good essay adjectives

20+ Best Words to Describe Essay, Adjectives for Essay

An essay is a written composition that allows individuals to express their thoughts, ideas, and arguments on a particular topic. It serves as a platform for conveying personal opinions, critical analysis, and creative interpretations. But what makes an essay truly compelling and effective? The key lies in choosing the right words to describe it. In this blog post, we delve into the art of selecting appropriate language to enhance the impact of an essay, enabling writers to craft powerful narratives and engage readers on a profound level.

Adjectives for Essay

Here are the 20 Most Popular adjectives for essays:

• Captivating
• Descriptive
• Informative
• Well-crafted
• Well-researched

 Adjectives for “essay”:

• Thought-provoking

Adjectives for “essay writing”:

Adjectives for “college essay”:.

• Personalized

Words to Describe Essay with Meanings

• Analytical : Involving critical examination and interpretation.
• Articulate : Expressing thoughts clearly and coherently.
• Captivating : Holding attention and interest effectively.
• Coherent : Logical and consistent in structure and content.
• Compelling : Convincing and engaging in its presentation.
• Creative : Demonstrating originality and imaginative expression.
• Descriptive : Providing vivid and detailed explanations or portrayals.
• Engaging : Attracting and maintaining interest or involvement.
• Informative : Furnishing valuable knowledge or insights.
• Insightful : Exhibiting perceptive and deep understanding.
• Intriguing : Arousing curiosity or fascination.
• Persuasive : Convincing and influential in its arguments.
• Profound : Exhibiting great depth and significance.
• Reflective : Thoughtful and contemplative in nature.
• Scholarly : Demonstrating academic knowledge and rigor.
• Structured : Organized and well-ordered in presentation.
• Thoughtful : Demonstrating careful consideration and contemplation.
• Well-crafted : Skillfully and carefully constructed.
• Well-researched : Based on a thorough and comprehensive investigation.
• Witty : Clever and amusing in expression.

Example Sentences for Essay Adjectives

• The analytical report highlighted various trends in sales.
• She delivered an articulate speech at the conference.
• The movie’s plot was captivating from start to finish.
• His essay was coherent and easy to follow.
• The presentation had a compelling argument for change.
• The artist’s work showcased her creative brilliance.
• The descriptive passage painted a vivid picture of the landscape.
• The engaging novel kept readers hooked till the end.
• The article was informative and provided valuable insights.
• The professor’s lecture was insightful and thought-provoking.
• The mystery novel’s plot was truly intriguing .
• Her speech was so persuasive that it changed minds.
• The movie’s ending left the audience in profound silence.
• The reflective essay explored her personal growth.
• The researcher presented a scholarly paper at the conference.
• The structured outline helped organize the content efficiently.
• His thoughtful gift touched her heart deeply.
• The well-crafted poem received praise from critics.
• The article was well-researched and supported with evidence.
• The comedian’s witty remarks had the audience laughing.

Explore More Words:

Words to Describe Students

Words to Describe Teachers

Words to Describe Explorer

How to describe an essay in writing?

An essay is a written composition that presents a focused discussion or argument on a specific topic.

How to write good essays?

To write good essays, focus on clear organization, strong thesis statements, and supporting evidence from reliable sources.

How to end an essay?

Conclude your essay by summarizing key points and leaving readers with a thought-provoking statement or a call to action.

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About the author.

Hi, I'm USMI, engdic.org's Author & Lifestyle Linguist. My decade-long journey in language and lifestyle curation fuels my passion for weaving words into everyday life. Join me in exploring the dynamic interplay between English and our diverse lifestyles. Dive into my latest insights, where language enriches every aspect of living.

Daily Writing Tips

100 exquisite adjectives.

Adjectives — descriptive words that modify nouns — often come under fire for their cluttering quality, but often it’s quality, not quantity, that is the issue. Plenty of tired adjectives are available to spoil a good sentence, but when you find just the right word for the job, enrichment ensues. Practice precision when you select words. Here’s a list of adjectives:

