30 words starting with V

• vacillate verb

  to keep changing one’s mind between choices

  I vacillated between the blue shirt and the red one for an hour.

  Like waver, hesitate, dither

• vacuous adjective

  showing a lack of thought or intelligence; empty

  The advertisement was full of vacuous promises.

  Like empty, inane, mindless

• validate verb

  to check or prove that something is true or correct; to make something officially acceptable

  The lab validated the results by repeating the experiment.

  Like confirm, verify, endorse

• valor noun

  great courage, especially in battle

  The soldiers received medals for their valor.

  Like bravery, courage, heroism

• vanguard noun

  the leading position in a movement or new development

  The young scientists were in the vanguard of solar energy research.

  Like forefront, front line, lead

• vehement adjective

  showing strong, forceful feeling

  She made a vehement objection to cutting down the old trees.

  Like passionate, fervent, forceful

• venerable adjective

  respected because of great age, wisdom, or character

  The venerable monk has lived in the monastery for seventy years.

  Like respected, revered, honored

• vengeance noun

  harm done to someone in return for a harm they did

  In the old tale, the dragon swore vengeance on the thief who stole its gold.

  Like revenge, retribution, reprisal

• veracity noun

  truthfulness or accuracy

  The reporter checked the veracity of the story before printing it.

  Like truthfulness, accuracy, honesty

• verbose adjective

  using more words than are needed

  His verbose essay ran to ten pages but said very little.

  Like wordy, long-winded, rambling

• verify verb

  to check that something is true or correct

  Please verify your answers before handing in the test.

  Like confirm, check, validate

• vernacular noun

  the everyday language spoken by ordinary people in a place

  The poet wrote in the vernacular so that farmers could enjoy his poems.

  Like dialect, local language, everyday speech

• versatile adjective

  able to do many different things or be used in many ways

  A versatile player, she can play in defense or attack.

  Like adaptable, flexible, all-around

• vestige noun

  a small remaining trace of something that once existed

  A few stone steps are the last vestige of the old palace.

  Like trace, remnant, remains

• vibrant adjective

  full of life and energy; bright and strong in color

  The market was vibrant with colorful fruits and busy shoppers.

  Like lively, bright, vivid

• vicarious adjective

  experienced through another person’s actions instead of directly

  I got vicarious excitement from reading about her trek to Everest Base Camp.

  Like indirect, secondhand, surrogate

• vigilance noun

  careful watchfulness for danger or problems

  The guards’ vigilance kept the museum safe.

  Like watchfulness, alertness, attentiveness

• vigilant adjective

  carefully watching for possible danger or problems

  Stay vigilant for slippery rocks when crossing the stream.

  Like watchful, alert, attentive

• vigor noun

  physical strength and energy

  Grandfather still works in his garden with great vigor.

  Like energy, strength, vitality

• vigorous adjective

  strong, active, and full of energy

  A vigorous walk every morning keeps my aunt healthy.

  Like energetic, strong, brisk

• vindicate verb

  to show that someone was right or not to blame

  The test results vindicated her claim that the water was clean.

  Like justify, clear, exonerate

• vindictive adjective

  wanting to hurt someone who has hurt you

  The vindictive character in the play tries to spoil everyone’s fun.

  Like spiteful, vengeful, malicious

• visceral adjective

  felt deeply in the body rather than through thinking

  Seeing the steep drop gave me a visceral fear of heights.

  Like instinctive, gut, deep-seated

• vitality noun

  the state of being full of life and energy

  The young dancers performed with great vitality.

  Like energy, liveliness, vigor

• vivacious adjective

  (of a person) lively, cheerful, and full of spirit

  Our vivacious guide kept everyone laughing on the bus.

  Like lively, spirited, bubbly

• vivid adjective

  very bright in color; producing clear, strong images in the mind

  He gave a vivid description of the festival lights.

  Like bright, colorful, graphic

• vociferous adjective

  expressing opinions loudly and forcefully

  The fans were vociferous in their support of the home team.

  Like loud, vocal, clamorous

• volatile adjective

  likely to change suddenly and unpredictably; (of a liquid) turning easily into gas

  Petrol is volatile, so it must be kept away from flames.

  Like unstable, unpredictable, explosive

• voracious adjective

  wanting large amounts of food or of an activity

  My sister is a voracious reader who finishes a book every day.

  Like insatiable, ravenous, avid

• vulnerable adjective

  easily hurt, harmed, or attacked

  Young plants are vulnerable to frost in early spring.

  Like exposed, defenseless, susceptible