adjectives list for creative writing

400 Descriptive Words List to Make Your Writing Shine

Do you want to make your writing more engaging? Check out this descriptive words list with 400 words you can use today.

As you strive to be a more engaging writer, using  descriptive words  can help. It’s easy to overuse these words, but sprinkling them in here and there is a great way to colorize your writing.

Descriptive words are adjectives , which describe nouns and pronouns, or adverbs, which describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Identifying and using these will help you write stronger pieces and descriptive essays .

This descriptive word list is a good place to start. It also pairs nicely with our list of mood words .

Descriptive Words List: 400 Words to Make Your Writing More Colorful

Example sentences using adjectives, common endings for adjectives, list of adverbs in english, example sentences using adverbs, a final word on descriptive words list, what are some good descriptive words, what words describe movement.

Descriptive words take writing from boring to engaging. Consider this sentence:

• She swam across the water.

While this tells you what is happening, it has little to help you imagine the scene. If you add some adjectives and adverbs and transform the statement to this:

• She swam speedily across the choppy water.

Now you have a better picture of what happened. In order to transform your writing in this way, you need a number of descriptive words at the ready, and this list of descriptive words will help.

List of Descriptive Adjectives in English

Adjectives are the most common type of descriptive words, so first we will look at these. These words describe features like shape, texture, color, and size. They help differentiate between items in a group by calling out distinguishing features.

In  English  grammar, you can use the following to describe nouns and pronouns:

• Adventurous
• Accomplished
• Comfortable
• Embellished
• Enthusiastic
• Everlasting
• Fashionable
• Intelligent
• Quarrelsome
• Querulous 
• Questionable
• Thoughtless
• Uninterested

This list is not exhaustive, and there are many synonyms and other words that could be added. In addition, all colors are considered adjectives and describing words . Nationalities, like American or English, can also fit this list.

As you work on creating descriptive writing, get used to using these and similar words. You might also find our list of pronouns useful.

To better understand how adjectives look in sentences, consider these examples:

• The fuzzy red fox jumped over the tall fence. (red, tall)
• We like to visit the beautiful forest (beautiful)
• The garden shed feels damp this morning. (garden, damp)
• The trip to Disney World was magical. (Magical)
• The beautiful bird sat on the rough branch and sang. (beautiful, rough)
• The woman is short, but her husband is tall. (short, tall)
• I prefer cold climates. (cold)
• The luxurious hotel included soft robes for each guest. (luxurious, soft, each)

Because listing all adjectives in the English language is impossible, knowing their endings is helpful, especially for ESL language learners. Some of the common endings for adjectives include:

If you see a word ending in one of these, and you know it isn’t a noun, chances are high it is an adjective.

The English language also uses adverbs to describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. These descriptive words show intensity, number, and extent. They often end in -ly.

• Accidentally
• Aggressively
• Apathetically
• Assertively
• Astronomically
• Beautifully
• Begrudgingly
• Blearily 
• Deceivingly
• Deliberately
• Differently
• Dramatically
• Emotionally
• Exceptionally
• Frightfully
• Frenetically
• Frivolously
• Hysterically
• Inquisitively
• Intelligently
• Impressively
• Ludicrously
• Methodically
• Mysteriously
• Neglectfully
• Obnoxiously
• Occasionally
• Pointlessly
• Significantly
• Splendidly 
• Substantially
• Technically
• Unexpectedly
• Victoriously
• Vitally 
• Vivaciously
• Voluntarily

Again, this is not an exhaustive list. As you learn to identify adverbs or use them in your writing, look for words that describe verbs and other descriptive words that end in -ly.

Editing tip: Sometimes adverbs can also serve as filler words that you can remove or use to slow down or speed up a piece.

To better understand how adverbs show up in sentences as descriptive words, consider these examples:

• The electric car drove so quietly we didn’t hear it coming. (so, quietly)
• My dog barked angrily at the intruder. (angrily)
• The girls sang beautifully. (beautifully)
• He swam across the pool quickly. (quickly)
• The box is surprisingly heavy for its size. (surprisingly) 
• The toddler walked very carefully across the slippery floor. (very, carefully)
• Language learning is incredibly easy for some students, and incredibly hard for others (incredibly)

As you learn how to become a better writer , descriptive language is a big part of the picture. Adjectives and adverbs are the parts of speech that allow you to describe other things vividly. While you can overuse them, they can add color and interest to your writing when used well.

Keep this list of descriptive words handy. When you have a need, pull it out and find one that fits your writing. Whether you’re writing a sentence, a short story, or an entire novel, you’ll find it easier to get descriptive when you have these words on hand.

Check Like this? Check out our list of sensory words .

FAQs on Descriptive Words List

Descriptive words are words that make something easier to identify by describing its characteristics. Some good words that fit this include: Bright Adventurous Jovial Charming Peaceful

Some descriptive words describe the movement of an object. These include: Swiftly Fluidly Gracefully Smoothly Disjointedly

Nicole Harms has been writing professionally since 2006. She specializes in education content and real estate writing but enjoys a wide gamut of topics. Her goal is to connect with the reader in an engaging, but informative way. Her work has been featured on USA Today, and she ghostwrites for many high-profile companies. As a former teacher, she is passionate about both research and grammar, giving her clients the quality they demand in today's online marketing world.

View all posts

Awesome Adjectives List

Adjectives are words that describe nouns. When you write with interesting adjectives, you help your reader know more about how your characters and your setting look, feel, smell, taste, and sound. Better adjectives create a story with more vivid and precise detail. For example, your character could have blue eyes. Or, your character could have narrowed, ice-blue eyes that glint like sharpened diamonds. Your character just got a lot more interesting with some stronger adjectives. Explore the lists of awesome adjectives for kids that will help you bring your story to life. See our story samples for more awesome adjectives in action.

Choose an Awesome Adjectives List:

• Easy Adjectives List - 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade adjectives
• Advanced Adjectives List - 5th grade, 6th grade, middle school adjectives

Activities:

Also try our adjective-based activities.

Awesome Adjectives List- For Kids Grades 2, 3, 4

Download the adjectives list for kids in 2nd, 3rd, 4th grade: PDF Download-- Awesome Adjectives List (2nd, 3rd, 4th grade)

Busy Lazy Careless Clumsy Nimble Brave Mighty Meek Clever Dull Afraid Scared Cowardly Bashful Proud Fair Greedy Wise Foolish Tricky Truthful Loyal Happy Cheerful Joyful Carefree Friendly Moody Crabby Cranky Awful Gloomy Angry Worried Excited Calm Bored Hardworking Silly Wild Crazy Fussy Still Odd Starving Stuffed Alert Sleepy Surprised Tense

Rude Selfish Strict Tough Polite Amusing Kind Gentle Quiet Caring Hopeful Rich Thrifty Stingy Spoiled Generous Quick Speedy Swift Hasty Rapid Good Fantastic Splendid Wonderful Hard Difficult Challenging Easy Simple Chilly Freezing Icy Steaming Sizzling Muggy Cozy Huge Great Vast Sturdy Grand Heavy Plump Deep Puny Small Tiny Petite Long Endless

Beautiful Adorable Shining Sparkling Glowing Fluttering Soaring Crawling Creeping Sloppy Messy Slimy Grimy Crispy Spiky Rusty Smelly Foul Stinky Curly Fuzzy Plush Lumpy Wrinkly Smooth Glassy Snug Stiff Ugly Hideous Horrid Dreadful Nasty Cruel Creepy Loud Shrill Muffled Creaky

Awesome Adjectives List- Grades 5, 6, Middle School

Download the list for kids in 5th grade, 6th grade and middle school: PDF Download-- Awesome Adjectives List (5th, 6th, Middle School)

Graceful Clumsy Awkward Nimble Clever Dull Obtuse Meek Anemic Frightened Timid Vigilant Cautious Capable Adequate Absent-minded Adventurous Daring Indifferent Apologetic Hideous Horrid Dreadful Ghastly Revolting Nasty Cruel Cheeky Obnoxious Disrespectful Contrary Ornery Subtle Optimistic Courageous Cowardly Gullible Arrogant Haughty Naïve Curious Stubborn Brazen Modest Humble Proud Dishonest Righteous Greedy Wise Tricky Loyal Relaxed Tranquil Lazy Rambunctious Erratic Fidgety Lively Still Famished Surprised Startled Sullen Terrified Furious Annoyed

Sullen Groggy Alert Tense Cranky Gloomy Irritable Lonely Exhausted Ecstatic Cheerful Delighted Blithe Content Carefree Demanding Challenging Effortless Simple