Adamant : unyielding; a very hard substance Adroit : clever, resourceful Amatory : sexual Animistic : quality of recurrence or reversion to earlier form Antic : clownish, frolicsome Arcadian : serene Baleful : deadly, foreboding Bellicose : quarrelsome (its synonym belligerent can also be a noun) Bilious : unpleasant, peevish Boorish : crude, insensitive Calamitous : disastrous Caustic : corrosive, sarcastic; a corrosive substance Cerulean : sky blue Comely : attractive Concomitant : accompanying Contumacious : rebellious Corpulent : obese Crapulous : immoderate in appetite Defamatory : maliciously misrepresenting Didactic : conveying information or moral instruction Dilatory : causing delay, tardy Dowdy : shabby, old-fashioned; an unkempt woman Efficacious : producing a desired effect Effulgent : brilliantly radiant Egregious : conspicuous, flagrant Endemic : prevalent, native, peculiar to an area Equanimous : even, balanced Execrable : wretched, detestable Fastidious : meticulous, overly delicate Feckless : weak, irresponsible Fecund : prolific, inventive Friable : brittle Fulsome : abundant, overdone, effusive Garrulous : wordy, talkative Guileless : naive Gustatory : having to do with taste or eating Heuristic : learning through trial-and-error or problem solving Histrionic : affected, theatrical Hubristic : proud, excessively self-confident Incendiary : inflammatory, spontaneously combustible, hot Insidious : subtle, seductive, treacherous Insolent : impudent, contemptuous Intransigent : uncompromising Inveterate : habitual, persistent Invidious : resentful, envious, obnoxious Irksome : annoying Jejune : dull, puerile Jocular : jesting, playful Judicious : discreet Lachrymose : tearful Limpid : simple, transparent, serene Loquacious : talkative Luminous : clear, shining Mannered : artificial, stilted Mendacious : deceptive Meretricious : whorish, superficially appealing, pretentious Minatory : menacing Mordant : biting, incisive, pungent Munificent : lavish, generous Nefarious : wicked Noxious : harmful, corrupting Obtuse : blunt, stupid Parsimonious : frugal, restrained Pendulous : suspended, indecisive Pernicious : injurious, deadly Pervasive : widespread Petulant : rude, ill humored Platitudinous : resembling or full of dull or banal comments Precipitate : steep, speedy Propitious : auspicious, advantageous, benevolent Puckish : impish Querulous : cranky, whining Quiescent : inactive, untroublesome Rebarbative : irritating, repellent Recalcitrant : resistant, obstinate Redolent : aromatic, evocative Rhadamanthine : harshly strict Risible : laughable Ruminative : contemplative Sagacious : wise, discerning Salubrious : healthful Sartorial : relating to attire, especially tailored fashions Sclerotic : hardening Serpentine : snake-like, winding, tempting or wily Spasmodic : having to do with or resembling a spasm, excitable, intermittent Strident : harsh, discordant; obtrusively loud Taciturn : closemouthed, reticent Tenacious : persistent, cohesive, Tremulous : nervous, trembling, timid, sensitive Trenchant : sharp, penetrating, distinct Turbulent : restless, tempestuous Turgid : swollen, pompous Ubiquitous : pervasive, widespread Uxorious : inordinately affectionate or compliant with a wife Verdant : green, unripe Voluble : glib, given to speaking Voracious : ravenous, insatiable Wheedling : flattering Withering : devastating Zealous : eager, devoted

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32 thoughts on “100 Exquisite Adjectives”

Fantastic list! Thank you for sharing it with us.

I love your site. The daily writings are magnificent. Your daily writing tips are useful! Unlike many other writing blogs or websites out there!

Interesting list. However, for some of the words, I see the following definitions as more accurate: adroit-skillful judicious-prudent, discerningly precipitate – should say precipitous to describe as steep. Precipitate as an adj means falling.

Thanks for sharing these. I can’t imagine writing without adjectives. It always pains me to have to cut them. As a writer for children, it is a challenge to find adjectives that are new words for kids, but simple enough for them to understand. Obviously, I cannot use “salubrious”, but “luminous,” “limpid,” “verdant,”and “withering” are delightful.

How about a list especially for young readers?

Thanks for this! Especially for “jejune”. I heard that one spoken aloud years ago, but didn’t know how to spell it (and no one I asked had ever heard of it), so I couldn’t look it up. Now I can finally use it!

I think you meant “Recalcitrant” and not “Recalcitant”? Just a small elision, however.

Thanks for a great list.

An exquisite list, in deed.

I would also say that “fecund” also means fertile. Great list!

A very good list. A lot of words here that I had never heard before and several others for which I didn’t know the definitions.

You might like to clarify your point about ‘belligerent’, though. A belligerent is an entity participating in war. The noun form of the adjective ‘belligerent’ is ‘belligerence’.

Oh, publishers, beware! Coming your way are manuscripts populated with fecund protagonists, mendacious antagonists, didactically sagacious guardians, and platitudinous sidekicks.

