vitiate

/ˈvɪʃ.i.eɪt/

Group 12Difficulty 3/3

Definition

(verb)
To spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of; to destroy the legal validity of
GRE

Example in Context

The procedural errors vitiated the entire trial, requiring the case to be retried from the beginning at enormous public expense.

Synonyms

weakenspoilcorrupt

Etymology

Means to spoil or mar, indicating a fault or flaw.

  • vitium (Latin) — fault

Memory Aid

💊Sounds like “vitamin C8

Imagine someone pouring VITAMIN C8 into a pristine glass of water, instantly turning it foul!

Visual Association

🧪A pristine potion turning murky as a fly drops into it, ruining its quality completely.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “vitiate” mean on the GRE?

vitiate (verb) means “To spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of; to destroy the legal validity of”. The procedural errors vitiated the entire trial, requiring the case to be retried from the beginning at enormous public expense.

How to remember “vitiate” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “vitiate” sounds like “vitamin C8”. Imagine someone pouring VITAMIN C8 into a pristine glass of water, instantly turning it foul!

What are synonyms for “vitiate”?

Common synonyms: weaken, spoil, corrupt.