GMAT vocabulary: change, growth and risk.
55 GMAT words about change, growth and risk — each with a definition, an example sentence, and a memory cue.
The GMAT doesn't quiz definitions, but its Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights passages assume you read words like these without slowing down — an unfamiliar term in a Critical Reasoning stem costs time you don't have. Studying a whole theme at once builds that recognition: you learn not just what each word means, but how it differs from its neighbors.
Read the definition, then the example, then the memory cue. Come back a few days later and cover the definitions — recalling a word cold is what fixes it, and rereading it is not. Prefer paper? The printable version has the same 55 words ready to print.
The 55 words
Alphabetical, grouped by letter. Everything in the Change, Growth & Risk guide.
Aanachronistic – awry2 words
Belonging to a period other than the one being portrayed; outdated
The novel's characters use smartphones in a story supposedly set in the 1950s, an anachronistic error the editor missed.
Memory cueA smartphone in an ancient castle is anachronistic because it belongs to another time.
Away from the expected course; amiss
The carefully planned experiment went awry when a power outage corrupted the data at a critical stage.
Memory cueA wheel tilted awry sends the entire cart off course.
Cculminate1 word
To reach a climax or point of highest development
Years of research culminated in a paper that transformed the field of molecular biology.
Memory cueA climb culminates at the highest peak and final climax.
Ddebacle – dormant10 words
A sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco
The product launch was a debacle, with software glitches rendering the device unusable.
Memory cueA debacle is a plan collapsing spectacularly into humiliating failure.
A general decline in the prices of goods and services across an economy.
Persistent deflation encouraged consumers to delay purchases because they expected prices to fall further.
Memory cueDeflation lets air out of the economy's price balloon, making the overall level shrink.
Break down; deteriorate in quality or structure over time
Ultraviolet radiation causes plastics to degrade, releasing microparticles that contaminate soil and water.
Memory cueSunlight can degrade material, breaking its quality down over time.
To become progressively worse in quality, condition, or value
Without proper conservation, the medieval frescoes will continue to deteriorate from exposure to moisture and light.
Memory cueA once-solid wall crumbling over time shows it deteriorating.
Disturbance from a proper or original position; disruption
The rapid dislocation of traditional communities during industrialization created social upheaval that lasted generations.
Memory cueA dislocation knocks something away from its proper position or order.
The action or process of distributing or spreading things over a wide area
Wind-driven dispersal of seeds allows certain plant species to colonize areas far from the parent organism.
Memory cueDispersal scatters seeds outward across a wide area.
The moving of something from its place or position; the replacing of one thing by another
The displacement of indigenous languages by colonial tongues remains one of the most lasting effects of imperialism.
Memory cueDisplacement pushes one object from its place and puts another there.
Taking the place of; pushing aside
Automation is displacing workers in sectors that once provided stable middle-class employment.
Memory cueA new technology displacing an old one pushes it aside.
The breaking up or disintegration of something; the closing down of an assembly
The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 redrew the political map of an entire continent.
Memory cueDissolution dissolves an organized whole until its parts break apart.
Temporarily inactive; in a state of rest or suspension
The volcano had been dormant for centuries before showing signs of renewed activity.
Memory cueA dormant seed rests underground: alive but temporarily inactive and not growing.
Eeclipse – extant7 words
To surpass in importance or achievement; to obscure or overshadow
The younger scientist's groundbreaking discoveries threatened to eclipse the contributions of her more famous mentor.
Memory cueA brilliant newcomer can eclipse a veteran by overshadowing their achievement.
Surpassed or outshone; made to seem less important
The scandal eclipsed the administration's genuine policy achievements, dominating headlines for months.
Memory cueThe moon eclipsed the sun, obscuring and outshining its disk.
Matched or surpassed by imitation; strived to equal
Younger painters emulated her bold use of color, though none quite captured the emotional intensity of her originals.
Memory cueA student emulated the master, striving to equal the admired model.
Lasting over a long period; durable
The philosopher's enduring influence can be traced in debates that continue to shape political theory three centuries later.
Memory cueAn enduring bridge remains solid through years of storms.
