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216 Adjectives That Start With V

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V is a small letter carrying a large amount of Latin. Of the 216 adjectives below, 67 begin vi- and 64 begin ve-, and a great many of them arrived whole from Latin roots that are still visible: vid- and vis- for seeing, voc- for calling, viv- for living, ver- for truth. That is why the everyday V vocabulary is short and the technical one is long.

This page lists 216 adjectives that start with V, each with its meaning. Every one was checked for an adjective entry of its own in Merriam-Webster or Oxford, by reading the part-of-speech markup rather than trusting the page to load — and a word that appears only as an undefined run-on under a noun, as veteran and vomitory do, is not counted as an adjective here.

94 of them are formal, technical or rare, and they sit in their own section at the end. That is a larger share than most letters, and it is the honest shape of V: the medical and botanical Latin is genuinely where most of this letter lives. Words with no adjective entry in either dictionary were left out, and so were the deepest specialist terms, so this is not every V adjective in the unabridged dictionary. What remains still includes some firmly technical vocabulary, which is why it is grouped rather than mixed in. Where a dictionary marks a word informal, disapproving or regional, the label is in brackets after the meaning.

All 216 adjectives at a glance

Every word on this page in one block. Each is defined further down.

v-shaped, vacant, vaccinal, vacillatory, vacuous, vacuum-packed, vagabond, vagal, vagarious, vaginal, vagrant, vague, vain, vainglorious, valedictory, valetudinarian, valgus, valiant, valid, valorous, valuable, value-added, value-laden, valued, valueless, valvular, vampiric, vandalistic, vanilla, vanquished, vapid, vaporish, vaporous, variable, variant, varicolored, varicose, varied, variegated, various, varsity, varus, vascular, vasoconstrictive, vasomotor, vasovagal, vast, vatic, vaulted, vaulting, vaunted, vaunty, vectorial, vegan, vegetable, vegetal, vegetarian, vegetative, vehement, vehicular, veiled, veined, veiny, velamentous, velar, velvety, venal, vendible, venerable, venereal, vengeful, venial, venomous, venous, ventilatory, ventral, ventricular, venturesome, venturous, veracious, verbal, verbatim, verbose, verboten, verdant, verdurous, veridical, verifiable, verisimilar, veritable, vermicular, vermiform, vermilion, verminous, vernacular, vernal, verrucous, versatile, versed, vertebral, vertebrate, vertical, verticillate, vertiginous, very, vesicular, vespertine, vestal, vested, vestibular, vestigial, veterinary, vetted, vexatious, vexed, vexing, viable, vibrant, vibratory, vicarial, vicarious, vicinal, vicious, vicissitudinous, victorious, vigesimal, vigilant, vigorous, vile, villainous, villous, vinaceous, vincible, vindicatory, vindictive, vinegared, vinegarish, vinegary, vinicultural, vinous, vintage, violable, violaceous, violent, violet, viperine, viperish, viperous, viral, virescent, virgin, virginal, viricidal, virid, viridescent, virile, virtual, virtuosic, virtuoso, virtuous, virucidal, virulent, visceral, viscid, viscoelastic, viscous, viselike, visible, visionary, visiting, visored, visual, visuospatial, vital, vitelline, viticultural, vitreous, vitriolic, vituperative, vivacious, vivid, viviparous, vixenish, vocal, vocalic, vocational, vocative, vociferous, voguish, voice-activated, voiced, voiceless, void, voidable, voided, volant, volar, volatile, volcanic, voltaic, voluble, volumetric, voluminous, voluntary, voluptuous, voracious, vortical, votive, voyeuristic, vulcanian, vulgar, vulnerable, vulnerary, vulpine, vulturine, vulturous

Positive

The praise-side words, and a short list for a letter this size. Valiant and valorous are near-twins from the same root; the page marks them as such rather than inventing a difference. Venerable is the one most often misused — it means commanding respect through age or character, not merely old.