Fantastic Marvelous Splendid Brilliant Superb Striking Stunning Gorgeous Picturesque Lovely Charming Enchanting Delicate Pleasant Monstrous Immense Enormous Massive Brawny Bulky Towering Rotund Cavernous Puny Minute Diminutive Microscopic Petite Slight Bitter Frosty Sweltering Scorching Blistering Muggy Stifling Oppressive Cozy Eternal Ceaseless Perpetual Endless Temporary Intimidating Menacing Miserable Dangerous Delinquent Vile Quarrelsome Hostile Malicious Savage Stern Somber Mysterious Shocking Infamous Ingenious Thrifty Generous Prudent Stingy Spoiled

Anxious Nervous Impatient Worried Excited Courteous Compassionate Benevolent Polite Amusing Entertaining Creative Precise Eccentric Decrepit Ancient Rotten Whimsical Dense Desolate Disgusting Dismal Opulent Idyllic Lavish Edgy Trendy Peculiar Rancid Fetid Foul Filthy Repulsive Lousy Fluttering Soaring Sparkling Gilded Verdant Glowing Askew Dowdy Gaunt Sloppy Serious Grave Intense Severe Heavy Solemn Absurd Ridiculous Sluggish Dawdling Meandering Scarce Copious Muffled Lulling Creaky Shrill Piercing Slimy Grimy Gauzy Mangy Swollen Parched Crispy Spiky Slick Fuzzy Lumpy Plush Wrinkly Slick Glassy Snug Stiff

Writing Resources

• Story Prompts for Kids
• Vibrant Verbs List
• Adverbs List
• Adjective Activities

Descriptive Adjectives

Written by Eira Edwards

9 february 2024, art of storytelling.

This post may include affiliate links. That means we may earn a commission if you buy through recommended links. See our full disclaimer policy . 

Sometimes your writing needs a little extra sparkle, and descriptive adjectives can help with that. When used effectively, they can enhance description and characterisation.

Of course, stuffing adjectives into your work could also end in boring, exaggerated writing (or what some people like to call purple prose). Likewise, vague adjectives can feel abstract in nature, making it difficult for readers to imagine your world and the characters in it. Strive for descriptive adjectives that provide specificity. Because detail is what will captivate your readers and get them to engage with the story.

So, What Exactly is a Descriptive Adjective?

Descriptive adjectives describe nouns, providing more information about their characteristics, like size, colour or condition. They add detail, so readers can better visualise your world. Imagine one of your characters lives in a bleak house, tangerine house or tiny house, for example.

Here are a few more examples:

• The dog stared up at the cloudless sky.
• They came to an abandoned farm surrounded by marsh.
• He wore a tunic and trousers under a long leather coat.

List of Descriptive Adjectives

Now, let’s dive into my curated list of adjectives that can strengthen the descriptions of your universe and its characters.

• affectionate
• flourishing
• light-hearted
• magnificent
• outstanding
• rectangular
• substantial

GET MORE INSPIRATION

Descriptive adjectives can turn bland writing into interesting prose. But, choose them with caution and always make sure they’re providing necessary detail. Remember, descriptive adjectives can provide specifics, but too many can result in purple prose. Strike a balance and 

Want more writing inspiration? Find tips, tricks and ideas over on the blog .

Written By Eira Edwards

Eira is a writer and editor from the South of England with over five years of experience as a Content Manager, helping clients perfect their copy.

She has a degree in English Literature and Language, which she loves putting to work by working closely with fiction authors.

When she’s not working on manuscripts, you can find her in the woods with her partner and dog, or curling up with a good book.

Also on the Blog

Best Enemies to Lovers Books

by Eira Edwards | Feb 7, 2024

Are you a sucker for a good enemies-to-lovers book? If you're looking for your next read, look no further! This...

Best Books on Creative Writing

by Eira Edwards | Jan 21, 2024

Whether you're an experienced writer or a beginner, there's always something new to discover about creativity and...

10 Creative Writing Exercises to Progress Your Story

by Eira Edwards | Jan 17, 2024

Whether you're a plotter or a pantser, we all know what it feels like to lose motivation. Or perhaps you're a seasoned...

Cookies on Beyond the Chapter. We use cookies to provide visitors with the best possible experience on our website. These include functionality cookies and targeting cookies, which may be used in our marketing efforts. This allows us to personalise content, enhance site navigation and analyse site usage. By clicking “Accept All” you consent to our use of cookies. For more details, read our Cookie Policy and Privacy Statement.

• AI Content Shield
• AI KW Research
• AI Assistant
• SEO Optimizer
• AI KW Clustering
• Customer reviews
• The NLO Revolution
• Press Center
• Help Center
• Content Resources
• Facebook Group

Strong Adjectives to Show Creative Writing

Table of Contents

With strong adjectives come strong thoughts. Anyone can use strong adjectives to convey a potent idea or paint a vivid picture through their words. There’s always a better way to state a fact.

Our manner of speech can influence the way people perceive us and our ideas. You need only look at how leaders, lawyers, and other influential people write and speak. Their word choices and tone can hold sway over listeners and deliver a powerful message.

In this article, we’ll be learning some strong  adjectives for a writer .

But before we delve into these words, it’s important to understand strong adjectives and the right way to use them.

What are Strong Adjectives?

Strong adjectives describe the important characteristics, feelings, or qualities of writing . These adjectives are often things that readers cannot ignore. 

Writers use strong adjectives instead of very + a normal adjective.

For example:

Very short → Succinct, Terse

Very long → Lengthy, Extensive 

They often paint a strong example of a noun they are describing. They can help make a sentence more potent or describe a character in greater detail. Writers use strong adjectives in all sorts of creative works, from books to poems.

These adjectives often cause readers to take note of an object they read about.

The Importance of Strong Adjectives

Strong adjectives are important because not all descriptive words can sufficiently capture the full meaning of a subject. Strong adjectives give a different sense of reality and highlight one part of an object or idea. It does this to demonstrate the characteristics that make certain nouns unique.

Strong adjectives also help an audience relate better to a thought. They help them grasp their essence entirely, allowing us to accurately describe what we feel and want to convey.

Moreover, strong adjectives also give the impression that we are an authority on the subject we are describing. Rarely will you find a critic use “very bad” to describe a poorly-written piece of writing.

You need to learn to use strong adjectives to write powerful sentences that leave a strong impression. The list below includes strong adjectives for a writer: 

List of Strong Adjectives for a Writer

• Authoritative
• Enthralling
• Exhilarating
• Imaginative
• Intelligent

The English language is replete with a wide collection of words you can use to convey a thought. Descriptors are among the most potent words writers can use to paint a vivid picture for their audience. Strong adjectives are useful in order to command influence over your audience and deliver a powerful message.

Try to learn new and better words to spice up your vocabulary. Doing so will improve your writing and speaking skills and will allow you to command attention like the way influential people do. Feel free to follow our other guides on strong adjectives if you want to gain better mastery of the English language.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

Explore All Add Strong Adjectives Articles

Comprehensive adjective list to describe a day.

“How was your day?” you’ve probably been asked this question dozens of times. And it can be hard to find…

• Add Strong Adjectives

The Best Adjectives to Describe a Hardworking Person

Indeed, there are words that people use to cheer someone up. If you are trying to boost the confidence of…

The Best Descriptive Words for Emotions

Do you want to describe you what you feel through the exact words? Are you eager to let other people…

An Lesson Guide About Descriptive and Limiting Adjectives

Whenever you write an article or essay, adjectives will never disappear from your text. You will always use descriptive and…

Colorful Adjective Examples Worth Considering

The English dictionary is one of the most reliable writing guides, consisting of various words used to describe the shade…

Learn the Best Adjectives to Describe Things

Are you thinking of the best words to use when trying to distinguish the characteristics of one noun from another?…

• Conjunctions
• Prepositions

200+ Adjectives To Describe A Creative Person and Creativity

If you’re stumped on how to describe a creative person with adjectives, you’re not alone. It can be tricky to find the right words to define someone whose work is defined by its originality and inventiveness. However, there are a few characteristics that are often found in creative people. 

They tend to be inquisitive and open-minded, always exploring new ideas and approaches. They’re also usually good at problem-solving, seeing things from different angles and coming up with innovative solutions. And of course, creative people often have a strong sense of intuition and imagination, which allows them to see possibilities where others see only limitations. 

So if you’re looking for a way to describe a creative person, keep these qualities in mind.

Table of Contents

How to describe a creative person with adjectives?

If you’re looking for creative adjectives to describe someone, you’ve come to the right place. This article is chock-full of creative words to describe a person, whether you’re looking for positive adjectives to describe a creative person or creative adjectives to describe someone with a more negative connotation. 

But before we get into all of that, let’s start with a quick definition of what we mean by creative adjectives. Creative adjectives are words that are used to describe someone who is creative. Simple, right? Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get into the good stuff.

