GRE Vocabulary Fill in the Blanks

Delicate means needing careful handling or easily damaged. Negotiations often require sensitive, careful treatment, making 'delicate' the perfect fit. 'Dim' means not bright, 'demeaning' means humiliating, 'dire' means terrible, and 'derelict' means abandoned or neglected.

The phrase 'dim and distant' is a common English collocation used to describe memories that are faint (not clear) and from the far past. 'Dim' here means unclear or faint. 'Delicate' means fragile, 'demeaning' means humiliating, 'dire' means terrible, and 'derelict' means abandoned.

Dire means extremely serious, terrible, or disastrous. 'Dire consequences' is a strong collocation warning of serious negative outcomes. 'Dim' means faint, 'delicate' means fragile, 'demeaning' means humiliating, and 'derelict' means neglected.

Devious means deceitful, cunning, or showing skillful dishonesty. A plan to take over a company through trickery would be described as 'devious'. 'Dejected' means sad, 'detached' means disconnected, 'deliberate' means intentional, and 'destined' means meant to happen.

Demeaning means causing someone to lose dignity or self-respect, often through humiliation. Work that is poorly paid and beneath one's dignity would be described as 'demeaning'. 'Dire' means terrible, 'delicate' means fragile, 'derelict' means abandoned, and 'dim' means faint.

 Dismal means sad and based on the clues from the sentence, this would not fit. Discreet means privately or in secret. Disconsolate means unable to console and would not fit. Disgruntled means upset and would not work also. Disjointed means out of order or chaotic and this would match with the sentence, hence the correct answer.

Dismal means gloomy, depressing, or bleak. A flat landscape viewed from a train that appears uninteresting and depressing would be described as 'dismal'. 'Disjointed' means disconnected, 'discreet' means careful, 'disconsolate' means very sad, and 'disgruntled' means annoyed.

Deliberate means intentional or done on purpose. The sentence contrasts the error being intentional versus being an oversight (unintentional mistake), so 'not deliberate' is the correct meaning. 'Devious' means deceitful, 'dejected' means sad, 'detached' means disconnected, and 'destined' means meant to happen.

Dizzy means having a spinning sensation or feeling unsteady. When someone says their head is spinning, they feel 'dizzy'. 'Devious' means deceitful, 'dejected' means sad, 'deliberate' means intentional, and 'destined' means meant to happen.

Discreet means being careful, cautious, or unnoticeable to avoid attention. Making 'discreet inquiries' means asking questions carefully without drawing attention. 'Dismal' means gloomy, 'disjointed' means disconnected, 'disconsolate' means very sad, and 'disgruntled' means annoyed.

Disgruntled means annoyed, dissatisfied, or resentful, especially about having been treated unfairly. Being proved wrong can cause someone to feel 'disgruntled'. 'Dismal' means gloomy, 'disjointed' means disconnected, 'discreet' means cautious, and 'disconsolate' means very sad.

Disillusioned means disappointed from discovering that something is not as good as one believed. 'Disillusioned with teaching' means she has lost her idealistic belief about teaching. 'Disinclined' means unwilling, 'distinct' means clear, 'direct' means straightforward, and 'distinctive' means characteristic.

Direct means straightforward, frank, or without evasion. A direct person always states their real views clearly. 'Disinclined' means unwilling, 'disillusioned' means disappointed, 'distinct' means clear/different, and 'distinctive' means characteristic.

Disinclined means unwilling or having a lack of enthusiasm for something. The sentence expresses reluctance to believe someone's story, which matches disinclined perfectly. Disillusioned means disappointed after realizing something is not as good as believed, which doesn't fit this context.

Dreadful means very bad, serious, or unpleasant. The sentence describes a mistake, and dreadful is commonly used to emphasize how bad something is. Downtrodden refers to oppressed people, distraught means very upset, and downright means complete/utter - none of which fit grammatically or semantically.

Distinct means clear, unmistakable, or easily perceived. Having a distinct impression means the impression was clear and recognizable. Distinctive means characteristic or recognizably different, which doesn't fit with impression.

Distinctive means having a unique quality that makes something easily recognizable. A highly distinctive coat would have notable features that make it stand out. Distinct means clear or unmistakable, which doesn't fit as well with describing the coat's appearance.

Distraught means very upset, worried, or agitated. After someone's mother dies, they would naturally be deeply distressed and upset. Dreadful means very bad, downtrodden means oppressed, downright means complete, and disturbing means worrying - none capture the emotional state of grief as well as distraught.

Downright means complete, utter, or thorough. When saying someone wasn't just slow but downright lazy, it means completely or thoroughly lazy - emphasizing the extent of the laziness. It's used as an intensifier in this context.

Downtrodden means oppressed, persecuted, or treated badly by those in power. Someone fighting for rights of downtrodden people is fighting for those who are oppressed or exploited. This is a common collocation in social justice contexts.

Disturbing means causing worry, anxiety, or alarm. News about a flu epidemic would naturally be worrying and alarming to the public. Dreadful means very bad, but disturbing better captures the reaction to news about health threats.

Derelict means abandoned and in poor condition, often used for buildings or property that have been neglected. Buildings planned for demolition are typically abandoned and run-down, making derelict the perfect fit. Dire means urgent or serious, demeaning means humiliating, delicate means fragile, and dim means not well-lit.

Destined means meant or intended to happen, or having a predetermined future. Coming from a theatrical family suggests a natural path toward a stage career - being destined for it. Dejected means sad, deliberate means intentional, detached means disconnected emotionally, and devious means deceitful.

Dejected means sad, depressed, or dispirited. Repeated failure would naturally leave someone feeling very down and discouraged. Devious means deceitful, detached means emotionally disconnected, deliberate means intentional, and destined means predetermined.

Disconsolate means very sad, lonely, and without hope or comfort. A figure sitting alone in the rain would appear desolate and sorrowful. Dismal means gloomy, disjointed means disconnected, discreet means subtle or unnoticeable, and disgruntled means annoyed or dissatisfied - none capture the lonely sadness as well as disconsolate.