Adjective What it means
valiant acting with great bravery or boldness; showing courage in the face of danger (especially literary; same sense as valorous)
valorous showing great courage, especially in battle or war (literary; same sense as valiant)
valuable worth a large amount of money; commanding a good price
venerable commanding respect through age, character, and achievement (formal)
versatile able to do many different things well, turning easily from one skill or field to another
vibrant full of life, energy, and activity; pulsing with animation
victorious having won a victory; ending in success over an opponent
vigorous carried out forcefully and energetically; full of physical or mental strength
virile of a man, strong and full of energy, especially sexual energy; also having qualities traditionally regarded as masculine (usually approving in the ‘strong and full of energy’ sense)
virtuosic showing masterly technical brilliance (same sense as virtuoso)
virtuoso displaying dazzling technical mastery, especially in music (same sense as virtuosic)
visionary having or marked by foresight and imagination; able to plan ahead with originality and intelligence (approving)

Negative

Twice as many, which is usual. V is unusually well supplied with words for cruelty and bad speech: vitriolic, vituperative, viperish and vulgar all describe how something was said rather than what was said.

Adjective What it means
vacuous emptied of or lacking content; hence showing no intelligence, thought, or feeling (formal in the ‘showing no intelligence or feeling’ sense)
valueless having no worth at all; entirely useless or without monetary worth (formal)
vampiric sucking blood; preying parasitically on the vitality or resources of others
vandalistic of or relating to vandalism, the wilful destruction or defacing of property
vanquished overcome or defeated in battle, or in a conflict or contest
vapid lacking flavor, zest, interest, animation, or spirit; flat and dull (formal)
venal open to bribery; ready to act dishonestly in return for money (formal)
verbose containing more words than are necessary; wordy (formal, disapproving)
verminous consisting of or being vermin; noxious; covered or infested with them (formal)
vexatious causing annoyance, worry, or distress (old-fashioned or formal; same sense as vexing)
vexed of a question or an issue, difficult and much disputed; also annoyed or irritated (old-fashioned in the ‘upset or annoyed’ sense)
vexing causing, or likely to cause, annoyance, worry, or distress (old-fashioned or formal; same sense as vexatious)
vicious dangerously aggressive; savage and cruel in attack or temper (informal in the “very bad or severe” sense)
vile morally despicable or repellent; also, extremely unpleasant or bad
villainous befitting a villain; evil or depraved in character. Also, highly objectionable or extremely unpleasant (formal)
violent marked by the use of usually harmful or destructive physical force
viperish spitefully abusive in speech
viperous of or resembling a viper; also having the qualities attributed to one, malignant and spiteful (same sense as viperine)
virulent of a disease or poison: extremely severe and harmful, and quick to take effect
vitriolic savagely bitter and cutting in tone, full of anger and hate; in chemistry, of or derived from vitriol (sulfuric acid or a metal sulfate) (formal)
vituperative criticizing in a bitter, angry way; full of censure and abuse (formal)
voyeuristic of or characteristic of someone who takes pleasure in secretly watching others undressed or having sex (disapproving)
vulgar lacking cultivation, perception, or taste; coarse in manner, speech, or style
vulturous resembling a vulture, especially in rapacity or in scavenging habits (feeding on carrion or refuse)

Personality

Character and disposition. Vain and vainglorious differ by degree and register, not by kind. Note veracious here: it means truthful, and is not voracious, which is in the section below and in the confusions table.