J | K | L | M

Final verdict

A creative person is someone who sees the world a little differently. They’re often able to find beauty in things that others might miss, and they have a unique way of looking at the world. Creative people are often imaginative and curious, always exploring new ideas and ways of doing things. They’re also often passionate and expressive, with a strong need to express their creativity. If you’re looking for a way to describe someone who is creative, any of these terms might be a good fit.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Related Posts

Describing Blood: Adjectives with Examples

Blood is a vital element of our existence, coursing through…  Read More » Describing Blood: Adjectives with Examples

Adjectives for Age: Describing Words & Examples

As we navigate through life, one thing that remains constant…  Read More » Adjectives for Age: Describing Words & Examples

Adjectives for Fight: Examples and Describing Words

When it comes to describing a fight, finding the right…  Read More » Adjectives for Fight: Examples and Describing Words

• Features for Creative Writers
• Features for Work
• Features for Higher Education
• Features for Teachers
• Features for Non-Native Speakers
• Learn Blog Grammar Guide Community Events FAQ
• Grammar Guide

List of 260 Positive Adjectives to Use in Your Descriptions

Helly Douglas

Table of Contents

What are adjectives and how do we use them, what are positive adjectives, how can prowritingaid help you find the best adjectives, which positive adjectives best describe a place, how to use positive adjectives in your writing.

Adjectives are powerful. Used well, they bring settings and characters to life by adding descriptive details. They can also add flavor to non-fiction texts.

This ultimate list of positive adjectives is perfect if you’re looking for a particular word to describe something optimistically, or simply want to expand your vocabulary. They’re sorted into words that could describe people, and those that best describe places, all helpfully arranged in alphabetical order with a simple explanation of their meaning.

Adjectives are often called "describing words." They modify the noun in a sentence. You can either use them directly before the noun to create a noun phrase or separate them from the noun they’re describing.

Noun phrase: The ambitious employee.

Separated from the noun: The employee was ambitious .

You can use more than one adjective in a sentence separated by a comma. However, try not to overuse adjectives, as this makes your writing harder to read.

Highlight how great a person or place is by using positive adjectives. They are often used to describe personalities, particularly heroes. These adjectives give more detail about how a character behaves, their emotions, and their personality.

When you’re writing, you might find that you rely on the same familiar adjectives. Or perhaps you’ve noticed that you tend to overuse certain words?

ProWritingAid has a range of reports that will help you spot overused words and helpfully suggest alternatives:

All Repeats : Identify adjectives you over-rely on.

Overused Words : Find and eliminate generic words.

Word Explorer : Find a huge range of alternative adjective choices.

Which Positive Adjectives Could Describe a Person ?

If you’re trying to describe a character in a positive way, this wide selection of adjectives is sure to help.

Positive Adjectives A–C

Accomplished: Proficient at something

Adaptable: Able to change quickly

Adept: Good at something

Adventurous: Enjoys taking risks/trying new things

Affable: Friendly

Affectionate: Shows fondness

Agreeable: Willing to do things

Alluring: Sexually appealing

Amazing: Wonderful

Ambitious: Determined to succeed

Amiable: Friendly, pleasant

Amicable: Friendliness

Ample: Plenty of something

Amusing: Makes people laugh

Approachable: Easy to talk to

Articulate: Speaks well in an educated manner

Awesome: Inspiring awe, amazement

Blithesome: Cheerful

Brave: Not scared

Bright: Clever

Brilliant: Clever, inspirational

Broad-minded: Open-minded

Calm: Even-tempered

Capable: Able to do something

Captivating: Keeps attention

Careful: Uses caution

Charismatic: Compels others to agree

Charming: Has charm

Chatty: Talkative

Cheerful: Happy

Communicative: Clear communication with others

Compassionate: Caring

Competitive: Driven to win

Confident: Self-certainty

Conscientious: Does their duty

Considerate: Thinks of others

Convivial: Cheerful, friendly

Courageous: Brave

Courteous: Good manners

Creative: Artistic

Positive Adjectives D–F

Dazzling: Bright

Decisive: Makes decisions quickly

Dependable: Can rely on

Determined: Focused on success

Devoted: Cares deeply for a person or ideal

Diligent: Works hard

Diplomatic: Tactful

Discreet: Keeps secrets

Dynamic: Full of ideas

Easy-going: Relaxed temperament

Educated: Well-studied

Efficient: Completes tasks easily

Elegant: Graceful, stylish

Emotional: Full of emotion

Enchanting: Delights

Energetic: Full of energy

Enlightened: Spiritually aware, rational, well-informed

Engaging: Interesting

Enthusiastic: Keen

Excellent: Very good

Expert: An authority on a subject

Exuberant: Full of energy

Fabulous: Wonderful

Fair-minded: Impartial, just

Faithful: True to something

Fantastic: Wonderful, amazing at something

Fearless: Without fear

Flexible: Able to change easily

Focused: Goal orientated

Forceful: Makes change happen, determined

Frank: Speaks honestly and openly

Friendly: Pleasant to others

Funny: Amusing

Positive Adjectives G–I

Generous: Gives to others

Gentle: Uses a light touch

Giving: Gives to others

Gleaming: Shining, very clean

Glimmering: shining with a wavering light

Glistening: Shining with a sparkling light

Glittering: Shining with a shimmering light

Glowing: Lit up from within

Good: Honest

Gorgeous: Beautiful

Gregarious: Sociable, likes company

Hard-working: Puts in full effort

Helpful: Looks after others

Hilarious: Extremely funny

Honest: Tells the truth

Humorous: Amusing

Imaginative: Has a vivid imagination

Impartial: Not biased

Incredible: Extremely proficient at something

Independent: Able to support themselves

Inquisitive: Interested, curious

Insightful: Has deep understanding

Intellectual: Intelligent, educated

Intelligent: Clever

Intuitive: Instinctive understanding

Inventive: Creative, comes up with new ideas

Positive Adjectives K–M

Kind: Looks after others

Knowledgeable: Intelligent, studied

Kooky: Unusual

Laid-back: Relaxed

Likable: Easily liked by others

Lovely: Good, kind

Loving: Shows affection

Loyal: Consistently supportive

Lustrous: Shining (often to describe hair)

Magnificent: Wonderful

Marvelous: Amazing, stunning

Mirthful: Full of humor, amused

Modest: Doesn’t seek credit or well-covered in clothing

Positive Adjectives N–P

Nice: Pleasant

Observant: Sharp-eyed

Open-minded: Willing to listen to alternative ideas

Optimistic: Positive

Organized: Works efficiently and systematically

Outstanding: Beyond normal, very good

Passionate: Feeling strongly, ardent

Patient: Happy to wait

Perfect: No flaws

Persistent: Does not give up

Personable: Pleasant appearance

Philosophical: Calm reaction to difficulties

Pioneering: Trendsetter, first to do something

Placid: Calm, easy-going

Plucky: Courageous

Polite: Well-mannered

Powerful: Strong, has power

Practical: Skilled at manual tasks

Pro-active: Takes action before it becomes necessary

Productive: Gets lots done

Proficient: Skilled at something

Propitious: Favorable

Positive Adjectives Q–S

Qualified: Certified as able to do something

Quick-witted: Intelligent, quick-thinking

Quiet: Not loud

Rational: Thinks without emotion

Ravishing: Delightful, entrancing

Relaxed: Free from tension

Reliable: Consistent, can be relied upon

Remarkable: Unusually skilled or talented

Reserved: Slow to reveal emotions or opinions

Resourceful: Able to find solutions

Responsible: Takes charge, reliable

Romantic: Demonstrates their love

Rousing: Stirs emotions in others

Self-confident: Belief in own abilities

Self-disciplined: controlled

Sensible: Does not make rash decisions

Sensitive: Aware of others

Sincere: Honest and genuine

Sleek: smooth

Sociable: Enjoys company

Spectacular: Wonderful, makes a spectacle

Splendid: Extremely good

Stellar: Exceptionally good

Straightforward: To the point

Stunning: Very beautiful

Stupendous: Extremely impressive

Super: Good

Sympathetic: Cares about others, shows sympathy

Positive Adjectives T–Z

Technological: Understands technology

Thoughtful: Thinks of others

Tough: Can withstand hardships

Trustworthy: To be trusted

Twinkling: Shining

Unassuming: Modest

Understanding: Sympathetic to opinions of others

Unique: one-of-a-kind

Upbeat: positive

Versatile: Skilled at different things

Vibrant: Bright, colorful

Vivacious: Full of life

Vivid: Very bright, strong color

Warm-hearted: Kind to others

Willing: Happy to do something

Witty: Verbally clever, amusing

Wondrous: Wonderful

If you want a vivid description, this list of positive adjectives will help you find the perfect word to describe a setting.

