Adjectives that start with O are more common than you might think. You might even say that they are omnipresent. Below is a list of 25 of them along with their definitions.

Once you've read through the list take a look at the accompanying short story, which uses at least 30 outstanding adjectives that begin with O! The use of that many O adjectives in one tale may be a tad out of the ordinary, but it's certainly original!

List of Adjectives That Start with O

We can't possibly fit all the adjectives that start with O in this list, but this selection should get you off to a good start in making your descriptions more vivid - as you'll see in the short story below.

Obedient - obeying or willing to obey; submissive
Obese - very fat; stout; corpulent
Objectionable - disagreeable; offensive
Obliging - ready to do favors; helpful; courteous; accommodating
Obscene - offensive to ones feelings, or to prevailing notions of modesty or decency; lewd; disgusting; repulsive
Observant - paying careful attention; keenly watchful; perceptive or alert
Obsolete - no longer in use or practice; discarded
Obtuse - slow to understand or perceive; dull or insensitive; in math, greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees
Occasional - of irregular occurrence; happening now and then; infrequent
Odd - not usual or ordinary; singular; peculiar; strange; queer; eccentric; in numbers, not even, or having a remainder of one when divided by two
Offensive - unpleasant, as to the senses; disgusting; repugnant; causing resentment, anger, etc.
Oily - of, like, consisting of, or containing oil; covered with oil; greasy
Omnipotent - having unlimited power or authority; all-powerful
Omniscient - having infinite knowledge; knowing all things
Opaque - not letting light pass through; not transparent or translucent; not reflecting light; not shining or lustrous; dull, dark
Opportune - happening or done at the right time; seasonable; well-timed; timely
Opposing/opposed - set against; placed opposite, in balance or contrast; contending with in speech or action; resisting; withstanding
Opposite - different in every way; exactly contrary
Optimistic - having the tendency to take the most hopeful or cheerful view of matters or to expect the best outcome
Opulent - very wealthy or rich; characterized by abundance; luxuriant
Original - having to do with an origin, first, earliest; fresh, new, novel; capable of or given to inventing or creating something new, or thinking or acting in an individual, fresh way; coming from someone as the originator, maker, author, etc.
Orthodox - conforming to the usual beliefs or established doctrines, as in religion, politics, etc.; approved or conventional
Ostentatious - characterized by or given to pretentious or conspicuous show in an attempt to impress others
Outrageous - having the nature of, involving, or doing great injury or wrong; exceeding all bounds of decency or reasonableness; very offensive or shocking; unrestrained
Outstanding - prominent; distinguished; excellent; marked by superiority or distinction; unsettled, unpaid, uncollected

Now, can you spot all these adjectives, and more, that start with O in the story below?

Short Story: The Optimistic Octogenarian

The old woman walked home in an odd mood considering the meeting she'd just had. She'd always been optimistic, but this kind of optimism, in the face of such a situation bordered on outrageous or even obscene.

With so many payments outstanding since her husband's death, the ostentatious home they'd built together was about to be taken away. The opulent life she lived was about to end.

"How could the bank manager be so obtuse?" she wondered. All these years, he'd seemed so obliging, so friendly, so helpful, and now suddenly, he'd become so cold and official, objectionable, obnoxious. She was a sweet, little, old lady, after all? How could someone be so harsh and unseeing?

"I warned you about him," her son would say when she told him the news. He'd always said the manager was an "offensive, odious, oily, obese oaf," but only when he was trying to be nice. "Just because he owns half the town and has his lackeys in every corner, he thinks he's omniscient and omnipotent. Well he's got another thing coming."

In the safety of her living room, the old woman sat down and sighed. Then, picking up the newspaper, she realized the source of her odd sense of optimism: She had everything she needed to pay off the bank. She'd only need to get rid of some things she'd never liked to begin with.

When he started making his fortune, you see, her husband had become obsessed with the work of an obscure modern artist, buying up original prints left and right. He said he admired the mix of opaque acrylics and translucent water colors.

She'd always been opposed to such frivolity, but she would never have begrudged him the occasional indulgence. Besides, they weren't that expensive.

Now, reading the headlines of the Arts and Entertainment section, she saw that the painter and his unorthodox techniques had not become obsolete like she thought they would. He had, in fact, become world-renowned, and his original works of art were worth tens of thousands of dollars apiece.

She'd always been respectful of, and obedient to, her husband, and for a moment, she felt a twinge of doubt, as though selling his beloved paintings would dishonor his accomplishments. Then, a completely opposite thought came to her. The idea of getting rid of the paintings she disliked had never occurred to her until this most opportune moment. It was as though her husband were still providing for her even after his death. She had only to be observant enough to see the provision all around her.

The old lady went to bed that night with the windows open, feeling the warmth of the night air and the security of the home she would love for years to come.

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Adjectives That Start with O

By YourDictionary

Adjectives that start with O are more common than you might think. You might even say that they are omnipresent. Below is a list of 25 of them along with their definitions.Once you've read through the list take a look at the accompanying short story, which uses at least 30 outstanding adjectives that begin with O! The use of that many O adjectives in one tale may be a tad out of the ordinary, but it’s certainly original!