intransigent
The intransigent union leaders rejected every compromise offered by management.
a GRE synonym for 'persistent' meaning holding firmly to a purpose or belief with dogged resolve
pertinacious
The pertinacious lawyer filed appeal after appeal until the verdict was overturned.
a GRE synonym for 'berate' meaning to criticise someone harshly and at length
lambaste
The coach lambasted the team for their lack of preparation in the first half.
a GRE synonym for 'slander' meaning to speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner
vilify
Rival factions rushed to vilify each other in the press before the election.
a GRE synonym for 'discipline' meaning to reprimand someone severely for wrongdoing
chastise
The principal chastised the students who had vandalised school property.
a GRE synonym for 'sneaky' meaning attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt
furtive
He cast a furtive glance over his shoulder before slipping through the back door.
a GRE synonym for 'stealthy' meaning kept hidden and done without the knowledge of others
surreptitious
She made a surreptitious phone call during the meeting while pretending to take notes.
a GRE synonym for 'undercover' meaning not openly practised or shown; concealed and hidden
covert
The journalist uncovered a covert surveillance programme run without public oversight.
a GRE synonym for 'subtle' meaning proceeding in a gradual and harmful way that is not easily noticed
insidious
The insidious spread of misinformation undermined public trust in institutions.
a GRE synonym for 'showy' meaning attracting attention through exuberant confidence and stylishness
flamboyant
The designer was known for flamboyant runway shows that doubled as performance art.
a GRE synonym for 'tasteless' meaning extravagantly bright or showy in a way that lacks refinement
gaudy
The gaudy decorations clashed with the elegant architecture of the historic hall.
a GRE synonym for 'loud' meaning obtrusively bright and showy; lurid in colour or style
garish
The garish neon sign overwhelmed the quiet charm of the residential street.
a GRE synonym for 'pretentious' meaning excessively grand or ambitious in scheme or scale
grandiose
His grandiose plans to rebuild the city centre proved impossible to finance.
a GRE synonym for 'wordy' meaning using extravagantly elaborate language to impress
grandiloquent
The grandiloquent speaker used ten-syllable words where one would have sufficed.
a GRE synonym for 'cowardly' meaning showing a contemptible lack of courage
pusillanimous
The pusillanimous official refused to take a stand when the public needed leadership.
a GRE synonym for 'fearful' meaning showing or suffering from nervousness and a lack of confidence
timorous
The timorous newcomer spoke barely above a whisper during her first board meeting.
a GRE synonym for 'wasteful' meaning spending resources recklessly and extravagantly
profligate
The profligate government squandered the surplus on vanity projects.
a GRE synonym for 'indulgent' meaning given to or characterised by excessive gratification of desires
dissolute
The dissolute lifestyle of the young aristocrat scandalised polite society.
a GRE synonym for 'flattering' meaning behaving in an obsequiously servile way to gain advantage
sycophantic
The sycophantic aide agreed with every word the director uttered.
a GRE synonym for 'fawning' meaning excessively submissive and eager to please those in authority
servile
His servile manner towards the boss embarrassed his fellow colleagues.
a GRE synonym for 'cunning' meaning achieving aims by indirect or underhand methods
devious
The devious scheme to oust the chairman was discovered just hours before the vote.
a GRE synonym for 'crafty' meaning having or showing skill in achieving one's ends through indirect means
wily
The wily negotiator manoeuvred the opposition into accepting unfavourable terms.
a GRE synonym for 'scheming' meaning planning secretly to do something underhanded
conniving
The conniving business partner had been siphoning funds for years.
a GRE synonym for 'wicked' meaning deliberately cruel or violent; showing no moral principles
heinous
The court handed down the maximum sentence for the heinous crime.
a GRE synonym for 'heartless' meaning showing no concern for the feelings of others
callous
The callous landlord evicted the family the day before the holiday.
a GRE synonym for 'harsh' meaning relentlessly severe or cruel and unwilling to show mercy
ruthless
The ruthless competitor undercut prices until every rival was driven out of business.
a GRE synonym for 'fake' meaning pretending to have virtues or beliefs one does not truly possess
hypocritical
His public stance on ethics seemed hypocritical after the internal memos were leaked.
a GRE synonym for 'pretentious' meaning assuming an air of importance or refinement that is not genuine
affected
Her affected accent fooled no one who knew where she had actually grown up.
a GRE synonym for 'cryptic' meaning having a meaning that is mysterious or hidden
arcane
The arcane regulations governing maritime law baffled even experienced attorneys.
a GRE synonym for 'inconsistent' meaning likely to change without apparent or adequate reason
volatile
The volatile stock market wiped out gains as quickly as it created them.
a GRE synonym for 'wavering' meaning hesitating or unable to make up one's mind; indecisive
vacillating
The vacillating manager changed direction so often that no project was ever completed.
a GRE synonym for 'tiresome' meaning annoying and tedious through being prolonged or repetitive
wearisome
The wearisome commute through hours of traffic drained her energy before the workday began.
a GRE synonym for 'shallow' meaning existing or occurring at the surface; not thorough
superficial
A superficial reading of the contract missed the clause that voided the warranty.
a GRE synonym for 'bitter' meaning feeling or showing deep ill will; intensely antagonistic
rancorous
The rancorous dispute between the heirs dragged on for years in probate court.
a GRE synonym for 'scornful' meaning feeling or showing contempt or dislike for something regarded as unworthy
disdainful
She cast a disdainful glance at the substandard work submitted by the contractor.
a GRE synonym for 'hateful' meaning deserving intense dislike; deeply offensive
odious
The dictator's odious policies provoked international condemnation.
a GRE synonym for 'undermining' meaning tending to weaken authority or subvert an established system
subversive
The regime banned any literature it deemed subversive to national unity.
a GRE synonym for 'destructive' meaning gradually causing great harm or damage; eating away
corrosive
Years of corrosive infighting left the once-powerful party fractured beyond repair.