Positive Place Adjectives A–C

Abundant: Full of something

Agricultural: Farmland

Alive: Full of life

Astronomical: Extremely large

Attractive: Appealing, beautiful

Beautiful: Very pretty

Blazing: Full of light or fire

Boundless: Endless, very large

Bountiful: Fertile, lots of something

Breath-taking: Visually beautiful

Bright: Very light

Bustling: Full of people

Calm: Quiet and relaxed

Charming: Quaint, lovely

Colossal: Extremely large

Colorful: Full of color

Cosmopolitan: Includes people from disparate countries

Positive Place Adjectives D–F

Dramatic: Drama

Dusky: Darkish, dim

Enchanted: Magical

Enchanting: Creates a feeling of magic

Extensive: Very large

Fairy-tale-like: Magical

Far-flung: distant

Fascinating: Very interesting

Favorable: Promising, good

Fertile: Full of life, easy to grow

Fresh: New, newly grown

Positive Place Adjectives G–K

Harmonious: Living in harmony, without dispute

Historic: From the past

Homey: Warm, inviting, small

Immaculate: Perfectly clean

Immeasurable: Impossible to measure

Immense: Enormous

Imposing: Large, overwhelming

Impressive: Admirable

Incredible: Beyond belief

Indescribable: Unable to describe using words

Inspiring: Inspires someone

Positive Place Adjectives L–M

Lively: Full of life, energetic

Lush: Especially of vegetation, rich

Luxurious: Luxury

Magical: Magic, wonderful

Magnificent: Extremely beautiful or impressive

Majestic: A sense of majesty

Marvelous: Wonderful

Massive: Very large

Meandering: Not in a straight line

Monumental: Extremely large

Mountainous: Like a mountain

Mysterious: Strange, unknown

Mystical: Magical

Positive Place Adjectives N–P

Nostalgic: Warm feeling of the past

Palatial: Like a palace

Pastoral: Arable farmland

Peaceful: Quiet, undisturbed

Picturesque: Visually attractive

Pleasant: Nice, enjoyable

Prosperous: Rich

Positive Place Adjectives R–Z

Remarkable: Unusual

Rural: Remote, farmland

Sandy: Made of sand

Sensational: Creating a sensation, wonderful

Serene: Calm and tranquil

Shiny: Reflects light

Spacious: Ample space

Stunning: Extremely impressive, attractive

Sun-drenched: Extremely sunny

Superb: Wonderful, best quality

Terrific: Wonderful, great

Towering: Very tall

Tranquil: Quiet and calm

Unspoiled/Unspoilt: Unaffected, undamaged

Vast: Extremely large

Vibrant: Bright, full of life

Adjectives should be used sparingly to have the greatest impact. Overusing adjectives, particularly if they have very similar meanings, weakens your writing, and makes it harder to read. Carefully choosing the most effective ones creates a vivid picture for your reader without over-explaining every detail.

ProWritingAid’s readability suggestions will show you stronger alternatives for weak adjectives. If you write that something is "really good," you’ll see the alternatives below:

If none of those quite fit your meaning, come back to this list to find an adjective that is specific and strong to engage your reader.

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Helly Douglas is a UK writer and teacher, specialising in education, children, and parenting. She loves making the complex seem simple through blogs, articles, and curriculum content. You can check out her work at hellydouglas.com or connect on Twitter @hellydouglas. When she’s not writing, you will find her in a classroom, being a mum or battling against the wilderness of her garden—the garden is winning!

Get started with ProWritingAid

Drop us a line or let's stay in touch via :

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Terms and Conditions
• British Council Global
• Accessibility

© 2024 British Council

• Mini English Lessons

Adjectives made easy: 5 quick tips for using adjectives in writing

Understanding how to use adjectives naturally can make your writing come alive. In this article , learn what an adjective is , find out why they are importan t, and discover 5 handy tips on how to use adjectives in your writing.  

What is an adjective?  

You probably already know this, but just make sure we’re on the same page, an adjective is a word that describes how something or someone looks, feels, or behaves. Adjectives make your sentences more specific and interesting.   

For example, in the sentence “ The red apple is juicy ,” the word “red” is the adjective because it tells us the colour of the apple, and “juicy” is another adjective that describes how the apple tastes.

How to use adjectives naturally     

At times, English language learners tend to overuse adjectives in their written English, perhaps to showcase their vocabulary. However, this approach can backfire as it shows immat urity in their writing style. So, here are 5 helpful tips on how you can use adjectives naturally in written English and improve your descriptive writing skills.  

#1: Choose the most suitable ones  

When using adjectives in writing , it’s important to choose the right ones. Pick words that accurately describe what you want to talk about. By choosing the most suitable adjectives, you can make your writing stronger and more effective.  

For example, instead of saying “ The flower is nice ,” you could choose a more descriptive adjective like “beautiful” or “charming.” This helps paint a clearer picture in the reader’s mind and adds depth to your writing.  

Explore a list of descriptive adjectives    

#2: Use them in moderation

Try to avoid using too many adjectives in your writing. By using adjectives sparingly, you can make your writing clearer and more effective, allowing the main subject to stand out.  

For example, instead of saying “ The big, beautiful, colourful butterfly flew gracefully through the garden ,” you can simplify it to “ The beautiful butterfly flew gracefully through the garden .”  

#3: Capture the reader’s imagination  

When choosing adjectives, pick ones that make the reader feel something and spark their imagination.   

For example, instead of saying “ The sunset was beautiful ,” you could say “ The stunning sunset filled the sky with vibrant colours, filling me with awe .” By using descriptive adjectives and appealing to the reader’s senses, you can create a stronger emotional impact.  

#4: Experiment with adjectives to see what works  

When you’re writing, try out different adjectives to see what works best. Don’t be afraid to play with words and explore their impact on your writing.   

Experiment with different options to find an adjective that makes your writing stronger and that clearly expresses what you want to say. The more you experiment, the better you’ll become at selecting the perfect adjectives that bring your words to life.  

Here are three different adjectives for describing an old house: “Mysterious”, “spooky”, or “ancient”. Which of these options do you prefer and why? Tell us in the comments below.   

#5: Remember that context is key  

Context is important. Think about the specific situation or thing you’re describing and choose adjectives that fit well. The right adjective can change depending on whether you’re talking about a person, an object, or a particular scene.   

For instance, when describing a person, you might use different adjectives for a friendly neighbour than for a stern teacher. Keeping the context of your writing in mind will help you choose the most suitable adjectives to make your writing as effective as possible.  

Practise your descriptive writing skills in online classes     

Now you know more about using descriptive words for writing , why not put your new skills to the test with an online English class?   

English Online offers live classes taught by experienced British Council teachers who want to help you improve your English skills. You’ll get personalised feedback on your writing, speaking, and listening skills to help you understand what you’re good at and where you can improve. Plus, you’ll get the opportunity to practise your English with other learners at a similar learning level.  

Find out more >  

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

What is the Passive Voice and Should it Ever Be Used Instead of the Active Voice?

When we express ourselves, our sentences are often filled with actions, describing what someone or something does. But how we frame these actions can […]

Hop on a Global Adventure: Explore Unique Easter Traditions from Around the World

Spring is in the air, and with it comes the delightful and diverse celebrations of Easter! It’s a time when traditions bring together communities, […]

• Business English

Effective Communication 101: How to Not Sound Passive-Aggressive in Your Writing

Learning English can be challenging enough, but encountering a passive-aggressive tone can add an extra layer of difficulty for learners. If you have ever […]

Get Exclusive access to offers and promotions

Enter your email address below to join the english online mailing list..

Personal details will be held by the British Council and will only be used in relation to your request. Please read our terms of use for more information.

Find and fix writing mistakes instantly

• Check for unintentional plagiarism
• Get instant grammar and style suggestions

List of Adjectives : Types and How They Are Used

Are you looking for the perfect word to describe someone, somewhere, or something? If so, there are many great words to choose from in the English language. Yet, without a list of adjectives on hand, it’s hard to remember every single word you know. 

Luckily, you have access to this helpful adjectives list ! Use it whenever you want a fresh and exciting way to talk about a noun or pronoun. Plus, if you study new words on this adjective list, you’ll expand your vocabulary. For a printable PDF to keep on your desk, visit this informative site.

There are many different words on a list of adjectives . Some are similar in nature or have identical meanings , while others are very different from one another. Because there are so many adjectives , it’s better to learn them all in their individual groups.

There are two main categories of words you’ll find on a list of adjectives : Descriptive words and limiting words . Each has its own adjective list subcategories. Here’s an overview of what is covered in this guide:

Attributive and Predicate Words

Cardinal adjective list, definite and indefinite articles, demonstrative adjective list, interrogative adjective list, nouns that function as limiting words, ordinal words, possessive words, proper words.

• Advanced Descriptive Adjectives List
• List of Adjectives for Kids
• Personality Adjectives List

General List of Positive Adjectives

A list of adjectives of sensory words.

Let’s begin with a descriptive adjectives list and the subcategories of descriptive words.

A Descriptive Adjectives List

In short, descriptive words describe things. Here are some common examples below. This could also be a list of adjectives for kids :

List of positive adjectives :

List of negative adjectives:

List of general adjectives (positive or negative depending on context):

You’ve probably heard all of the words on this descriptive adjectives list before. To learn a few more advanced descriptive words, go to the section “ A List Adjectives for…”

Many descriptive adjectives can also be paired as opposites of each other. Below is a descriptive adjectives list with pairs of opposite words. You’ll recognize a few words from the list of positive adjectives, list of negative adjectives, and list of general adjectives.