To cause or give rise to a feeling, situation, or condition
The policy change engendered widespread resentment among the affected communities.
Memory cueA seed engenders a new plant by giving rise to it.
Lasting for a very short time; transient; fleeting
Social media posts are ephemeral by nature, yet their consequences can be lasting and far-reaching.
Memory cueAn ephemeral soap bubble shines briefly and vanishes.
Still in existence; surviving
Only three extant copies of the original manuscript are known to exist.
Memory cueAn extant manuscript still exists rather than having vanished or been destroyed.
Ffiscal – fostered3 words
Relating to government revenue, taxation, spending, or public budgets.
The legislature adopted a fiscal stimulus that increased infrastructure spending during the economic slowdown.
Memory cueA fiscal policy sits in the government's budget book beside taxes and public spending.
Lasting for a very short time; passing quickly
The comet's appearance was fleeting, visible to the naked eye for only three nights before fading from view.
Memory cueA fleeting shadow crosses the wall and disappears almost immediately.
Encouraged or promoted the development of something
The mentorship program fostered a sense of belonging among first-generation college students who might otherwise have felt isolated.
Memory cueA greenhouse fostered young plants by encouraging their development.
Hhibernation1 word
A state of inactivity or dormancy (used metaphorically here for a practice that had gone dormant)
The art form had entered a kind of hibernation in the early twentieth century before a dramatic revival in the 1960s.
Memory cueA bear's winter battery drops to minimum during hibernation.
Iimminent – infusion5 words
About to happen; impending
With floodwaters rising by the hour, the danger to downstream communities was imminent.
Memory cueAn imminent event stands one second away on a countdown clock.
Unable to be moved; fixed and rigid
The negotiator found her counterpart immovable on the key issue, forcing the talks to stall.
Memory cueAn immovable boulder stays fixed despite every effort to shift it.
Unchanging over time; unable to be altered
The laws of thermodynamics are considered immutable, governing everything from engine design to the fate of the universe.
Memory cueAn immutable rule is carved into stone that cannot be changed.
Continuing without pause or interruption; ceaseless
The incessant noise from the construction site made it impossible for residents to sleep or concentrate.
Memory cueAn incessant alarm sounds continuously without pause.
The introduction of a new element or quality; an injection (as of capital)
The infusion of venture capital allowed the startup to hire top engineers and accelerate product development.
Memory cueAn infusion pours a new element, quality, or capital into something.
Lleverage1 word
The use of borrowed money to increase the potential return and risk of an investment.
Heavy leverage magnified the property fund's losses when rental income could no longer cover interest payments.
Memory cueFinancial leverage uses a debt lever to lift returns, but the same lever can deepen losses.
Mmomentary – monetary2 words
Lasting for a very short time; brief
A momentary lapse in concentration cost the chess grandmaster the match and the tournament title.
Memory cueA momentary light flashes for one brief instant.
Relating to money, interest rates, credit conditions, or the money supply.
The central bank tightened monetary policy by raising interest rates to restrain rapid price growth.
Memory cueMONETARY resembles MONEY: it concerns the supply, price, and flow of money.
Nnascent1 word
Just beginning to develop; not yet fully formed; emerging
The nascent democracy faced numerous challenges in establishing stable institutions.
Memory cueA nascent idea is newly born and only beginning to develop.
Oobsolete – overshadowed2 words
No longer produced or used; out of date
The rapid pace of technological change renders today's cutting-edge devices obsolete within a few years.
Memory cueAn obsolete device gathers dust in a museum because it is no longer used.
To obscure or make less important by comparison; to cast a shadow over
The composer's symphonies have long been overshadowed by his more popular operas, though scholars argue they deserve equal attention.
Memory cueA huge spotlight on one achievement leaves the other overshadowed and less noticeable.
Pperennial – primitive6 words
Lasting throughout the year or for an indefinitely long time; enduring
The question of how to balance economic growth with environmental protection is a perennial challenge for policymakers.
Memory cueA perennial plant returns year after year; a perennial issue likewise endures.
Involving new ideas or methods; groundbreaking; trailblazing
Her pioneering research on gene therapy laid the groundwork for treatments that are now saving thousands of lives.