Adjective What it means
vain having or showing excessive pride in one’s looks or achievements; conceited (disapproving in the ‘conceited’ sense; same sense as vaunty)
vainglorious boastful, and far too proud of one’s own abilities or achievements (literary, disapproving)
vaunty full of boastful pride; given to showing off one’s own worth (Scotland; same sense as vain)
vengeful seeking to avenge a wrong, or serving to gain vengeance on someone who has caused harm (formal; same sense as vindictive)
venturesome inclined to court or incur risk or danger; willing to take chances; daring (formal or literary; same sense as venturous)
venturous inclined to court risk or danger; daring (same sense as venturesome)
veracious telling the truth; honest in what one says (same sense as veridical)
vigilant alertly watchful, especially so as to catch signs of danger or trouble in time (formal)
vindictive disposed to seek revenge; wanting to hurt someone who has hurt you (same sense as vengeful)
vinegarish disagreeable, bitter or irritable in character or manner
virtuous behaving in a morally good way; showing high moral standards (formal)
vivacious lively and animated in temper, conduct, or spirit; full of high spirits (approving)
vixenish resembling a vixen; ill-tempered and quarrelsome (disapproving, and used of women)
vociferous expressing opinions loudly, forcefully and insistently (formal)
voluble speaking readily and at length; separately, in older use, easily rolling or turning (formal)

Physical appearance

A short section, and worth reading differently from the others, because these are words for real people and things. Voluptuous and veiny describe a body, and both carry weight a writer should intend before using.

Adjective What it means
varicolored having several different colours (same sense as variegated)
variegated marked with patches or streaks of more than one colour; also made up of many different kinds (same sense as varicolored)
veined patterned or streaked with veins, or with thin lines resembling them (same sense as veiny)
veiny full of veins that stand out prominently (same sense as veined)
visored covered or masked with a visor; disguised
voluminous having great volume or bulk; of clothing, very large and made with a lot of cloth (formal)
voluptuous of a woman, having large breasts and hips in a way meant as sexually attractive; separately, giving intense physical pleasure (formal in the body sense; literary in the pleasure sense)

Everyday and descriptive

The working vocabulary of the letter, and the section most readers came for. Vague, vast, valid, vital and vulnerable do more work than the rest of V put together.