Actually, that could be fun.

really useful list. much needed 🙂 thanks

This a the PERFECT list for expanding your vocabulary, but also great for speaking professionals as well. Sometimes I find myself using the same words over and over as I facilitate workshops, so this will come in handy…bookmark worthy!

@Lahesha – Is that the correct word? To “facilitate” a workshop? Facilitate means to make something easier, less difficult, or free from impediment. You could conduct a workshop, moderate a worshop, direct, guide, chair, etc.. However, just now checking “Business Speak” in Wikipedia, I see it as one of those terms. So, check out the “Beware of Buzz Word Bingo” column (Feb 2011). “Facilitate” could be added to that list since workshops tend to spew buzz words in abundance.

Insidious is one of my favorites — such a pithy word. Pithy is pretty good as well. Maybe it could be tacked on. I’m retweeting this now…

Stephen: But “belligerent” is an adjective, as well as a noun…has the list been modified?

Katie: Don’t forget “jemay”– almost or becoming dull or puerile, and “jedecember”– exciting, witty, and mature, but colder. And “irksall” which meand even more annoying– to everybody.

I must get across my respect for your generosity supporting those people that really want guidance on in this situation. Your very own commitment to getting the solution all around ended up being quite practical and has permitted others just like me to achieve their dreams. Your warm and helpful suggestions means so much to me and a whole lot more to my fellow workers. Thanks a lot; from all of us.

I love words, and particularly adjectives. This list is wondrous fair indeed. However, many of these words are going to come across as being self-conscious, vainglorious or simply twee. While I will always choose the word that comes closest to the meaning I wish to convey (reticent over reluctant when I’m speaking or writing of being hesitant to speak) I also am aware that using a highly decorative word (rhadamanthine, for instance) can be the literary equivalent of wearing too much perfume.

Yes indeed Stephen, agreed. Bellicose and Belligerent are not synonymous but are often used that way. Belligerency is an instrument of the state, not just a singular person’s aggressiveness. Check out Article 9 of Japan’s Constitution for fun.

Also Corpulent, is bodily. It’s broader than the definition given.

Still, great to see such a list.

What about a list of collective nouns? Especially birds. Ie: a Parliament of owls, a murder of crows…fun!

To the 4 writers and the editor! Great Job! When coming up with content that just looks and reads the same you kinda get that same feeling about it as you do others to some degree. You’re book marked for some exciting adjectives in my writing. Thanks don

Superb stuff, absolutely top notch.

In searching for lists of adjectives to aid in the enrichment of my middle school students’ writing, I happened across this list on stumpbleupon.com. I thought this might be the perfect resource until I reached the word “dowdy”. What a great disappointment from dailytwritingtips.com, especially in light of their own “About the blog”, which states, “Whether you are an attorney, manager or student, writing skills are essential to your success. The rise of the information age – with the proliferation of emails, blogs and social networks – makes the ability to write clear, correct English more important than ever. Daily Writing Tips is about that.”

“Dowdy”? Seriously, M. Nichol, in 2015? Because I respect all of my students, but in this case especially my female students, that one word is a deal breaker, for more reasons than I’ll even entertain here.

Fabulous list of adjectives..all are pretty helpful.

Some good choices here. Love arcadian and cerulean. 🙂

I am a french student. Needless to say that this fantastic list will help me a lot. I was definitely smitten with these harmonious and suggestive words. Now come my challenge: be able to use all of them in my english essays ! 😀 Thanks for sharing

A good, stimulating list.

95% of the adjectives have a negative connotation. Some positive please?

njnnjnnj wow

i d k im only 100000000000000 yrs old relax due

@Roberta B.

No, they used facilitate correctly 🙂

Now these are helpful, I know how useful these can be even people that aren’t me. You will be in my book you have helped a lot.

Wow, thank you for sharing and I’m really learning.

this list made me hard

Leave a Comment

Writing Enhancement: Astounding Adjectives

A list of more than 300 alluring adjectives to enhance both your writing skills and comprehension. While the words progress from simple to sophisticated, always remember that any and all adjectives offer value in a piece of writing!

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Other learning activities, teaching tools, full list of words from this list:.

