GRE Vocab Capacity: 2017 Edition - Over 1300 Powerful Memory Tricks and Mnemonics

2017 version published on 9/27/16.

Need a good way to remember that the word "prodigal" means "wasteful"? Just think of "prada gal" - a girl who spends all of her money on designer clothes. Welcome to GRE Vocab Capacity - a better way to learn GRE vocabulary!

Why This Book Is Different

There are tons of books, apps, and websites designed to help you learn GRE words. However, if you’ve tried typical vocabulary study methods, then they might not have worked very well for you.

The problem with most vocabulary products is that the sentences in the books are boring! Your brain might not naturally form connections to the meanings of words if they’re not presented to you in a memorable, creative way.

GRE Vocab Capacity is different. We’ve not only clearly defined the words but we’ve also created sentences designed to help you remember the words through a variety of unusual associations - using mnemonics.

Mnemonic Examples

A mnemonic is just a memory device. It works by creating a link in your brain to something else, so that recall of one thing helps recall of the other. This can be done in many ways – but the strongest links are through senses, emotions, rhymes, and patterns.

Consider this example:

Quash (verb): to completely stop from happening.

Think: squash.

The best way to quash an invasion of ants in your kitchen is simple: squash them.

Now your brain has a link from the word quash (which it may not have known) to the word squash (which it probably knows). Both words sound and look the same, so it’s easy to create a visual and aural link. If you picture someone squashing ants (and maybe get grossed out), you also have another visual link and an emotional link.

Here’s another example:

Eschew (verb): to avoid.

Think: ah-choo!

Eschew people who say "ah-choo!" unless you want to catch their colds.

The word eschew sounds similar to a sneeze (ah-choo!), so your brain will now link the two sounds. If you picture yourself avoiding someone who is about to sneeze in your face, even better! Again, the more connections you make in your brain to the new word, the easier it will be for you to recall it.