Adjectives That Start with N

Adjectives that start with "N" are numerous, and though you may seem nerdy or nutty by knowing them all, you will be able to use them in a natural way when you need them, and your meaning will never be nebulous or nonsensical.

Examples of Adjectives That Start With N

This is in no way an exhaustive list, and most of the words will not be new to you.

• Nasty - very dirty, filthy; offensive in taste or smell; nauseating; morally offensive; indecent; very unpleasant; objectionable; mean; malicious; ill-humored; very harmful or troublesome. Mr. Scrooge was a nasty man with a nasty temper who liked to eat nasty foods like haggis and liverwurst.
• Naive - unaffectedly, or sometimes foolishly, simple; childlike; artless; not suspicious; credulous. Carol is so naive that she doesn’t realize Ben is just using her.
• Narrow - small in width as compared to length; not wide; limited in meaning, size, amount, or extent. The hallway may be narrow, but the rooms are very large.
• Nasal - of the nose. His singing voice is more nasal than his speaking voice.
• Native - belonging to a locality or country by birth, production, or growth; indigenous. English is my native language.
• Natural - of, or arising from, nature; in accordance with what is found or expected in nature; produced or existing in nature; not artificial or manufactured. The amazing curls in Beth’s hair are natural.
• Nauseous - causing nausea; sickening, disgusting. To me, the smell of beef cooking is nauseous.
• Nauseated - feeling nausea. I feel nauseated when I smell beef cooking.
• Needy - in, or characterized by, need, or poverty; not having enough to live on; very poor; having or showing a need for affection, emotional support, etc. I liked George just fine until he started calling me ten times a day, and then he just seemed too needy.
• Nearsighted - having better vision for near objects than for distant ones; myopic. Sallie is nearsighted, so she needs glasses when she drives so she can see the road signs while they’re still far away.
• Naughty - not behaving properly; mischievous or disobedient. Kyle isn’t naughty; he just has ADHD.
• Nebulous - unclear; vague; indefinite. When friends of the opposite sex spend an excessive amount of time together without defining their relationship, it becomes a rather nebulous and confusing thing.
• Negligent - habitually failing to do the required thing; neglectful. Social Services can take children away from parents who are negligent.
• Nerdy - describing a person regarded as socially dull, unsophisticated, awkward, etc., specifically as from being preoccupied with schoolwork, an intellectual hobby, etc. Have you ever noticed how many nerdy guys there are with really beautiful women?
• Nervous - characterized by or having a disordered state of the nerves; characterized by or showing emotional tension, restlessness, agitation, etc.; fearful; apprehensive. Sheila always believed that she’d be great onstage, but she could never get into a play because she got so nervous at the audition.
• Normal - conforming with or constituting an accepted standard, model, or pattern; esp., corresponding to the median or average of a large group in type, appearance, achievement, function, development, etc.; natural; usual; standard; regular. Is it normal to dream that you’re riding on Mario Lopez’s back around a fountain singing "Call Me Al" while your teeth crumble to bits and fall out? I didn’t think so.
• Noble - having eminence, renown, fame, etc.; illustrious; having or showing high moral qualities or ideals, or greatness of character; lofty; having excellent qualities; superior; grand; stately; splendid; magnificent; of high hereditary rank or title; aristocratic. Buying Girl Scout cookies is both delicious and noble; you get to enjoy your Thin Mints with the knowledge that your purchase is providing friendship and self-esteem-building experiences for young girls across America.
• Noisy - making, or accompanied by, noise; making more sound than is expected or customary; full of noise; clamorous. My roommates are so noisy in the mornings, I can never sleep in.
• Noxious - harmful to the health; injurious; morally injurious; corrupting; unwholesome. You should always paint in a well-ventilated area because the paint fumes are noxious.
• Noteworthy - worthy of note; deserving notice; outstanding; remarkable; notable. There are many noteworthy restaurants in New York City; Pam Real Thai on 49th and 9th is excellent as is El Malecòn on 175th and Broadway.
• Novel - new and unusual; especially, being the first of its kind. Writers have a lot of novel ideas.
• Nude/naked - completely unclothed or uncovered; naked; bare. I dreamed that I was sitting naked in front of a bunch of people, and then I realized that it wasn’t a dream at all. I was just the nude model for an art class.
• Nutty - containing or producing many nuts; having a nut-like flavor; (slang) crazy. It’s nutty how nutty this bread is!
• Numb - weakened in or deprived of the power of feeling or moving; benumbed; deadened; insensible. Don’t you hate it when you wake up in the middle of the night, and your arm is numb, and you think there’s a dead arm in the bed with you?
• Nutritious - nourishing; of value as food. Berries are both nutritious and delicious.
• Notorious - widely but unfavorably known or talked about. The professor was notorious for giving impossible tests.
• Nostalgic - of or related to a longing for something far away or long ago or for former happy circumstances. Claire always feels nostalgic when she listens to Jimmy Buffet because it reminds her of childhood summers.

Adjectives That Start With "Non"

These are just a few, but there are many more adjectives that start with the prefix “non,” which means not or without.

• Nonchalant - without warmth or enthusiasm; not showing interest; showing cool lack of concern; casually indifferent. He seemed so nonchalant about the financial crisis; we had no idea he was going bankrupt.
• Nonpartisan - not partisan; especially, not controlled or influenced by, or supporting, any single political party. The ACLU is a nonpartisan organization that works to maintain and uphold our Constitutional rights.
• Nonalcoholic - a beverage usually containing less than 0.5% alcohol by volume. Coke is nonalcoholic.
• Nonprofit - expressly established for or done as public service, charitable work, etc. and not for earning a profit. Most religious organizations are nonprofit.
• Nonsensical - unintelligible, foolish, silly, absurd, etc. Dr. Seuss books are nonsensical in a way, but they also teach children valuable lessons about all kinds of things.

That’s plenty for now, wouldn’t you say? Now, go and N-joy using all these N-adjectives!