• minute infinitely or immeasurably small
• galvanizing affected by emotion as if by electricity; thrilling An extremely inspiring book or movie may be described as being simply "galvanizing".
• opportune suitable or advantageous especially for a particular purpose That was the opportune time to take advantage of the offer.
• engaging attracting or delighting English class :)
• solemn dignified and somber in manner or character
• intrinsic belonging to a thing by its very nature
• tacit implied by or inferred from actions or statements
• distinguished standing above others in character or attainment
• potent having or wielding force or authority
• sincere open and genuine; not deceitful
• indifferent marked by a lack of interest
• precise sharply exact or accurate or delimited
• sovereign a nation's ruler usually by hereditary right
• diffident showing modest reserve
• lucrative producing a sizeable profit X didn't prove to be a very lucrative stock.
• amenable disposed or willing to comply He said he was amenable to making the changes we requested.
• melancholy a constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed
• eloquent expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively
• subservient compliant and obedient to authority
• denigrating harmful and often untrue; tending to discredit or malign Defamatory
• subtle difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
• inferior of or characteristic of low rank or importance
• exquisite delicately beautiful
• perpetual continuing forever or indefinitely
• tense taut or rigid; stretched tight
• effervescent marked by high spirits or excitement
• obstinate marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield
• coarse rough to the touch
• impoverished poor enough to need help from others
• vulgar of or associated with the great masses of people
• bodacious unrestrained by convention or propriety
• triumphant experiencing victory
• tranquil free from disturbance by heavy waves
• dainty something considered choice to eat
• ardent characterized by intense emotion
• venerable profoundly honored SAT word!
• amiable diffusing warmth and friendliness
• benevolent showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
• haughty having or showing arrogant superiority
• vehement marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions
• vile morally reprehensible
• meek humble in spirit or manner
• illustrious widely known and esteemed
• animated having life or vigor or spirit
• refined cultivated and genteel
• integral existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
• convoluted highly complex or intricate Washington is often accused of comprising convoluted politicians in office.
• exalted of high moral or intellectual value
• disparaging expressive of low opinion
• trifling not worth considering
• scrupulous characterized by extreme care and great effort
• nebulous lacking definition or definite content Vague or unclear intentions may be described as "nebulous"
• spontaneous said or done without having been planned in advance
• eccentric conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
• devout deeply religious
• vexed troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
• austere of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
• orthodox adhering to what is commonly accepted
• trivial (informal) small and of little importance
• contingent determined by conditions or circumstances that follow The agreement is contingent upon your continuing to get good grades.
• barbarous able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
• zealous marked by active interest and enthusiasm
• forlorn marked by or showing hopelessness
• impartial free from undue bias or preconceived opinions
• wanton indulgent in immoral or improper behavior He slept with her, too? How wanton is he?
• monotonous sounded or spoken in a tone unvarying in pitch Dragging on
• intricate having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
• candid openly straightforward and direct without secretiveness
• luminous softly bright or radiant
• homely cozy and comfortable
• incredulous not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
• conclusive forming a decisive end or resolution
• suggestive tending to hint at something improper or indecent Look at that suggestive dress she's wearing!
• aloof distant, cold, or detached in manner
• intermediate around the middle of a scale of evaluation
• shady sheltered from the sun's rays
• turbulent characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination
• congenial suitable to your needs
• erroneous containing or characterized by mistakes
• palpable capable of being perceived
• magnanimous noble and generous in spirit
• rancid having an offensive smell or taste
• prudent marked by sound judgment
• malignant dangerous to health
• disinterested unaffected by concern for one's own welfare
• staid characterized by dignity and propriety
• indulgent given to yielding to the wishes of someone
• whimsical determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
• brazen unrestrained by convention or propriety
• authoritative of recognized power or excellence
• reflective deeply or seriously thoughtful
• pragmatic concerned with practical matters
• economical using the minimum of time or resources for effectiveness
• invaluable having incalculable monetary or intellectual worth
• audacious disposed to venture or take risks
• compassionate showing or having sympathy for another's suffering
• deplorable of very poor quality or condition
• tumultuous characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination
• affable diffusing warmth and friendliness
• unintelligible not clearly understood or expressed Often used as a synonym of unintelligent
• stolid having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