Within descriptive words, there are two subcategories: attributive and predicate words. Both subcategories are similar in that they both modify a noun. However, both do things a bit differently and have slightly different use s. 

Attributive and predicate words are like two sides of the same coin. You can find attributive words in a sentence directly beside a noun. Most of the time, it comes before the noun or pronoun. 

• The leaping lizard.
• An argumentative anteater.
• The humongous hippo.

Predicative words on the other hand come after a noun, following a verb. A predicate gets its name from being within the predicate of the sentence.

• She has wavy hair.
• Jeffrey is jovial .
• Is your crossword puzzle fun ?
• Our flight was exhausting .

Below is a good-sized adjectives list . Depending on the sentence, some of these words could function as either an attributive or predicative word. However, some can only function as one or the other. 

Can you figure out which words only fit as an attributive (before a noun) or predicative (after a noun and verb) word?

Finding this all a little challenging? Skip to the “A List of Adjectives for…” section. There is a general list of positive adjectives , a personality adjectives list , a li st of adjectives for kids , and more!

A Limiting Adjectives List

The second category of adjectives contains limiting words. Whereas some words describe nouns, many do not. These words instead restrict nouns and pronouns . Limiting words let a reader or listener know the exact thing you’re talking about, by defining it. 

There are many subcategories of limiting adjectives/words . But don’t worry, there’s a description of each type below, and there’s an adjectives list for each subcategory for you to review. Here’s a list of adjectives that features a few common limiting words:

This list of adjectives has words that don’t seem very similar to each other. However, each fits into a different subcategory of limiting words that we will explore next.

Cardinal words are easy to remember. Basically, they tell you the number of a noun.

• I have over fifty gel pens in my backpack.
• Is it possible for Tim to have three best friends?
• She’s seen this movie at least one hundred times already.

Here’s a short cardinal adjectives list:

• Eighty-seven
• One million five hundred thirty-six thousand seven hundred and forty-two.

That’s right! Any numbers you can think of can become cardinal words!

Before you move on to the next type of limiting word, learn a thing or two about APA format . Then afterward, if you need help checking your writing, visit this helpful paper checker .

The definite article defines a specific noun. An indefinite article points to a nonspecific noun. There’s one definite article, the , and two indefinite articles, a and an .+

• The cat on top of my hat.
• Is there a cat on top of my hat?
• But mommy, I want a crocodile for Christmas!

You may already know the demonstrative pronouns:  

If you do, then you already know all the demonstrative words. Each one makes the demonstrative adjectives list because each one can modify a noun or noun phrase.

• This music is amazing.
• That book is a best-seller.
• Those boys are twins.

Similarly, the interrogative list of adjectives contains the same words you find on an interrogative pronoun list. These words are what and which . Again, in this use, what and which modify a noun or noun phrase.

• Which glass is Frank’s? He’d like more water please.
• What movie would you like to watch? Peter Pan is a classic.

One of the most interesting occurrences is when one part of speech imitates another. That’s exactly what happens when you have nouns that function as limiting words.

• A production factory.
• Steven’s a showboat actor.
• I’m going to the video game museum.

An ordinal word tells you the order of a noun in a series.

• I enjoyed the first Karate Kid movie.
• I thought the second Back to the Future movie was best.

An ordinal adjectives list contains words like forth, sixtieth, and even seven hundred and first.

Possessive words explain who has ownership or possession of something.

A short adjectives list showing possession includes: my, your, our, his, her, its , and their .

• Please return my pen.
• Your hat is over there.
• Their food is getting cold.

You capitalize a proper word because it’s derived from a proper noun.

• I think I’ll try your American coffee blend.
• Can she try a slice of your homemade Russian honey cake?
• Would you like French fries with that?

A List of Adjectives for …

Now that you know the basics, further expand your adjective knowledge by checking out a few other lists below. We’ll cover more advanced descriptive adjectives, a list of adjectives for kids , a personality adjectives list , a list of positive adjectives , and finally a list of adjectives for sensory words. For another printable PDF, click to this site.

An Additional Descriptive Adjectives List

This list includes more advanced descriptive adjectives than listed previously.

• Comprehensive
• Efficacious
• Investigative

Are there any words that you don’t know? DoOn’t fret! It only takes a minute to look them up in a dictionary.

L ist of Adjectives for Kids

Words that are great for children include:

A Personality Adjectives List

There are many words that describe personality. We’ve divided up this list into two sections: A positive personality adjectives list , and a negative personality adjectives list . Let’s start with a few positive ones.

Positive Personality Adjectives List:

• Hardworking
• Understanding

To complement the list of positive adjectives above, we’ve included a negative list of adjectives next.

Negative Personality Adjectives List:

• Irresponsible

The list of positive adjectives shares a few excellent describing words, including:

This list of adjectives touches upon words that relate to our five senses: Touch, taste, smell, hearing, and sight. Each type gives a few adjective examples.

Touch List of Adjectives:

Taste List of Adjectives:

Smell List of Adjectives:

Hearing List of Adjectives:

• High-pitched

Sight List of Adjectives:

Congratulations on learning so many adjectives! You’ve gone from learning what descriptive and limiting words are, to memorizing a personality adjectives list, to revising a list of adjectives for kids. Now that you’re done, take a few minutes to learn about MLA format and more styles of citation for your next English paper!

Published March 9, 2019. Updated May 22, 2020.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

KathySteinemann.com: Free Resources for Writers and Poets

Word lists, cheat sheets, and sometimes irreverent reviews of writing rules. kathy steinemann is the author of the writer's lexicon series..

1000+ Ways to Describe Colors: A Word List for Writers

Why Is Color in Writing So Important?

Pablo Picasso said , “Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.” Picasso was an artist who evoked emotion with colorful pigments. As a writer, you can do the same with colorful words.

Note the different pictures painted by the following two paragraphs.

Ned gazed at the calypso-orange horizon. A lapis-blue speck sparkled above it in the deepening violet of a new night sky — Planet Vorton, home.

Ned gaped at the corpse-grey horizon. A mold-blue speck festered above it in the deepening black of a smoggy night sky — Planet Vorton, home.

Same number of words, different colors, with complementing adjectives and verbs. One paragraph emanates optimism, the other gloom.

Compound Adjectives Sometimes Require Hyphens

According to The Chicago Manual of Style , if a compound adjective appears before a noun, it should be hyphenated.

Compare the following examples:

Tristan wore an eye-catching purple tie. Tristan’s purple tie was eye catching .

Wendi modeled a melon-pink dress. Wendi’s dress was melon pink .

Accent Colors With Adjectives

Here’s a list of more than one hundred adjectives from thousands you could choose to produce more vivid descriptions of the colors in your writing.

A to C accented, achromatic, ashen, ashy, atomic, blazing, bleached, bleak, blinding, blotchy, bold, brash, bright, brilliant, burnt, chromatic, classic, clean, cold, complementing, contrasting, cool, coordinating, creamy, crisp

D to G dark, dayglow, dazzling, deep, delicate, digital, dim, dirty, drab, dreary, dull, dusty, earthy, electric, energetic, eye-catching, faded, faint, festive, fiery, flashy, flattering, fluorescent, frosty, full-toned, gaudy, glistening, glittering, glossy, glowing

H to P harsh, hazy, hot, icy, illuminated, incandescent, intense, iridescent, knockout, lambent, light, loud, luminous, lusterless, lustrous, majestic, matte, medium, mellow, milky, monochromatic, muddy, murky, muted, natural, neon, neutral, opalescent, opaque, pale, pastel, patchy, pearly, perfect, picturesque, plain, primary, pure

R to S radiant, reflective, rich, royal, ruddy, rustic, satiny, saturated, shaded, sheer, shining, shiny, shocking, showy, smoky, soft, solid, somber, soothing, sooty, sparkling, stained, streaked, streaky, striking, strong, subdued, subtle, sunny, swirling

T to W tacky, tinged, tinted, tonal, toned, traditional, translucent, transparent, undiluted, uneven, uniform, vibrant, vivid, wan, warm, washed-out, waxen, wild

Enhance Multicolored Objects With Adjectives Such as These

B to L bicolor, blended, braided, cataclysmic-colored, checkered, compound, contrasting, crisscrossed, dappled, disparate, dotted, dusted, flecked, freckled, fused, intermixed, interwoven, jumbled, lined

K to P kaleidoscopic, many-hued, marbled, mingled, mixed, motley, mottled, multicolored, multihued, particolored, patterned, peppered, piebald, pied, polychromatic, prismatic, psychedelic

S to V salted, speckled, splotched, stippled, two-tone, tricolor, varied, variegated, veined

Props Provide More Opportunities to Add Color and Detail

A to D accent, bleach, brightness, brilliance, chroma, clarity, CMYK, coating, color wheel, colorant, coloration, cover, deposit, depth, diffusion, dimension, dispersion, dye

F to I film, finish, flicker, fluorescence, blare, glaze, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glitter, glow, gradation, henna, highlight, hint, hue, incandescence, intensity, iridescence

L to O lacquer, layer, lightness, lowlight, luminosity, luster, monotone, nuance, opacity, opalescence

P to R paint, Pantone, patina, peroxide, pigment, pigmentation, polish, prism, purity, radiance, rainbow, RGB, residue, rinse

S sample, saturation, seam, shade, sheen, shimmer, shine, smidgeon, sparkle, spectrum, stain, stratum, streak, stripe, suggestion, surface, swatch

T to V tattoo, tester, tier, tincture, tinge, tint, tone, touch, trace, twinkle, undertone, varnish, vein, veneer

Perhaps These Verbs Will Provide Inspiration

Colors can blend, clash, or enhance. They might revitalize, fade, or overlap. Choose carefully to provide the nuance you need in your writing.

