A A B B C C D C E E F F G G H H I I J J K K L L M M N N O O P P Q Q R R S S T T U U V V W W X X Y Y Z Z

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vacillate waver (in opinion); fluctuate; sway to and fro; N. vacillation
vacuous empty; lacking in ideas; inane; stupid; Ex. vacuous expression; N. vacuity
vagabond wanderer (without a permanent home); tramp

vagary
capricious happening; caprice; whim; CF. wander

vagrant homeless wanderer
vain full of self-admiration; conceited; without result; unsuccessful; N. vanity
vainglorious boastful; excessively conceited; N. vainglory: great vanity
valediction saying farewell; expression of leave-taking
valedictory pertaining to farewell; N: farewell address (esp. at graduation exercises)
valid logically convincing; sound; legally acceptable; effective; Ex. valid reasoning/passport
validate make valid; confirm; ratify
valor bravery; ADJ. valiant: possessing valor; brave
vampire ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living
vanguard forerunners; foremost position of an army; advance forces; foremost position in a trend or movement; CF. rearguard
vantage position giving an advantage (such as a strategic point); CF. vantagepoint
vapid lacking liveliness; dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless; Ex. vapid lecture
vaporize turn into vapor (steam, gas, fog, etc.)
variegate change the appearance of (by marking with different colors)
variegated (esp. of a flower or leaf) many-colored
varnish paint used to coat a surface with a glossy film; glossy coating produced by using this substance; Ex. nail varnish; V.

vassal
in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lord; subordinate or dependent

vaunted boasted; bragged; highly publicized; V. vaunt: boast; brag
veer change in direction; swerve
vegetate live in a monotonous way (without interests or activity); CF. vegetation: plants of an area; CF. vegetarian; CF. vegan
vehement forceful; intensely emotional; with marked vigor; strong; N. vehemence
velocity speed
venal capable of being bribed; corrupt; CF. vernal
vendetta blood feud (esp. between two families); CF. Nina Williams
vendor seller
veneer thin surface layer (of good quality wood, glued to a base of inferior material); cover; surface show; fa\c{c}ade; V.
venerable deserving high respect; commanding respect; CF. command: deserve and get
venerate revere; treat with great respect
venial (of a fault or sin) forgivable; trivial
venison meat of a deer; CF. cow: beef; CF. pig: pork, ham, bacon; CF. calf: veal; CF. sheep: mutton; CF. lamb: lamb
venom poison (of an animal); hatred; Ex. remarks full of venom; ADJ. venomous
vent release or discharge through a vent; express (esp. unfairly); utter; Ex. He vented his wrath on his family.
ventilate admit fresh air into to replace stale air
ventral abdominal
ventriloquist someone who can make his or her voice seem to come from another person or thing (without moving lips or jaws); N. ventriloquism, ventriloquy
venture risk; expose to risk; dare; undertake a risk; N.
venturesome (of a person) bold; adventurous; daring; (of an action) risky
venue location; place (of a crime, trial, gathering, etc.); CF. come
veracious (of a person) truthful
veracity truthfulness; adherence to the truth
verbalize put into words; ADJ. verbal: of words; spoken rather than written; oral; of a verb
verbatim word for word; in the same words; repeating the actual words exactly
verbiage pompous array of words; too many unnecessary words; wordiness
verbose wordy; N. verbosity
verdant green; covered with green plants or grass; lush in vegetation; Ex. verdant meadows
verdigris green coating or patina on copper which has been exposed to the weather
verge border; edge, rim, or margin; Ex. on the verge of: very near to; V: border on
verisimilar having the appearance of truth or reality; probable or likely to be true; plausible
verisimilitude appearance of truth; quality of appearing to be true or real; likelihood; Ex. verisimilitude of her performance as Lady Macbeth
veritable being truly so; real or genuine; actual; not false or imaginary
verity quality of being true; lasting truth or principle; Ex. the verity of his testimony; Ex. one of the eternal verities
vernacular living language (as compared to the official language); language spoken in a country or region; natural style; Ex. lapse into the vernacular
vernal pertaining to spring
versatile having many talents; capable of working in many fields; having many uses or functions; N. versatility
vertebrate having a backbone or spinal column; N: group of animals having a segmented spinal column
vertex summit; highest point; PL. vertices
vertigo severe dizziness; giddiness
verve enthusiasm (as in artistic performance or composition); liveliness; vigor
vestige trace; remains; Ex. vestiges of some ancient religion
veto vested power to reject a bill; exercise of this right; V: prevent or forbid by exercising the power of veto
vex annoy; distress
viable capable of maintaining life; feasible; practical or workable; Ex. viable scheme
viand food; CF. live
vibrant full of vigor or energy; vibrating
vicar parish priest; representative
vicarious experienced as if one were taking part in the experience of another; done by a deputy for other people; acting as a substitute; Ex. vicarious thrill at the movies; Ex. the vicarious sufferings of Christ
vicissitude change (esp. from good to bad); change of fortune; CF. the last emperor of China
victuals food; provisions; V. victual: provide with food
vie contend; compete
vigil keeping watch (during normal sleeping hours); Ex. all-night vigil
vigilant watchful; on the alert; watchfully awake; alert to spot danger; N. vigilance
vigilante one who without authority assumes law enforcement powers