• ostensible appearing as such but not necessarily so
• antecedent preceding in time or order
• astounding bewildering or striking dumb with wonder
• affluent having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
• fastidious giving careful attention to detail
• arid lacking sufficient water or rainfall
• lamentable bad; unfortunate
• uncanny surpassing the ordinary or normal
• quotidian found in the ordinary course of events
• reputable held in high esteem and honor
• paltry contemptibly small in amount or size That's quite a paltry dish you have there for a growing boy.
• ostentatious intended to attract notice and impress others
• auspicious indicating favorable circumstances and good luck
• amorous inclined toward or displaying love
• opulent rich and superior in quality
• bashful self-consciously timid
• pretentious creating an appearance of importance or distinction
• angelic having a sweet nature Innocent and pure
• licentious lacking moral discipline ...Certainly not angelic!
• fictitious formed or conceived by the imagination
• cultured marked by refinement in taste and manners
• alluring highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire
• oblivious lacking conscious awareness of
• erratic liable to sudden unpredictable change
• intriguing capable of arousing interest or curiosity
• astute marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
• clairvoyant someone who can perceive things not present to the senses She had a clairvoyant sense of the future...
• resplendent having great beauty
• obstreperous noisily and stubbornly defiant
• incensed angered at something unjust or wrong
• discordant not in agreement or harmony
• naive marked by or showing unaffected simplicity I wouldn't call her crazy, but that decision nevertheless made her seem a bit naive .
• prosaic lacking wit or imagination
• revolting highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
• reminiscent serving to bring to mind
• nimble moving quickly and lightly
• pungent strong and sharp to the sense of taste or smell What is that pungent smell?
• diabolical showing cunning or ingenuity or wickedness
• avid marked by active interest and enthusiasm I'm an avid fan of Vocabulary.com. Are you an avid fan of this list?
• adorable lovable especially in a childlike or naive way
• perplexing lacking clarity of meaning
• frigid extremely cold
• resentful full of or marked by indignant ill will
• woeful affected by or full of grief or sadness
• insidious working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way
• opaque not transmitting or reflecting light or radiant energy
• deceptive deliberately designed to mislead
• inordinate beyond normal limits
• sardonic disdainfully or ironically humorous Humorous or satyrical writing is often described as being sardonic.
• balmy mild and pleasant
• jubilant full of high-spirited delight
• rudimentary being in the earliest stages of development
• inestimable beyond calculation or measure
• prior earlier in time Simple alternative to "previous"
• promiscuous casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior No one wants to see your Cleveland!
• facetious cleverly amusing in tone
• contemplative deeply or seriously thoughtful
• provocative serving or tending to excite or stimulate
• conciliatory making or willing to make concessions
• nostalgic unhappy about being away and longing for familiar things We felt rather nostalgic after playing with a Koosh ball from our childhood!
• malevolent wishing or appearing to wish evil to others
• tempestuous characterized by violent emotions or behavior
• taciturn habitually reserved and uncommunicative
• taut pulled or drawn tight
• immutable not subject or susceptible to change or variation
• lustrous reflecting light Not to be confused with "luscious".
• depraved deviating from what is considered moral or right or proper
• obsequious attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
• clandestine conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
• commendable worthy of high praise To commend someone for their work is to praise or appreciate them for what they've done.
• impromptu with little or no preparation or forethought
• aromatic having a strong pleasant odor
• disreputable lacking respectability in character, behavior or appearance
• vivacious vigorous and animated
• meager deficient in amount or quality or extent
• exorbitant greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation You're not being rational if you're being exorbitant.
• antagonistic characterized by feelings of intense dislike or hostility
• unconventional not conforming to standards
• surreptitious marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
• complaisant showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others
• incipient only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
• refractory stubbornly resistant to authority or control His refractory demeanor made him an unworthy candidate for the job.
• ubiquitous being present everywhere at once Cell phones have become a ubiquitous aspect of society---nearly everyone has one!
• luscious having strong sexual appeal
• premeditated characterized by deliberate purpose and a degree of planning
• outlandish noticeably or extremely unconventional or unusual
• overt open and observable; not secret or hidden
• fervid characterized by intense emotion
• flamboyant tending to attract attention; marked by ostentatious display
• mundane found in the ordinary course of events
• incorrigible impervious to correction by punishment
• tantalizing arousing desire or expectation for something unattainable
• heinous extremely wicked or deeply criminal Never have I seen a crime quite so heinous .
• indubitable too obvious to be doubted
• smug marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction
• omniscient knowing, seeing, or understanding everything