A to C accent, accentuate, appear, attract, balance, bathe, bespatter, blanch, blare, blaze, blench, bleach, blend, blotch, brighten, brush, burn, captivate, clash, color, combine, complement, conflict, contrast, coordinate, crayon

D to J darken, daub, decolorize, decorate, deepen, dot, draw, dye, embellish, emit, enhance, enliven, fade, flare, flash, flatter, fleck, glare, glaze, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glow, harmonize, heighten, highlight, illuminate, infuse, intensify, jar

L to R light, lighten, match, meld, merge, mingle, mix, outline, overlap, paint, permeate, pervade, plaster, radiate, revitalize

S to W saturate, seal, shade, shine, sketch, smear, sparkle, splash, splatter, spray, spread, stain, suffuse, tinge, tint, varnish, wash

Invent Colors

Your ingenuity is the only limit with invented colors. Consider a few examples.

Yolanda sashayed toward me, hips swiveling in a seduction-red skirt that complemented her bad-baby-black lipstick.

Either Yolanda intends to ravish our narrator, or he hopes she’s a bad girl with seduction on her mind.

Bruise-blue eyes stared out through glasses crisscrossed with cracks. Matching lumps burgeoned from Marco’s chin and cheeks.

Readers will make the connection between bruise-blue and the lumps, imagining someone who has been beaten or injured.

Find color ideas by googling phrases such as “things that are green” or “things that look blue.”

And Now, a Kaleidoscope of Colors

Some of the following lists contain invented colors. Many are based on objects we encounter in our environment. You can use almost any noun to create an adjective that will resonate with readers.

For the next several years, Trump blond or Hillary blonde will produce instant mental images.

Science fiction might use deep-space black , quasar blue, or starburst yellow .

An environmentalist could choose colors such as oil-slick black, smog grey, or acid-rain yellow .

Choose or invent colors that intensify your writing.

You can use many of these words as is, or precede the color they represent to produce a compound adjective. Rather than anthracite , for example, you might prefer anthracite black .

Black anger black, anthracite, bat black, boot black, cat black, cave black, cavity black, charcoal, coal black, crow black, deep-space black, ebony, evil black, funeral black, grease black, ink, jade black, jet, leather black, licorice, metal black, midnight, mildew black, mold black, night black, obsidian, oil-slick black, onyx, pitch black, raven, sable, shadow black, shoe-polish black, silhouette black, smoky, sooty, spider black, tar black, tire black, tuxedo black, uber black, velvet black

Blond/Blonde Although blond can be used for either males or females, many writers prefer blond to describe males and blond e to describe females. Likewise with gender-identified pets and animals.

Blond was adopted into English from French, and the French language uses gender-specific descriptors.

Compound adjectives in the following list are spelled with the feminine form.

almond-crème blonde, amber, apple-cider blonde, apricot, ash blonde, banana-bread blonde, blanched, bleached, bombshell, bottle blonde, brassy, bronze, brown-sugar blonde, butter blonde, butternut, butterscotch, caramel, chamomile blonde, champagne, chardonnay blonde, corn blonde, diamond blonde, dirty blonde, dishwater blonde, electric blonde, flaxen, French-fry blonde, frosted blonde, gilded blonde, ginger, ginger-ale blonde, ginger spice, golden, goldenrod, Hillary blonde, honey blonde, honey-butter blonde, honeysuckle blonde, hot-toffee blonde, macadamia blonde, mushroom blonde, neon blonde, peroxide blonde, platinum, sand blonde, straw blonde, strawberry blonde, sunflower blonde, sun-kissed blonde, sunset blonde, tarnished-gold blonde, Trump blond/e, trumpet blonde, vanilla-malt blonde, vintage gold, wheat blonde

Blue admiral blue, Aegean blue, agate blue, Arctic blue, azure, baby blue, berry blue, blue-jay blue, blue-jeans blue, bluebell blue, blueberry blue, blueberry-juice blue, bluebird blue, blue-jay blue, brook blue, bruise blue, cadet blue, cerulean, china-blue, cobalt, cornflower blue, crystal blue, denim blue, electric blue, forget-me-not blue, galaxy blue, gunmetal blue, ice blue, indigo, ink blue, jellyfish blue, lagoon blue, lake blue, lapis blue, laser blue, lilac blue, lobelia blue, mold blue, moon blue, navy, ocean blue, quasar blue, river blue, robin-egg blue, sapphire blue, sky blue, star blue, steel-blue, swimming-pool blue, teal, toilet-water blue, toothpaste blue, ultramarine

Brown acorn brown, almond brown, amber, auburn, autumn brown, Bambi brown, beige, brandy brown, brick brown, bronze, brunet, buckeye brown, camel brown, caramel, carob brown, cedar brown, champagne brown, chestnut, chipmunk brown, chocolate brown, cinnamon, cider brown, clay brown, coffee brown, cognac brown, cookie brown, copper, cork brown, desert sand, drab brown, dun brown, ecru, espresso brown, fawn brown, football brown, freckle brown, ginger, gingerbread brown, golden brown, hazel, hickory brown, honey brown, infrabeige, kiwi brown, lion brown, loam brown, mahogany, maroon, merlot brown, mocha, mouse brown, mud brown, muddy brown, nut brown, oak brown, orange brown, peanut brown, pecan brown, pekoe brown, penny brown, pigskin brown, pretzel brown, rosewood, russet, rust, sandstone brown, seal brown, sepia, sienna, spice brown, syrup brown, taffy, tan, taupe, tawny brown, teddy-bear brown, topaz brown, tortilla brown, tourmaline brown, umber, walnut, wheat brown, whiskey brown, wood brown

Green apple green, army green, artichoke green, asparagus green, avocado green, barf green, basil green, blue green, bottle green, bright green, cabbage green, camouflage green, cat’s-eye green, celery green, chartreuse, clover green, crocodile green, crystal-marble green, cyan, electric green, elf green, emerald, fern green, frog green, grape green, grass green, hypergreen, jade, jasper green, jelly green, juniper, kale green, khaki green, kiwi green, leaf green, LED green, olive, leprechaun green, lettuce green, lime, lizard green, loden, mildew green, mint, moss green, neon green, ocean green, parsley green, pea green, pea-soup green, peacock green, pear green, Perrier-bottle green, pickle green, pine green, puke green, sage, sea green, seafoam green, seasick green, seaweed green, seedling green, shamrock green, snot green, spinach green, spring green, sprout green, spruce green, tea green, teal, toad green, velvet green, viridian, watermelon green, yellow green

Grey/Gray alien grey, aluminum grey, anchor grey, ash grey, battleship grey, bottle grey, boulder grey, carbon grey, cement grey, charcoal grey, cloud grey, coin grey, corpse grey, crater grey, death grey, dove grey, elephant grey, exhaust grey, fling grey, flint grey, fog grey, fossil grey, fungus grey, ginger grey, granite grey, graphite, gravel grey, gruel grey, gum grey, gunmetal grey, hippo grey, hoary grey, ice grey, iron grey, knife grey, lead grey, mercury grey, meteor grey, mummy grey, nail grey, nickel, otter grey, pebble grey, pepper grey, pewter, pigeon grey, porpoise grey, porridge grey, rat grey, salt-and-pepper, seal grey, shadow grey, shark grey, shovel grey, silver, slate, sleet grey, slug grey, slush grey, smog grey, smoke, steel grey, stone grey, storm grey, stormy grey, stormy-sea grey, sword grey, tabby grey, tank grey, tweed grey, wax grey, wolf grey