Memory cuePioneering work walks first into territory no established method has crossed.
Occurring after death; awarded or recognized after one's death
The writer received posthumous recognition when her unpublished manuscripts were discovered and celebrated as masterpieces.
Memory cueA posthumous award arrives after the recipient has died.
Occurring after a war, especially after World War II
The postwar economic boom transformed the country from an agrarian society into an industrial powerhouse within two decades.
Memory cuePostwar rebuilding begins after the war has ended.
To cause something to happen suddenly; done hastily without careful consideration
The assassination precipitated a political crisis that lasted for months.
Memory cueA pushed domino precipitates an event before it would normally occur.
Relating to or characteristic of an early stage of development; unsophisticated
The primitive tools found at the site suggest human habitation tens of thousands of years earlier than previously thought.
Memory cueA primitive design belongs to an early, relatively unsophisticated stage.
Rrecession – remedial3 words
A broad and sustained decline in economic activity.
During the recession, households reduced discretionary purchases and many businesses postponed hiring and expansion.
Memory cueIn a recession, the economic tide recedes and leaves production and employment lower.
To voluntarily cease to keep or claim; to give up
The aging monarch was reluctant to relinquish power, even as advisors urged him to step aside for his successor.
Memory cueTo relinquish a claim, open your hand and voluntarily give it up.
Given or intended as a remedy or cure; intended to correct or improve
The school introduced remedial reading programs for students who had fallen behind during the pandemic.
Memory cueRemedial work serves as a remedy meant to correct a weakness.
Sstagnant – superseded3 words
Showing no activity or advancement; not flowing or moving (wrong answer, contrasted with tested word)
The stagnant economy offered few opportunities for young graduates entering the workforce.
Memory cueStagnant water sits unmoving; stagnant progress likewise goes nowhere.
A state of little or no growth, activity, or development
After decades of rapid expansion, the industry entered a period of stagnation characterized by falling investment and flat revenues.
Memory cueStagnation freezes growth and activity into a motionless pool.
Taken the place of; supplanted something previously held or used
Newtonian mechanics was not so much disproved as superseded by Einstein's more comprehensive theory of relativity.
Memory cueA newer, more effective model rolls in and supersedes the old one.
Ttrajectory – tumultuous5 words
The path or direction of development; the course of an argument
The trajectory of the nation's economic development over the last fifty years has been nothing short of remarkable.
Memory cueTrajectory traces the path an object, career, or argument follows.
Lasting only for a short time; impermanent; passing through with only a brief stay
The economic boom proved transient, giving way to a severe downturn within two years.
Memory cueA transient visitor arrives briefly and soon follows the exit arrow.
Not permanent; lasting only a short time
Fame in the art world can be transitory; many celebrated painters are forgotten within a generation.
Memory cueA transitory visitor stays only briefly before passing onward.
Deeply disturbing or distressing; relating to emotional shock
The traumatic experience of combat left lasting psychological scars that took decades of therapy to address.
Memory cueA traumatic event strikes deeply enough to leave emotional shock.
Making a loud, confused noise; excited, confused, or disorderly; turbulent
The nation endured a tumultuous decade of revolution, civil war, and foreign intervention before achieving stability.
Memory cueA tumultuous crowd churns with loud confusion and disorder.
Uunprecedented – upheavals2 words
Never done or known before; without previous example
The scale of the humanitarian crisis was unprecedented, overwhelming the capacity of relief organizations.
Memory cueAn unprecedented event carries a FIRST EVER stamp with no earlier example.
Violent or sudden changes or disruptions
The political upheavals of the 1960s reshaped the cultural landscape of the nation in ways still felt today.
Memory cueUpheavals violently lift and disrupt the settled order.
Wwane1 word
To decrease gradually in power, size, or extent; to decline
Public interest in the scandal began to wane after several weeks without new revelations.
Memory cueThe waning moon shrinks night by night as strength decreases.
The printable Change, Growth & Risk guide has all 55 words, ready to print. All 10 themes (550 words) are on the guide index; to drill them interactively, use the GMAT flashcards.