Adjectives That Start with Q

You may not often find yourself in need of any word that starts with “q,” much less an adjective that starts with "q." If you live outside of the world of competitive Scrabble, chances are even less likely. While there aren’t a ton of commonly used adjectives that start with “q,” there are more than you might have expected. Even the less common options are nice to have on hand, just in case.

adjectives that start with letter q

List of Adjectives That Start With Q

"Q" is a rather demanding letter of the alphabet, as it can rarely stand at the beginning of a word without its buddy "u." Perhaps that's why the adjectival lists are limited. Nevertheless, feel free to stash a few of these in your back pocket for the next time you'd like to add some eloquence to your quips.

Adjective	Definition
qabalistic	cryptic messages or symbols; something that has a hidden meaning
quack	medical practitioners who don’t know what they’re doing; unconventional medical treatments not likely to work
quadrangular	a building or structure with four sides
quadraphonic	a four-channel sound system with speakers placed in all four corners of a room or other area; precursor to modern surround sound
quadratic	a mathematical term that involves calculating the square of a variable
quadrilateral	a one-dimensional shape that has four sides, each of which is straight
quadruped	descriptive term for an animal with four feet
quadruple	an increase by four times; a fourfold in size, quantity or other measure
quadruplex	having four units, such as a building that is divided into four separate apartment units
quadruplicate	having four identical parts or copies
quaggy	descriptive term for land that is boggy or marshlike
quaint	unusual or old-fashioned in a pleasing way
qualified	having met conditions or requirements set
qualitative	subjective measure of quality (as opposed to quantity)
quality	excellent, outstanding, meeting a very high standard
quantifiable	able to be determined or measured
quantitative	an objective, countable measurement
quarantined	isolated from others
quarrelsome	inclined or ready to quarrel
quarterly	occurring every quarter of the year
quasi	closely resembling something without being the same
quaternary	being made up of four units; being part of a numeric system that has a base of four
queasy	affected with nausea; nauseated
queenlike	demeanor, adornment or treatment befitting a queen (royalty)
queen-size	size descriptor, such as for plus-size pantyhose or a bed that is a side down from king-size
queer	differing from what is usual or ordinary, odd, singular; slang term sometimes used to refer to homosexuals
quemeful	merciful, showing kindness to others
quenched	having satisfied one's thirst
quenchless	unable to be stopped or held back
querulous	inclined to find fault; full of complaint; peevish
questionable	likely to be inaccurate or of poor quality
questioning	doubtful or objecting
quickest	the fastest or most speedy
quick	rapid; swift
quicksilver	sudden movement or change that is unpredictable or rapid
quick-tempered	easy to anger
quick-witted	being able to respond quickly and effectively or accurately
quiescent	in a dormant or inactive state; still
quiet	still; calm; motionless; hushed
quilted	constructed like a quilt
quincentennial	being related to the 500th anniversary of an occurrence
quinquefolia	descriptive term for a plant or tree that has five leaves
quintessential	the most perfect embodiment of something
quintuple	something that is made up of five parts or units
quirky	having unusual traits or mannerisms
quixotic	foolishly idealistic; impractical or impracticable; visionary
quizzical	odd; perplexed; questioning
quondam	former; of another time
quotable	worth quoting or suitable for quotation
quotidian	occurring every day

25 Example Sentences With Q Adjectives

While you may not use a lot of these “q” words in everyday conversation, there are plenty of ways to work these terms into sentences.

The quack doctor my brother went to said exercise would not help him lose weight.
I am planning on building a quadrangular greenhouse behind the barn.
When I was a kid, my family was the first in the neighborhood to purchase a quadraphonic stereo.
We visited a quaint village in Italy where it seemed that nothing there had changed in a hundred years.
Sonia wasn't qualified for the promotion because she did not have at least two years of experience and a Master's degree
This chair is constructed with quality craftsmanship.
The depth of a mother's love for her child is not really quantifiable.
The quarantined family was grateful for friends who delivered food to their home.
Mark and Joe can both be rather quarrelsome.
Please submit your quarterly reports to the manager before noon.
Some people feel queasy after riding a roller coaster.
Did his response to my question seem to be a bit queer to you?
Boy, that lemonade really quenched my thirst.
I don’t want to invite her to the party because she is entirely too querulous.
Her questioning look revealed her doubt in me.
A quick walk around the building will cure a mid-afternoon slump.
You were so quiet when you came in last night.
I’m shopping for a new quilted jacket.
Calvin's dog is the quintessential "man's best friend."
Some might say that Genevieve is a bit weird, but I love her quirky charm.
The revolutionaries may have been quixotic, but they weren't dangerous.
My husband gave me a quizzical look when I told my mom we'd see her in a few weeks.
My quondam love for him shall remain in the past.
I find Charles Dickens to be infinitely quotable.
These quotidian tasks are becoming a burden.

Expand Your Knowledge of Q Words

So you see, "q" adjectives are useful for more than just a winning Scrabble score. They can be used in a variety of situations to describe an infinite number of people, places, activities, and ideas. Once you have explored this selection of adjectives that start with the letter "q," discover more about this letter of the alphabet. Explore a list of nouns that start with “q” to learn even more words that begin with this letter.

Mary Gormandy White

M.A. Communication