Adjective What it means
v-shaped having the general shape of the letter V, or forming a V in cross section
vacant not occupied by any holder, tenant, or officer; empty and not currently in use
vacuum-packed having most of the air drawn out before being closed and sealed airtight
vagabond moving from place to place with no fixed home; also leading an unsettled or disreputable life
vagrant wandering from place to place, usually with no home or means of support (formal or law)
vague not clearly or precisely expressed; stated only in indefinite terms
valid legally or officially acceptable; having proper legal force, as a contract or passport does
vanilla flavoured with vanilla; also plain, ordinary and without distinction
variable apt to change; not staying the same from one occasion or measurement to the next
variant differing in form or degree from others of the same kind or from a standard
varied made up of many different kinds or types (usually approving; same sense as various)
various several different; more than one in number and not all alike (same sense as varied)
varsity of or connected with a university, especially a sporting contest between Oxford and Cambridge (British English, informal)
vast very great in size, amount, degree or intensity, and especially in extent or range
vaulted built in the shape of an arch or a series of arches, as a roof or ceiling
vaulting reaching or stretching for the heights, as an ambition that soars beyond ordinary bounds
vaunted highly or widely praised or boasted about, especially when the praise is not deserved (formal)
vegan containing or using no meat, dairy, eggs, or any other product taken from animals
vegetable of, derived from, or growing in the manner of plants
vegetarian of, relating to, or suitable for people who eat no meat or fish
vegetative relating to, made up of, or suggesting vegetation (same sense as vegetal)
vehement marked by forceful energy; expressing intense, deeply felt emotion
veiled having or wearing a veil, or covered by something that conceals what lies beneath
velvety having the character of velvet: soft, smooth, thick, or richly hued
venomous producing venom in a specialized gland and able to inflict injury or death; also, full of spite (formal in the ‘full of bitter feelings or hate’ sense)
verbal of, relating to, or consisting of words
verbatim being in or following the exact words; word-for-word
verboten not permitted or allowed; forbidden by or as if by authority (especially North American English, from German, humorous)
verdant green in tint or color; covered with fresh green growing plants (literary; same sense as verdurous, virid)
vermilion of a brilliant scarlet-red, the colour of the pigment made from cinnabar
vernacular using the ordinary spoken language of a country or region rather than a literary or foreign one
versed having thorough knowledge of or skill in something, gained by study, practice, or close experience
vertical at right angles to the plane of the horizon or to a main axis; upright
very being precisely the one meant and no other, used before a noun for emphasis
vetted examined and judged beforehand, so as to be approved or accepted officially
viable capable of living, growing, or surviving
vicarious experienced indirectly, through imaginative or sympathetic participation in what another person does or feels (same sense as vicarial)
vinegared flavored or marinated with vinegar
vinegary resembling vinegar, or flavoured with it; also disagreeable, bitter or irascible in manner
vintage of wine: produced in one particular harvest year and of high quality
violet of a colour between blue and purple (same sense as violaceous)
viral of, relating to, or caused by a virus
virgin in its original untouched condition, not used or altered; also, sexually chaste
virginal pure, innocent and untouched, as of a person with no sexual experience
virtual being something in effect or essence though not in name; also, simulated on computers
visceral felt in or as if in the internal organs; deep and instinctive rather than reasoned
viscous thick and sticky in consistency; not flowing freely (specialist; same sense as viscid)
viselike clamping or holding with crushing, unrelenting force
visible able to be seen; perceptible to the eye
visiting invited to join or attend an institution, such as a university, for a limited time
visual of, relating to, or used in sight; connected with seeing
vital of the utmost importance; necessary for something to succeed or to exist
vivid producing very clear pictures in the mind; of a colour, very strong and bright
vocal uttered by the voice; connected with or written for the human voice
vocational having to do with a person’s occupation or calling, or with training for a particular trade
voguish currently in fashion and stylish, though sometimes only briefly so
voice-activated of an electronic device: able to be controlled by spoken commands
voiced having a voice, especially one of a specified kind, as in soft-voiced or deep-voiced
voiceless having no voice; unable to speak, or given no say in what happens
volatile liable to change rapidly and unexpectedly; of a person, shifting easily from one mood to another (often disapproving in the ‘of a person or their moods’ sense)
volcanic of, relating to, or produced by a volcano
voluntary proceeding from one’s own will or choice; done willingly rather than under compulsion
voracious having a huge appetite for food; also insatiably eager for something, as a voracious reader (formal in the ‘eating or wanting large amounts of food’ sense)
vulnerable capable of being easily hurt or harmed, physically, mentally, or emotionally

Formal, technical and rare

The formal, medical, botanical and literary end, collected rather than mixed in. Most are Latin arrivals that never changed shape. They are here because a reader might meet them — in a diagnosis, on a plant label, in older prose — not because a list looks longer with them in it.