Orange apricot orange, burnt orange, butternut orange, calypso orange, candlelight orange, cantaloupe orange, caramelized orange, carrot orange, cayenne orange, cheddar orange, cheese-cracker orange, Chinese-lantern orange, cider orange, citrus orange, clementine orange, coral orange, crayon orange, curry orange, fire orange, flame orange, goldfish orange, mac-and-cheese orange, mango-tango orange, mandarin orange, marigold orange, marmalade orange, monarch orange, nacho orange, nasturtium orange, navel orange, papaya orange, peach orange, peach-butter orange, peach-sorbet orange, popsicle orange, pumpkin orange, safety-vest orange, salamander orange, salmon orange, sherbet orange, shrimp orange, starfish orange, sunset orange, sweet-potato orange, tangelo orange, tangerine orange, terra cotta, tiger orange, traffic orange, yam orange

Pink amaranth, azalea pink, baby pink, ballet-slipper pink, blush, bright pink, bubblegum pink, cantaloupe pink, carnation pink, cerise, champagne pink, cherry-rose pink, coral, cotton-candy pink, crepe pink, cupid pink, cyclamen pink, damask, flamingo pink, fuchsia, geranium pink, grapefruit pink, lemonade pink, magenta pink, mandarin pink, mango pink, melon pink, old-rose pink, oleander pink, parfait pink, pastel pink, peach, peach-blossom pink, peony pink, piggy pink, piglet pink, pomegranate pink, prom pink, punch pink, raspberry-smoothie pink, rose, rosewood pink, rouge pink, salmon pink, seashell pink, sherbet pink, shocking pink, strawberry pink, swine pink, taffy pink, watermelon pink, Zinfandel pink

Purple amethyst purple, amparo purple, boysenberry purple, burgundy purple, Byzantium purple, clover purple, concord purple, coneflower purple, cyclamen purple, eggplant purple, fig purple, gentian purple, gooseberry purple, grape purple, heather, heliotrope, hyacinth purple, indigo, iris purple, jam purple, kazoo purple, lavender, lilac, lollipop purple, lotus purple, magenta purple, mauve, mulberry purple, onion purple, opal purple, orchid purple, periwinkle purple, petunia purple, pillow purple, plum, posy purple, primrose purple, raisin purple, regalia purple, rhubarb purple, royal purple, sage-flower purple, sangria purple, sugar-plum purple, tanzanite purple, Tyrian purple, violet, wild-berry purple, wine purple, wisteria purple

Red apple red, auburn, beet red, berry red, blaze red, blood red, blush red, brick red, burgundy red, candy red, candy-apple red, candy-cane red, carrot red, cherry red, cherry-soda red, Christmas red, cinnamon-candy red, communist red, copper red, coral red, crab-apple red, cranberry red, crimson, currant red, fire red, fire-engine red, fire-hydrant red, flame red, flaming red, garnet red, ginger red, heart red, henna, holly-berry red, jam red, ketchup red, ladybug red, LED red, licorice red, lipstick red, lobster red, maple-leaf red, merlot red, mulberry red, neon red, pepper red, pomegranate red, poppy red, radish red, raspberry red, roan, rose, rouge, ruby, Russian red, rust, rusty, Santa-suit red, scarlet, sorrel, stoplight red, strawberry red, sunburn red, Titian, tomato red, tulip red, Valentine red, wanton red, watermelon red, wine red

White alabaster, angel white, ash white, blizzard white, bone white, bread-dough white, cake white, cameo white, chalk, chaste white, chiffon white, china white, clamshell white, cloud white, coconut white, cornstarch white, cream, crème, dumpling white, eggshell white, fizz white, foam white, fog white, frost white, gardenia white, ghost white, goose-down white, heron white, hospital white, KKK white, ivory, lace white, lather white, lily white, linen white, lotus white, milk white, mist white, moonstone white, noodle white, paper white, parchment white, pearl white, phantom white, picket white, platinum white, polar white, porcelain white, powder white, rice white, salt white, Samoyed white, sheet white, skeleton white, snowflake white, specter white, starch white, sugar white, talc white, vellum white, virgin white, wedding-veil white, winter white, won-ton white

Yellow acid-rain yellow, autumn yellow, banana yellow, bourbon yellow, bumblebee yellow, butter yellow, buttercup yellow, butterscotch yellow, cadmium, canary yellow, chick yellow, corn yellow, custard yellow, daffodil yellow, daisy yellow, dandelion yellow, Dijon yellow, duckling yellow, egg-yolk yellow, flaxen, ginger yellow, gold, goldenrod, grapefruit yellow, hardhat yellow, honey yellow, jaundice yellow, lemon, macaroni yellow, maize, mustard, omelet yellow, pencil yellow, pineapple yellow, plantain yellow, poppy yellow, rubber-ducky yellow, saffron, sawdust yellow, school-bus yellow, scrambled-egg yellow, starburst yellow, sticky-note yellow, straw yellow, sulfur yellow, sun yellow, sunflower yellow, sweetcorn yellow, tallow yellow, taxi yellow, turmeric yellow, wasp yellow, whisky yellow, yield-sign yellow

Are You Interested in More Word Lists and Writing Tips?

If you haven’t done so already, please subscribe to my blog . (The link will take you to the subscription widget at the top left of this post.)

I usually post two to five times monthly, and you can discontinue your subscription at any time.

Please don't be shy. Leave a reply. Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of new posts by email.

8 thoughts on “ 1000+ Ways to Describe Colors: A Word List for Writers ”

I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for this marvellous word list you have provided. Not only has it enriched my vocabulary, but it has also sparked new ideas and inspired me to explore different writing styles. Your resource has become an indispensable tool in my writing journey, and I will continue to cherish and utilise it in all my creative endeavours. 🙂

Thanks so much, Axelle, and good luck with those creative endeavours!

Oh my! These are dripping with creativity. Many thanks.

I’m glad you found them helpful, Kathy. Hey — nice name. 😉

Thanks for stopping by, and stay safe!

I found this while googling whether to hyphenate ash blonde. I am amazed at the wealth of material contained in this blog. Thank you.

Thanks for dropping by, Dwayne. Here’s more information about hyphenation of adjectives .

This is one of the chapters I love most in book 1 – wanted to say THANK YOU for the Master TOC and the .pdf download link.

Thanks, Felicia!

I’m planning a Writer’s Body Lexicon and then probably a third volume of the main Lexicon series. I had considered producing an omnibus, but I think it would have too many pages to make a print version practical. Unless I figure out a way to compact the spacing in some of the chapters. Hmm.

This List Of 100+ Adjectives By Type Is All You Need

• Categories Of Adjectives
• Take The Quiz

Adjectives are words that modify nouns and pronouns . There are 13 different categories of adjectives that describe the many different ways adjectives can be used in the English language. We have grammar guides to help you understand the difference between these, including 13 Types Of Adjectives And How To Use Them . Here we’ll focus on lists of these adjectives and quick tips on using them. And don’t forget: because we’re the Thesaurus.com, if you click on each adjective, you’ll get dozens more! (Score!)

Descriptive adjectives

One of the broadest categories of adjectives is descriptive adjectives .  Descriptive adjectives are adjectives that describe the characteristics, traits, or qualities of a noun or pronoun . In English, descriptive adjectives often are placed directly before the noun they are describing. For example:  Excited children ate delicious treats in the colorful cafeteria.

Examples of descriptive adjectives:

• competent  

Let’s review lists of other types of adjectives.

Compound adjectives

Compound adjectives are adjectives that are formed from multiple words, which are usually connected by hyphens . For example: We all enjoyed some ice-cold sodas.

Examples of compound adjectives:

• old-fashioned
• run-of-the-mill
• middle-of-the-road
• happy-go-lucky
• see-through

Comparative adjectives

Comparative adjectives are used to compare two different people or things to each other. Most comparative adjectives in English end in -er . In other instances, they are denoted with more . For example: My brother is stronger than yours.

Examples of comparative adjectives:

• more determined
• more interesting

Superlative adjectives

Superlative adjectives are used to compare more than two people or things by indicating which one is the most supreme or extreme. Most superlative adjectives in English end in -est . In other instances, they are denoted with most or least . For example: I thought she was the most creative artist on the planet.

Examples of superlative adjectives:

• most striking

Ready for a refresher? What’s an adjective, and why is it the perfect part of speech to zhuzh up your sentences? Learn more here.

Proper adjectives

Proper adjectives are adjectives formed from proper nouns . For example: At the grocery store, we bought Mexican tortillas, German sausage, and French cheese.

There are some proper adjectives that are based on people and places that may not be capitalized if they are used as more general words, such as herculean . (These are the adjectives you’re most likely to find in Thesaurus.com.) 

Examples of proper adjectives:

• Shakespearean

Participial adjectives

Participial adjectives are adjectives that are based on participles , which are words that usually end in -ed or -ing and derive from verbs . For example: The frightened students ran away from the terrifying clown.

Examples of participial adjectives:

• misunderstood
• time-consuming

Distributive adjectives

Distributive adjectives are used to refer to members of a group individually. For example:  Both of the team captains took the time to congratulate every member of the team.

