Here you’ll find 49 SAT words that start with V, organized from “vacillate” to “vulnerable”. These vocabulary items tend to be formal, Latin-derived, and useful for essays, reading comprehension, and the verbal section.
SAT words that start with V are focused, high-value vocabulary entries you’ll see in academic reading and test questions. Many come from Latin roots and appear in classic literature and recent SAT passages.
Below you’ll find the table with Word, Difficulty, Definition, and Example Sentence.
Word: The vocabulary term itself, presented so you can recognize, spell, and practice each SAT word confidently.
Difficulty: A clear easy/medium/hard tag that helps you prioritize study time and focus on weaker words.
Definition: A concise, dictionary-style definition giving the core meaning you need for reading and test questions.
Example Sentence: A single clear sentence showing typical usage so you can see context and improve retention.
SAT words that start with V
| Word | Part of speech | Difficulty | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| vague | adjective | easy | not clearly expressed or defined |
| valid | adjective | easy | logically or legally acceptable; well-founded |
| validate | verb | medium | to confirm or support as true or acceptable |
| vacillate | verb | medium | to waver between options or opinions |
| vacuous | adjective | medium | lacking thought, intelligence, or meaningful content |
| vagary | noun | hard | an unpredictable or whimsical action or occurrence |
| vagrant | noun | medium | a person who wanders without a permanent home |
| valiant | adjective | medium | showing courage or determination |
| valor | noun | medium | great bravery, especially in battle or danger |
| venerate | verb | hard | to regard with deep respect or reverence |
| venerable | adjective | hard | commanding respect because of age, dignity, or character |
| venal | adjective | hard | open to bribery; corrupt |
| veneer | noun | medium | a superficial or deceptive outer appearance or layer |
| venial | adjective | medium | forgivable or excusable (usually of an offense) |
| vendetta | noun | hard | a prolonged, bitter feud, often seeking revenge |
| veracity | noun | hard | truthfulness or accuracy of statements or facts |
| veracious | adjective | hard | habitually truthful; accurate |
| verity | noun | hard | a fundamental truth or principle |
| verbose | adjective | medium | using more words than necessary; wordy |
| verbatim | adverb | medium | in exactly the same words; word for word |
| verify | verb | medium | to confirm the truth or accuracy of something |
| verisimilitude | noun | hard | the appearance or likeness of being true or real |
| veritable | adjective | medium | used to emphasize something’s true nature; genuine |
| vicarious | adjective | medium | experienced through another person’s actions or feelings |
| vicissitude | noun | hard | a change of circumstances or fortune, often unwelcome |
| vindicate | verb | hard | to clear from blame or justify; show to be right |
| vindictive | adjective | medium | having or showing a strong desire for revenge |
| virtuoso | noun | medium | a person with exceptional skill, especially in music |
| virtuous | adjective | medium | having high moral standards; morally excellent |
| virulent | adjective | hard | extremely harmful, poisonous, or bitterly hostile |
| visceral | adjective | hard | relating to deep, instinctive feelings rather than logic |
| vitiate | verb | hard | to impair, spoil, or make ineffective |
| vitriolic | adjective | hard | filled with bitter, caustic criticism or malice |
| vituperate | verb | hard | to scold or criticize harshly; berate |
| vivid | adjective | easy | producing clear, powerful, lively images or impressions |
| vivacious | adjective | medium | attractively lively and animated in personality |
| vocation | noun | medium | a person’s occupation or calling, often with purpose |
| vocal | adjective | easy | expressing opinions openly and loudly |
| vociferous | adjective | hard | loud, forceful, and insistent in expression |
| volatile | adjective | medium | likely to change suddenly; unstable or explosive |
| volition | noun | hard | the act of making a conscious choice or decision |
| voluble | adjective | hard | speaking readily and at length; talkative |
| voluminous | adjective | medium | very large in size, extent, or quantity |
| voluntary | adjective | easy | done willingly, without coercion or payment |
| voracious | adjective | medium | having an insatiable appetite for food or activity |
| vortex | noun | medium | a whirling mass of fluid or a center of turmoil |
| vouch | verb | medium | to confirm, support, or guarantee someone’s character or claim |
| vouchsafe | verb | hard | to grant or give as a favor, sometimes condescendingly |
| vulnerable | adjective | medium | capable of being harmed, wounded, or emotionally open |
Descriptions
vague
Usage: common for imprecise statements. Example: Her instructions were vague, so students were confused.
valid
Usage: describes sound reasoning or legal force. Example: His argument was valid and convinced the panel.
validate
Usage: used in research, testing, or claims. Example: The committee will validate the survey results next week.
vacillate
Usage: implies indecision or fluctuation. Example: He vacillated for weeks before choosing a major.
