Adjectives are some of the most common words in the English language and they modify perhaps the most common words in the English language, nouns. With a list of common adjectives at hand, you can effectively describe your surroundings in detail.
Whether you're recording your thoughts in your journal at the end of a wonderful day, jotting down the opening lines to your novel, or just describing your friend's outfit, having some noteworthy adjectives in your back pocket will make everything a little bit brighter. Let's have a look.
Below, you'll find a list of 228 commonly used adjectives that can serve as the basis for your own list. These words can all be used to describe feelings or the appearance of objects and can also make it easy to describe yourself, your surroundings, and your favorite things.
You can then build up your adjective list, adding more words you like or removing ones you don't. You could even include other kinds of descriptive words, such as adverbs. By keeping this list on hand as you write, you'll be able to refer to it and effectively embellish your writing.
A | Defiant | Homeless | Q |
Adorable | Delightful | Homely | Quaint |
Adventurous | Depressed | Horrible | R |
Aggressive | Determined | Hungry | Real |
Agreeable | Different | Hurt | Relieved |
Alert | Difficult | I | Repulsive |
Alive | Disgusted | Ill | Rich |
Amused | Distinct | Important | S |
Angry | Disturbed | Impossible | Scary |
Annoyed | Dizzy | Inexpensive | Selfish |
Annoying | Doubtful | Innocent | Shiny |
Anxious | Drab | Inquisitive | Shy |
Arrogant | Dull | Itchy | Silly |
Ashamed | E | J | Sleepy |
Attractive | Eager | Jealous | Smiling |
Average | Easy | Jittery | Smoggy |
Awful | Elated | Jolly | Sore |
B | Elegant | Joyous | Sparkling |
Bad | Embarrassed | K | Splendid |
Beautiful | Enchanting | Kind | Spotless |
Better | Encouraging | L | Stormy |
Bewildered | Energetic | Lazy | Strange |
Black | Enthusiastic | Light | Stupid |
Bloody | Envious | Lively | Successful |
Blue | Evil | Lonely | Super |
Blue-eyed | Excited | Long | T |
Blushing | Expensive | Lovely | Talented |
Bored | Exuberant | Lucky | Tame |
Brainy | F | M | Tender |
Brave | Fair | Magnificent | Tense |
Breakable | Faithful | Misty | Terrible |
Bright | Famous | Modern | Tasty |
Busy | Fancy | Motionless | Thankful |
C | Fantastic | Muddy | Thoughtful |
Calm | Fierce | Mushy | Thoughtless |
Careful | Filthy | Mysterious | Tired |
Cautious | Fine | N | Tough |
Charming | Foolish | Nasty | Troubled |
Cheerful | Fragile | Naughty | U |
Clean | Frail | Nervous | Ugliest |
Clear | Frantic | Nice | Ugly |
Clever | Friendly | Nutty | Uninterested |
Cloudy | Frightened | O | Unsightly |
Clumsy | Funny | Obedient | Unusual |
Colorful | G | Obnoxious | Upset |
Combative | Gentle | Odd | Uptight |
Comfortable | Gifted | Old-fashioned | V |
Concerned | Glamorous | Open | Vast |
Condemned | Gleaming | Outrageous | Victorious |
Confused | Glorious | Outstanding | Vivacious |
Cooperative | Good | P | W |
Courageous | Gorgeous | Panicky | Wandering |
Crazy | Graceful | Perfect | Weary |
Creepy | Grieving | Plain | Wicked |
Crowded | Grotesque | Pleasant | Wide-eyed |
Cruel | Grumpy | Poised | Wild |
Curious | H | Poor | Witty |
Cute | Handsome | Powerful | Worrisome |
D | Happy | Precious | Worried |
Dangerous | Healthy | Prickly | Wrong |
Dark | Helpful | Proud | Z |
Dead | Helpless | Putrid | Zany |
Defeated | Hilarious | Puzzled | Zealous |
Adjective lists will help you build a more advanced vocabulary. In turn, this will allow you to become a more effective writer and speaker.
People who are learning a foreign language often make a list of common adjective words in order to memorize new vocabulary words and organize their learning process.
If you're looking for even more lists of descriptive words, you can choose from YourDictionary's extensive word lists from A to Z. We've got plenty of goodness right here. You might like to check out these articles:
Examples of Adjectives: sorted by what they describe, such as taste, touch, or sound
Adjectives to Describe Tone, Feelings and Emotions: includes a handy printable adjective list
List of Positive Adjectives: Put a positive spin on your whole day with these uplifting descriptive words
In any of YourDictionary's adjective articles, you may discover new words that'll help you express exactly what you see and feel. Get ready to boost your creativity and start building up your list of adjective words today!
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