• imperceptible impossible or difficult to sense
• convivial occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company
• voracious devouring or craving food in great quantities I'm so voracious I could eat a horse!
• clarion loud and clear
• inane devoid of intelligence Unintelligible
• torpid in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation
• detrimental causing harm or injury
• tawdry tastelessly showy
• trite repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
• colloquial characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation
• candescent glowing from great heat
• cogent powerfully persuasive
• ravishing stunningly beautiful Also used to describe extreme hunger. A person voracious enough to eat a horse may describe themselves as "ravishing" for food.
• intrusive tending to enter uninvited
• asperity harshness of manner
• outlandish noticeably or extremely unconventional or unusual Barbara's purple house is somewhat outlandish ; personally, though, I like it.
• effulgent radiating or as if radiating light
• pristine immaculately clean and unused
• torrid characterized by intense emotion Be careful not to conflate this with "torpid"
• reprehensible bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
• fallacious containing or based on incorrect reasoning
• forthright characterized by directness in manner or speech
• inconspicuous not prominent or readily noticeable
• nefarious extremely wicked
• fortuitous lucky; occurring by happy chance
• redolent having a strong pleasant odor
• indeterminate not fixed or known in advance
• abhorrent offensive to the mind
• cryptic having a secret or hidden meaning
• enlightening tending to increase knowledge or dissipate ignorance
• preeminent greatest in importance, degree, or significance
• factious dissenting with the majority opinion
• scurrilous expressing offensive, insulting, or scandalous criticism
• calamitous having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences
• bona fide not counterfeit or copied
• recalcitrant stubbornly resistant to authority or control
• egotistical having an inflated idea of one's own importance
• lethargic deficient in alertness or activity
• poignancy a quality that arouses emotions, especially pity or sorrow Marley and Me was notorious for its poignancy ---eliciting tears in even the most macho of men. A moment is often described as being "poignant".
• brassy resembling the sound of a brass instrument
• altruistic showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others
• somnolent inclined to or marked by drowsiness
• illusory having the nature of something unreal or deceptive
• bombastic ostentatiously lofty in style
• prosy lacking wit or imagination
• neglectful not showing due care or attention
• malleable easily influenced Malleable metal is metal that has been heated to be moved or shaped more easily. Likewise, malleable people are people easily influenced, shaped or changed by those around them. Most children begin very malleable and lose this malleability over time. In psychology, the phenomena is known as plasticity.
• inconsequential lacking worth or importance
• scraggy having a sharply uneven surface or outline Atop the scraggy mountain even the most skilled of hikers may struggle.
• cantankerous stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate
• illusive based on or having the nature of a fantasy
• quintessential representing the perfect example of a class or quality
• chipper having a cheerful, lively, and self-confident air
• macho used of men; markedly masculine in appearance or manner
• gargantuan of great mass; huge and bulky
• extemporaneous with little or no preparation or forethought I extemporaneously created a list on Vocabulary.com.
• ambrosial worthy of the gods
• myopic lacking foresight or scope
• meretricious tastelessly showy A sports car is considered meretricious by some.
• listless marked by low spirits; showing no enthusiasm
• idiosyncratic peculiar to the individual
• sleazy morally degraded
• amnesic of or relating to or caused by amnesia
• archetypal of an original pattern on which other things are modeled
• nugatory of no real value A nugget of gold
• slumberous inclined to or marked by drowsiness
• euphonious having a pleasant sound
• euphoric characterized by a feeling of well-being or elation
• mesmerizing attracting and holding interest as if by a spell
• atypical not representative of a group, class, or type Simple, yet effective in writing
• phantasmal resembling or characteristic of a phantom
• titillating pleasantly and superficially exciting
• scrumptious extremely pleasing to the sense of taste
• egocentric limited to or caring only about yourself and your own needs
• incommodious uncomfortably or inconveniently small A bit of an old-fashioned word.
• cacophonous having an unpleasant sound
• scabrous rough to the touch, as if covered with scales or projections
• crepuscular like or relating to twilight; dim Dogs are known for being crepuscular , being most active at sunrise and sunset.
• deviant a person whose behavior does not conform to social norms
• empathetic showing ready comprehension of others' states Sympathy is showing an understanding of another's emotions. Empathy is personally identifying with another's emotions (putting yourself in someone another's shoes).
• moronic having a mental age of between eight and twelve years
• duplicitous marked by deliberate deceptiveness
• limpid clear and bright
• tenebrous dark and gloomy
• luminescent emitting light not caused by heat
• somniferous sleep inducing
• persnickety characterized by excessive attention to trivial details
• delusory causing one to believe what is not true or fail to believe what is true
• reputable held in high esteem and honor John is a very reputable surgeon --- he'll get the job done right.