Adjective What it means
vaccinal relating to a vaccine or to inoculation against disease
vacillatory marked by wavering; swinging back and forth between opinions or courses of action instead of deciding
vagal of or relating to the vagus nerve, or brought about through it
vagarious given to sudden unpredictable shifts of mood or course; capricious, whimsical
vaginal of or affecting the vagina, the muscular canal leading from the uterus to outside the body
valedictory expressing or containing a farewell, especially as part of a formal leave-taking (formal)
valetudinarian sickly and weak, or constantly preoccupied with one’s own poor health
valgus of a body part turned outward, away from the midline, to an abnormal degree
value-added of a product whose worth has been raised by special manufacturing, marketing, or processing
value-laden influenced by personal opinions or moral judgements rather than neutral fact
valued having values of a specified kind or number, used chiefly in combinations such as real-valued
valvular resembling or working as a valve; also, opening by means of valves
vaporish resembling or suggestive of vapour; also, in older use, given to fits of low spirits
vaporous consisting of vapor or full of it; having the character of vapor (formal)
varicose abnormally swollen or dilated, as a blood vessel
varus denoting a deformity in which a body part is turned abnormally inward toward the midline
vascular relating to the vessels that carry blood in an animal or sap in a plant (specialist)
vasoconstrictive producing a narrowing of the blood vessels, so that flow through them is reduced
vasomotor of nerves, or the centres they arise from, that control blood flow by adjusting vessel width
vasovagal caused by the vagus nerve acting on heart rate and the widening of blood vessels
vatic prophetic; speaking or written as though inspired to reveal what is to come
vectorial of or relating to a vector, or to a quantity having both magnitude and direction
vegetal connected with plants and plant life (formal; same sense as vegetative)
vehicular of, relating to, or designed for vehicles, especially motor vehicles (formal)
velamentous relating to, resembling, or forming a velamen, a membranous covering or sheath
velar formed with the back of the tongue touching or near the soft palate
vendible able to be sold; finding a ready buyer on the open market
venereal of or relating to sexual pleasure or indulgence; in modern use, of diseases spread by sexual contact
venial forgivable or pardonable, of a fault or a sin; meriting no particular censure (formal)
venous of, relating to, or full of veins; (of blood) having given up its oxygen to the tissues and become charged with carbon dioxide (specialist)
ventilatory of, relating to, or provided with ventilation, as the air-moving capacity of the lungs
ventral of or relating to the belly; on or near the lower or front surface of an animal’s body
ventricular of, relating to, or being a ventricle, especially of the heart or brain
verdurous clothed with the fresh green of growing plants (same sense as verdant)
veridical truthful; telling or reporting what is actually the case (same sense as veracious)
verifiable able to be checked to show whether it is true or accurate (formal)
verisimilar having the appearance of truth; likely or probable
veritable being in fact the thing named, not false or imaginary; used to stress an apt comparison (formal or humorous)
vermicular resembling a worm in form or movement (same sense as vermiform)
vermiform resembling a worm in shape (same sense as vermicular)
vernal of, relating to, or happening in the spring
verrucous covered with warty elevations; marked by the formation of warty lesions
vertebral of or relating to the vertebrae or the backbone
vertebrate having a backbone or spinal column
verticillate arranged in whorls, as leaves or flowers ringing a stem at one point
vertiginous suffering from or causing dizziness; of a drop or a height, steep enough to bring it on (formal in the ‘causing dizziness by its height’ sense)
vesicular containing, composed of, or marked by small sacs or cavities
vespertine of, relating to, or happening in the evening
vestal of or relating to the Roman goddess Vesta or her priestesses; hence chaste
vested guaranteed fully and unconditionally as a legal right, benefit, or privilege
vestibular relating to or serving as a vestibule, an entrance chamber or passage
vestigial of a body part: remaining in a small, undeveloped form that no longer works (formal or specialist)
veterinary relating to the medical care and treatment of animals, especially domestic ones
vibratory consisting of, causing, or marked by rapid back-and-forth motion
vicarial serving in place of someone or something else; exercised by delegated authority (same sense as vicarious)
vicinal of or relating to a limited district; belonging to the immediate neighbourhood, local
vicissitudinous marked by or full of vicissitudes; subject to repeated changes of fortune
vigesimal based on the number twenty; counting or reckoning in units of twenty
villous covered or furnished with villi; also, bearing soft long hairs
vinaceous of the deep purplish-red color of red wine (same sense as vinous)
vincible able to be overcome, defeated, or subdued
vindicatory serving to justify something or clear it of blame
vinicultural relating to the cultivation of grapes, especially for making wine (same sense as viticultural)
vinous of, relating to, or made with wine (same sense as vinaceous)
violable capable of being broken, infringed, or treated with disrespect
violaceous of a colour between blue and purple (same sense as violet)
viperine of or resembling a viper; carrying poison in a bite (same sense as viperous)
virescent beginning to turn green; greenish (same sense as viridescent)
viricidal destroying viruses or making them unable to act (same sense as virucidal)
virid strongly and brightly green in colour (same sense as verdant)
viridescent slightly green; greenish in tint (same sense as virescent)
virucidal able to destroy or inactivate viruses (same sense as viricidal)
viscid sticky and slimy in texture (formal or specialist; same sense as viscous)
viscoelastic having marked properties of both a thick, slow-flowing liquid and a springy solid
visuospatial of or relating to thought processes that involve sight together with awareness of space
vitelline yellow like the yolk of an egg; resembling yolk in colour
viticultural of or relating to grape growing, or used in the cultivation of vines (same sense as vinicultural)
vitreous glasslike in colour, composition, brittleness, or lustre; hard, shiny, and clear like glass (specialist)
viviparous producing live young from the body rather than laying eggs
vocalic marked by or consisting of vowels; relating to a vowel sound
vocative belonging to the grammatical case that marks the person or thing being addressed
void having no legal force or effect; not binding, as of a contract or agreement
voidable able to be annulled or set aside, as a contract a court may cancel
voided of a heraldic charge: having the inner part cut away, leaving only a narrow border
volant having the wings extended as if in flight, said of a bird in heraldry; also, flying or able to fly
volar of or relating to the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot
voltaic of or producing an electric current made by chemical action, as in a battery
volumetric of, relating to, or involving the measurement of volume
vortical of, relating to, or resembling a vortex; swirling
votive consisting of or expressing a vow, wish, or desire; offered in fulfilment of a vow (specialist in the ‘presented to a god as a sign of thanks’ sense)
vulcanian of an eruption that blows thick lava into fragments and dust; capitalised, of Vulcan or of metalworking
vulnerary used for healing wounds, or useful in doing so, as certain plants and remedies
vulpine of, relating to, or resembling a fox (formal)
vulturine of, relating to, or characteristic of vultures