vignette

small drawing placed at the beginning or end of a chapter; picture; short literary sketch; short written description of a character or scene

vigor
active strength; energy; enthusiasm; ADJ. vigorous

vile despicable; unpleasant; disgusting; Ex. vile slander
vilify slander; speak evil of; N. vilification
vindicate clear from blame; free from blame or accusation (with supporting proof); exonerate; substantiate; justify or support; avenge; Ex. vindicate one’s client; Ex. vindicate one’s claim; CF. vindicator
vindictive disposed to revenge; vengeful; out for revenge; spiteful; intended to cause harm; malicious; Ex. vindictive streak
vintner wine merchant; winemaker; seller of wine
violate break (a law); defile; desecrate; assault sexually; Ex. violate graves
viper poisonous snake
virile manly; having masculine spirit or strength; full of strength
virtual in essence; existing in essence though not in actual form; for practical purposes; Ex. virtual ruler/space
virtue goodness; moral excellence; good quality; advantage; Ex. by virtue of; Ex. make a virtue of necessity

virtuoso
highly skilled artist (esp. in music); Ex. piano virtuoso

virulent (of a disease or poison) extremely harmful or poisonous; (of a feeling) hostile; bitter; N. virulence; CF. virus; CF. venom
virus disease communicator
visage face; appearance
visceral felt in one’s inner organs; N. viscera: internal body organs; CF. eviscerate
viscid adhesive; gluey
viscous (of a liquid) thick and sticky; gluey; viscid; CF. consistency
vise vice; tool for holding work in place; clamping device
vision eyesight; foresight; mental image produced by the imagination; experience of seeing the supernatural

visionary
produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical; showing foresight; N: one having foresight; one given to speculative impractical ideas

vital full of life; animated; vibrant and lively; critical; of great importance; necessary to stay alive; of life; living; breathing; N. vitality; V. vitalize
vitiate spoil the effect of; make inoperative; corrupt morally
vitreous of glass; pertaining to or resembling glass; V. vitrify: change into glass; CF. petrify
vitriolic causing sharp pain to the mind; caustic; corrosive; sarcastic; of vitriol; N. vitriol: sulphuric acid (which burns flesh deeply); bitterly abusive expression; caustic expression; CF. glass
vituperative abusive; scolding; V. vituperate: berate; scold; rail against abusively
vivacious lively or animated; sprightl sprightly/lively
vivid (of light or color) bright and distinct; evoking lifelike mental images; Ex. vivid red hair/description
vivisection act of dissecting living animals
vixen female fox; ill-tempered woman; CF. shrew
vociferous clamorous; noisy; V. vociferate: cry out loudly (when complaining)
vogue popular fashion; Ex. Jeans became the vogue.
volatile changeable; of a quickly changing nature (as of temper); mercurial; tending to violence; evaporating rapidly; Ex. volatile character/situation in the street
volition act of using one’s will; act of making a conscious choice; Ex. She selected this dress of her own volition.

volley
simultaneous discharge of a number of shots

voluble fluent; talkative; glib; N. volubility
voluminous having great volume (as of a garment or container); bulky; large
voluptuous sensual; of or giving sensual pleasure; indulging in sensual pleasures; Ex. voluptuous lines; Ex. voluptuous life of the Romans; N. voluptuary: voluptuous person
voodoo religion practiced chiefly in Haiti
voracious ravenous; eating large quantities of food; exceedingly eager; insatiable; Ex. voracious animal/reader
vortex whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament into which one is inexorably plunged
vouch give a personal guarantee; Ex. I can vouch for his integrity; N. voucher
vouchsafe grant condescendingly; guarantee; Ex. vouchsafe your fair return on your investment
voyeur Peeping Tom; person who derives sexual gratification from observing the sexual acts of others
vulgar of the common people; deficient in refinement; not refined; coarse; Ex. vulgar display of wealth; N. vulgarism: vulgarity; crudely indecent word; CF. vulgarian: vulgar person; boor; lout
vulnerable susceptible to wounds or attack; N. vulnerability
vulpine like a fox; crafty
vulture carrion-eating birds
vying contending; CF. vie

Barron’s GRE Word List Please click the link for which Barron’s wordlist you want to go.

A A B B C C D C E E F F G G H H I I J J K K L L M M N N O O P P Q Q R R S S T T U U V V W W X X Y Y Z Z

Note: Click on image to find a detailed meaning.

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