• snoopy offensively curious or inquisitive Don't go snooping through my house!
• applaudable worthy of high praise
• pedantic marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning
• loopy informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
• languid lacking spirit or liveliness
• benign not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive The tumor we once thought cancerous was found to be benign .
• capricious determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
• laconic brief and to the point A laconic individual isn't very talkative. Usually used to describe words (e.g. a laconic individual isn't very talkative).
• satyrical of or relating to or having the characteristics of a satyr
• quixotic not sensible about practical matters One of the coolest words of all time (in my humble opinion) :) Antonym of "pragmatic"
• frivolous not serious in content, attitude, or behavior
• formidable extremely impressive in strength or excellence
• gregarious temperamentally seeking and enjoying the company of others
• vapid lacking significance or liveliness or spirit or zest He seemed a bit vapid despite having won the game.
• keen intense or sharp
• arbitrary based on or subject to individual discretion or preference
• inevitable incapable of being avoided or prevented
• sparse not dense or plentiful
• ambiguous having more than one possible meaning
• spurious plausible but false
• incandescent characterized by ardent emotion, intensity, or brilliance
• extroverted at ease in talking to others My extroverted husband does the schmoozing at parties. Antonym of "introverted". An introverted classmate may not talk to others around them.
• malicious having the nature of threatening evil
• nihilistic relating to a complete rejection of moral values and beliefs Jeffrey Dahmer was known for being a nihilist.
• liberal showing or characterized by broad-mindedness
• conservative resistant to change
• conscientious characterized by extreme care and great effort
• hypothetical a conjectural possibility or circumstance
• garrulous full of trivial conversation My conversation with Sam about the weather was garrulous . Small talk.
• ulterior lying beyond what is openly revealed or avowed
• wistful showing pensive sadness
• pensive deeply or seriously thoughtful
• esoteric understandable only by an enlightened inner circle
• xenophobic having abnormal fear or hatred of foreigners
• zany ludicrous or foolish Eccentric yet humorous (e.g. a clown).
• obsolete no longer in use Hardcover dictionaries are becoming obsolete with the rise of websites like vocabulary.com.
• obscure not clearly understood or expressed
• onerous burdensome or difficult to endure
• frenetic fast and energetic in an uncontrolled or wild way Love this word!
• eclectic selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
• resilient recovering readily from adversity, depression, or the like
• disdainful having or showing arrogant superiority
• variegated having an assortment of colors
• imperative requiring attention or action
• loquacious full of trivial conversation
• banal repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse The word "plethora" has become quite banal among writers. See "hackneyed"
• analogous similar or equivalent in some respects You've probably heard the word "analogy". Dog is to mammal as eagle is to bird. Boy is to girl as man is to woman. An analogy is a likening of two sets of items that would otherwise remain unconnected. Analogous items are items somehow linked together in a fashion similar to that of an analogy.
• jaunty having a cheerful, lively, and self-confident air
• tyrannical characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule
• cynical believing the worst of human nature and motives Not to sound cynical , but I think the show will be a flop.
• ethereal characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy
• fervent characterized by intense emotion A fervent speech was delivered to Congress by the President with regard to the new Bill in works.
• ominous threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
• jaded exhausted I'm still a bit jaded from work but I'll try my best to help. ...after a long day of learning vocab!
• feral wild and menacing That feral beast is going to eat me!
• tangible perceptible by the senses, especially the sense of touch
• exasperated greatly annoyed; out of patience
• liable subject to legal action
• hackneyed repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse See "banal"
• hasty excessively quick
• salient conspicuous, prominent, or important
• unanimous in complete agreement
• impetuous characterized by undue haste and lack of thought
• qualitative involving distinguishing attributes
• quaint attractively old-fashioned
• rational consistent with or based on or using reason Let's not jump to any conclusions and do something irrational now...
• nascent being born or beginning
• latent potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
• miscellaneous consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
• mischievous naughtily or annoyingly playful
• morose showing a brooding ill humor
• judicious marked by the exercise of common sense in practical matters
• pompous puffed up with vanity See egocentric
• vain having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
• stoic seeming unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive He was quite stoic in his answers to police.
• earnest devout or heartfelt
• retroactive affecting things past
• shrewd marked by practical hardheaded intelligence Shrewd often has a negative connotation. Crafty, sly and even manipulative are often used interchangeably with "shrewd"
• shallow not deep or strong; not affecting one deeply Shallow people are often harsh, cold or indifferent toward others' emotions.