vacuous
Usage: describes empty or superficial remarks. Example: The interview felt vacuous and offered no insight.
vagary
Usage: often plural, denotes unexpected changes. Example: The trip’s delays were caused by the vagaries of weather.
vagrant
Usage: used in social, legal, or historical contexts. Example: The charity provided shelter to vagrants during winter.
valiant
Usage: formal tone, used for bravery. Example: The valiant rescue team saved several hikers.
valor
Usage: often used in military or heroic contexts. Example: She was awarded a medal for valor.
venerate
Usage: used for honoring people, traditions, or icons. Example: Many cultures venerate their elders and ancestors.
venerable
Usage: formal, used for respected institutions or people. Example: The venerable scholar lectured at the ceremony.
venal
Usage: used to describe corrupt officials or practices. Example: The report exposed several venal politicians accepting payoffs.
veneer
Usage: often metaphorical for thin disguise. Example: His charm was a veneer masking selfish motives.
venial
Usage: contrasts with serious or grave faults. Example: The error was venial and did not harm the case.
vendetta
Usage: implies long-standing personal hostility. Example: The families’ vendetta lasted for decades.
veracity
Usage: used when assessing credibility or sources. Example: Reporters checked the veracity of the witness’s claims.
veracious
Usage: formal, describes people or reports. Example: She was known as a veracious source of information.
verity
Usage: literary, used for enduring truths. Example: The novel explores universal verities about love and loss.
verbose
Usage: applied to writing or speech. Example: His verbose essay obscured the main argument.
verbatim
Usage: used for exact repetition. Example: She recited the passage verbatim during the presentation.
verify
Usage: common in testing, research, and fact-checking. Example: Please verify the figures before publishing the report.
verisimilitude
Usage: used in literature and art criticism. Example: The film’s detail lends strong verisimilitude to the story.
veritable
Usage: serves as an intensifier in comparisons. Example: The backyard became a veritable jungle after the storm.
vicarious
Usage: often used emotionally or for indirect experience. Example: She felt vicarious pride when her friend won.
vicissitude
Usage: commonly used in plural to denote ups and downs. Example: They endured the vicissitudes of life during war.
vindicate
Usage: used in legal and moral contexts. Example: New evidence helped vindicate the accused defendant.
vindictive
Usage: describes people or actions motivated by spite. Example: His vindictive emails damaged their professional relationship.
virtuoso
Usage: high praise for technical mastery. Example: The pianist performed like a true virtuoso.
virtuous
Usage: often used in ethical or religious contexts. Example: She was praised for her virtuous conduct.
virulent
Usage: used medically and figuratively for attacks. Example: The article sparked virulent criticism online.
visceral
Usage: describes gut-level emotional reactions. Example: He had a visceral dislike for the idea.
vitiate
Usage: formal, frequently used in legal or contractual contexts. Example: The error vitiated the validity of the agreement.
vitriolic
Usage: describes extremely harsh speech or writing. Example: The critic’s vitriolic review shocked the author.
vituperate
Usage: formal and forceful; less common in speech. Example: The coach vituperated the team after their poor play.
vivid
Usage: common for descriptions, memories, or imagery. Example: Her description of the scene was vivid and memorable.
vivacious
Usage: typically describes energetic people. Example: The host’s vivacious manner energized the crowd.
vocation
Usage: implies meaningful or chosen work. Example: She pursued nursing as a true vocation, not just a job.
vocal
Usage: used for outspoken people or groups. Example: Parents were vocal about changes to the curriculum.
vociferous
Usage: used for noisy advocates, crowds, or critics. Example: Vociferous protesters demanded policy reform immediately.
volatile
Usage: used for markets, situations, or moods. Example: The region remained politically volatile after the election.
volition
Usage: used in psychology and moral contexts. Example: She left of her own volition, not under pressure.
voluble
Usage: describes fluent, rapid speech. Example: The voluble commentator dominated the panel discussion.
voluminous
Usage: used for writing, garments, or objects. Example: He kept voluminous notes during the seminar.
voluntary
Usage: common in legal and organizational contexts. Example: Participation in the study is entirely voluntary.
voracious
Usage: used literally or figuratively for eagerness. Example: She is a voracious reader of historical fiction.
vortex
Usage: literal or metaphorical for chaotic centers. Example: The city became a vortex of protests and counterprotests.
vouch
Usage: used to endorse or assure truth. Example: I can vouch for her integrity and work ethic.
vouchsafe
Usage: formal or ironic; less common. Example: The CEO vouchsafed a brief statement to reporters.
vulnerable
Usage: used physically, socially, or emotionally. Example: The coastal town was vulnerable to severe storms.