spartan
Group 11Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Showing the indifference to comfort or luxury associated with ancient Sparta; austere GRE
Example in Context
The dormitory rooms were spartan—a cot, a desk, and a single bare lightbulb—but the students were too focused on their studies to care.
Synonyms
bareplainaustere
Etymology
Living with minimal comfort, like ancient Spartans.
- Sparta (Greek) — a city known for austerity
Memory Aid
🏛️Sounds like “spar-10”
If you live a SPAR-10 lifestyle, you’ve got 10 things and no luxury — just a mat to sleep on!
Visual Association
🏺A simple room with just a mat and a few basic utensils, echoing the life of a Spartan warrior.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “spartan” mean on the GRE?
spartan (adjective) means “Showing the indifference to comfort or luxury associated with ancient Sparta; austere”. The dormitory rooms were spartan—a cot, a desk, and a single bare lightbulb—but the students were too focused on their studies to care.
How to remember “spartan” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “spartan” sounds like “spar-10”. If you live a SPAR-10 lifestyle, you’ve got 10 things and no luxury — just a mat to sleep on!
What are synonyms for “spartan”?
Common synonyms: bare, plain, austere.