Using them in a sentence

A list is only half the job. These show the words carrying weight rather than sitting decoratively in front of a noun.

  • The instructions were vague where they needed to be exact and verbose where they needed to be short.
  • An official who is venal sells the decision; an error that is venial can be forgiven and forgotten.
  • Her case was valid, but the tone was vitriolic, and only the tone was remembered.
  • He is voracious about books and veracious about almost nothing else.
  • The new roof was much vaunted; the ceiling under it, genuinely vaulted, was the only good thing in the building.
  • The hillsides turn verdant in the weeks that are properly vernal, before the heat arrives.

Words people get wrong

Pair The difference that matters
venal / venial The one pair on this page that both dictionaries treat as a known confusion. Venal means open to bribery; venial means forgivable, of a fault or a sin. Merriam-Webster carries a usage note on both entries, and opens it with the test worth remembering: given the choice between acts that are venal and acts that are venial, choose the venial. Oxford marks both formal.
veracious / voracious Veracious is truthful. Voracious is ravenously hungry, for food or for anything else. Merriam-Webster calls them near-homophones in a note on both entries and warns that the similarity in sound masks utterly different meanings. Worth knowing: veracious is not in Oxford Learner’s at all, so it rests on Merriam-Webster alone.
vaunted / vaulted Genuinely one letter apart, and both are adjectives in both dictionaries. Vaunted is much praised or boasted about — Oxford adds especially when this is not deserved. Vaulted is arched, of a ceiling or a roof. In fairness this row is here on the spelling and the definitions alone: neither dictionary carries a usage note about the pair, and neither entry mentions the other.
volatile / voluble Not the pair it looks, and the row is here to say so: neither dictionary connects these two, and they share only a first syllable. The real trap is inside voluble by itself. Merriam-Webster’s first sense is easily rolling or turning, with the talkative sense second, while Oxford leads with the talkative one — so a reader who checks Merriam-Webster and takes sense one gets the wrong word. Volatile has its own footnote: Merriam-Webster carries it as a noun as well as an adjective.

Checked against Merriam-Webster, the Chicago Manual of Style and the AP Stylebook. Spotted an error? Tell us — see our editorial policy.

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