Examples of distributive adjectives:

Limiting adjectives

Limiting adjectives are adjectives that restrict a noun or pronoun rather than describe any of its characteristics or qualities. For example: The building had twelve floors, hundreds of windows, and several unique features.

Examples of limiting adjectives:

Possessive adjectives

Possessive adjectives are used to express possession or ownership. For example: Everyone brought their own dish and my mom made her famous punch for our potluck.

Examples of possessive adjectives:

Interrogative adjectives

Some categories of adjectives are more limited. There are only three interrogative adjectives in English. They are used to ask questions. For example:  What is the fastest way to get this done?

The three interrogative adjectives are:

Demonstrative adjectives

Demonstrative adjectives are used to express relative positions in space and time. For example: I think that color looks great on you, but this one matches those shoes better.

The four most commonly used demonstrative adjectives in English are:

Make Your Writing Shine!

• By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy policies.
• Email This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Finally, a djectives can be in different categories depending on how they are used in a sentence. Let’s briefly look at these.

Attributive adjectives

Many descriptive adjectives are commonly used as attributive adjectives. Attributive adjectives are adjectives that are usually directly next to the noun and pronoun that they modify.

These sentences all use attributive adjectives:

• The sleepy dogs dozed on the doorstep.
• A tardy student ran in as the bell rang.
• We fed the hungry cat.
• The strange figures appeared in the mist.
• Her hopeful eyes gazed at me.

Predicate adjectives

Some of the same descriptive adjectives that were used as attributive adjectives above can also be used as predicate adjectives . Predicate adjectives are adjectives that appear in the predicate of a sentence as a subject complement rather than directly next to the nouns or pronouns that they modify. Predicate adjectives follow linking verbs in sentences and clauses.

These sentences all use predicate adjectives: 

• They are asleep .
• I arrived l ate to work.
• She felt hungry .
• The figures seemed strange .
• The children looked hopeful .

How well do you know adjectives?

Can you tell your limiting adjectives from your possessive adjectives? Do you know what the difference is between a predicate adjective and a participial one? You can test your adjectival knowledge with our quick , fun , challenging adjective quiz here . To review these adjectives in one list, click on this list:  All Types Of Adjectives To Spark Your Creativity . You’ll find flash cards and quizzes here too.

Feeling spontaneous? This list of totally off-the-cuff, random words is for you.

Ways To Say

Synonym of the day

Descriptive Adjectives List for Kids to Level Up Their Writing 

Help kids learn what descriptive adjectives are and get a printable list to build their vocabulary and writing.

Michele is a writer who has been published both locally and internationally.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

English is nothing if not a descriptive language. It's full of adjectives to describe everything from how tall you are to the color of a backpack. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or even a student looking for a list of adjectives for kids, you can find plenty of examples here. Find types of adjectives kids might learn at different age levels to make their writing and vocabulary more colorful. You'll also get a printable to keep handy, along with tips on how to teach adjectives and make it fun.

What Is an Adjective?

Words that describe people, places, and things, or nouns, are called adjectives. You can remember this by thinking "an adjective adds something." But what's a descriptive adjective? Let's break it down.

• A descriptive adjective is one of the three main types of adjectives .
• Descriptive adjectives, or describing words, give details about a subject.
• Descriptive adjectives can help you understand how something looks, how many there are, what size it is, or what it's made of.
• Printable Feelings Charts for Kids and How to Use Them

Having a clear definition of adjectives for kids is only the beginning. Now, it's time to break descriptive adjectives down.

• Printable List of Prepositions

Examples of Descriptive Adjectives for Kids

Having an extensive list of descriptive adjectives handy can help kids improve their vocabulary skills, whether they are at home or at school. You can look at a list of adjectives to see how some are describing words and others tell you different details about a noun. You'll also notice that some are simple and some are compound (like itsy-bitsy).

Adjectives to Describe a Person's Appearance

A world without descriptive adjectives would be very bland indeed, especially if you are trying to describe an adult or child. You can use descriptive adjectives to give details about their appearance, size, or age.

Descriptive Adjectives for Size

If you're describing a building, animal, or object, giving details about exactly what size your subject is will make your writing come alive.

Adjectives to Describe Personality Traits

Whether it's how an animal or a person is acting, descriptive adjectives about personalities can be fun and useful. For example, you can say your brother has a bold attitude or your mom is a clever crafter.

Adjectives to Describe Emotions and Feelings

Kids have lots of emotions, and they're often very big feelings. Different emotion words can help you share exactly how you are feeling.

Positive Descriptive Adjectives for Kids

In a world where you want to be kind and happy, positive describing words can help you be positive too. It's fun for kids to tell their friends how amazing they are. You might even turn that into a lesson for your kiddos to write positive notes about the class using positive descriptive adjectives.

Descriptive Adjectives by Grade-Level

Not all descriptive adjectives are the same; as children learn and grow, they'll gain more advanced ways to describe things. The vocabulary your child has at four isn't the same as the one they have at ten. Get a quick breakdown of some common adjectives found in early elementary, upper elementary, and middle school.

Early Elementary Descriptive Adjectives

Preschoolers and kindergarteners are just learning how to define themselves, their peers, and the world around them. The descriptive adjectives they learn include color, size, shape, texture, and weather.

Elementary Descriptive Adjectives

Older elementary students have a better grip on their describing words. They are working to expand their vocabulary to include more complex words, like compound and proper descriptive adjectives.

Middle School Descriptive Adjectives

By the time students reach the middle school level, it's all about expanding their vocabulary to make their writing more colorful and incorporating figurative language .

Printable List of Adjectives

Keeping a printable list of adjectives handy can help kids find new words to use during writing lessons or creative writing time. This list features nine categories that cover common adjectives, such as words describing feelings and words describing size. Click on the image of the list to download and print it.

Descriptive Adjective Teaching Tips

Learning adjectives can be a challenge for kids. Looking for creative ways to share adjective examples to make the most of these grammar lessons can make it more fun and engaging.

• Buy or print flash cards with descriptive adjectives on them. Hold up a picture of a person, animal, or other noun and let kids sort through the pile of cards to find a great describing word for that picture.
• After a child writes a paragraph or short story, circle all their adjectives and challenge them to come up with new adjectives to use in place of the circled ones.
• Use mad lib style writing activity to help kids explore a variety of adjectives with humor.
• Encourage kids to combine adjectives when describing items like saying "the adorable brown dog" instead of just "the dog."
• Teach your child to use a thesaurus or kid's dictionary to liven up their writing and keep lists of new adjectives they discover.
• You can also try banning certain generic adjectives to help your child be creative in making their writing more lively.

Describe in Detail

Writing in elementary school is important because kids really build their own vocabulary and writing style. Each descriptive adjective means something very specific, and kids can explore lists of words to find the right adjective to use at the moment. Using descriptive adjectives also just makes writing more fun!

•  All topics A-Z
•  Grammar
•  Vocabulary
•  Speaking
•  Reading
•  Listening
•  Writing
•  Pronunciation
•  Virtual Classroom
• Worksheets by season
•  600 Creative Writing Prompts
•  Warmers, fillers & ice-breakers
•  Coloring pages to print
•  Flashcards
•  Classroom management worksheets
•  Emergency worksheets
•  Revision worksheets
• Resources we recommend
• Copyright 2007-2021 пїЅ
• Submit a worksheet
• Mobile version

Creative Aging: Memoir Writing at 58th Street Library

• Wednesday, May 1, 2024, 2 - 4 PM
• Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 2 - 4 PM
• Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 2 - 4 PM

Continue where we left off at the end of our Memoir Writing workshops for adults 50 and older.

This program will be held in person at 58th Street Library and online.

Teaching artist Frank Ingrasciotta will continue to guide participants through the art of writing over 5 extra sessions.

Storytelling is our most ancient art form and everyone has a story in us that wants to be told. When powerful storytelling resonates, it creates shared experiences of commonality that bonds us as a community. In this eight-session memoir writing class, we will examine various aspects of storytelling. Through writing exercises, we will explore the tools of your personal expression that bring writing to life.

Materials will be provided for this program. 

Attendance at all sessions is recommended as this is a series of classes and those who miss the first few may be lost. Space is limited and priority will be given to those who attended the first 8 sessions last year.  

Registration is mandatory.  Register for April and May events above with your email address. 

About the Artist

Frank Ingrasciotta (Actor/Playwright/Director/Educator) is the writer/performer of the award winning Off-Broadway solo play Blood Type: RAGU, performing over 1,000 shows nationally and internationally. As an actor, Frank has appeared in numerous stage productions, daytime dramas, and episodic TV shows. He has also directed many theatrical productions for numerous theatre companies. As an arts educator, he conducts workshops in acting, and creative writing with diverse populations and students of all ages. He holds a Theatre Arts in Education degree from SUNY Empire State College.

• Class Format: Hands on
• Skill prerequisites: No prior experience required. This program is perfect for all skill levels.
• Audience: Adults, 50+