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20 Positive Adjectives To Brighten Your Writing

It’s positively wonderful to be positive whenever possible, and we are here to help with that. The word positive has a lot of different meanings, from “confident” to “favorable” to a number of specific definitions in scientific fields, such as electricity and chemistry. In this article, we are going to look at a number of adjectives that mean or express a positive attitude, general optimism, or a sunny disposition.

The word excellent is a synonym for “positive” with the sense of “emphasizing what is laudable, hopeful, or to the good.” Excellent means “possessing outstanding quality or superior merit.” It’s a good everyday synonym for positive .

Another excellent synonym for positive is beneficial , a word that means “conferring benefit; advantageous; helpful.” The word beneficial ultimately comes from the Latin beneficium , meaning “kindness.” The word beneficial can be used as an easy substitute for positive in sentences like it will be positive ( or beneficial) for them .

constructive

The word positive connotes a certain kind of real-world or hands-on benefit. A close synonym for positive that has a similar connotation is constructive , “helping to improve; promoting further development or advancement.” However, constructive does not necessarily describe literal construction , “the occupation or industry of building.”

Practical , “adapted or designed for actual use; useful” is another synonym of positive that describes an impact in the material world. One sense of positive is that it describes something “proceeding in a direction assumed as beneficial.” Being practical is something that helps one move in a positive direction.

The adjective positive is used generally, outside of the sciences, to describe things that are appealing , meaning “evoking or attracting interest, desire, curiosity, sympathy, or the like; attractive.” If you find something appealing, it means you are drawn to it, for whatever reason. You might even call this feeling a positive force pulling you in.

A slightly more sophisticated synonym for appealing is delectable , which means “delightful; highly pleasing; enjoyable.” It is most often used to describe things that appeal to the senses, particularly taste. For example: At the Michelin star restaurant, they serve delectable cakes and pastries from around the world . The word delectable should not be confused with electable , meaning “capable of, or having a reasonable chance of, being elected, as to public office.”

If something is appealing, you feel favorable toward it. The word favorable means “characterized by approval or support.” It is also a close synonym for positive . Like positive , favorable can also describe a forward-looking attitude, in the sense of “boding well; propitious.”

Adjectives describe everything around us and come in many forms. Here’s a review of the 13 most common types of adjectives in the English language.

A more sophisticated synonym of favorable is auspicious , “promising success; opportune; favorable.” The word auspicious comes from the Latin auspicium , which was the practice of divining the future by watching the flight of birds. Here’s how you use the word auspicious in a sentence: I took the fact that my car started on the first try as an auspicious sign for our road trip.

serendipitous

Another sophisticated synonym for favorable to describe a positive outcome is serendipitous , meaning “good; beneficial” or “fortuitous.” For example: The chance meeting of the organizers was serendipitous and led to great outcomes . The word comes from a reference to a story as told by Horace Walpole about three heroes and a missing camel (yes, a camel). Serendip is an old name for the nation of Sri Lanka, which is where the story takes place.

effervescent

A word that has a positive connotation, rather than being a close synonym for positive is effervescent , which literally means “bubbling,” but it is used figuratively to mean “vivacious; merry; lively; sparkling.” Someone who has a positive attitude could be described as being effervescent. For example: The hostess seemed effervescent as she circulated amongst the guests, laughing and chatting.

A term that is an informal synonym for effervescent is zippy , meaning “lively; peppy.” The word zip itself means “energy; vim; vigor.” In other words, someone who is zippy has a lot of energy. The word zip itself is onomatopoeic, meaning it is imitative of a sound—in this case, the sound of moving around with a lot of energy.

If you are in a positive mood, you may describe that feeling as jubilant , meaning “showing great joy, satisfaction, or triumph; rejoicing; exultant.” The word jubilant comes from the Latin verb jūbilāre , meaning “to shout, whoop,” which is what you do when you’re feeling good, as in The crowd erupted in jubilant cheers.

tickled pink

An informal expression one can use to describe a positive feeling is tickled pink , meaning “delighted.” The expression alludes to one’s face turning pink with laughter when one is being tickled. A more hyperbolic or dramatic expression of the same sentiment is tickled to death .

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There are a number of terms that describe someone who has what the kids call “positive vibes.” One such term is amicable , meaning “characterized by or showing goodwill; friendly; peaceable.” For example: The amicable waiter showed us to our table . The word amicable is closely related to amiable , as you may have guessed. They both describe someone who has “pleasant, good-natured personal qualities.”

A close synonym of amicable is affable , “pleasantly easy to approach and to talk to; friendly; cordial.” The word affable comes from Latin affābilis , which literally means “that can be spoken to” or “courteous.” For example: Sarah was an affable person generally speaking, but her new co-worker was making it hard for her to keep her composure.

A slightly more sophisticated term that is both a synonym for the positive attitude terms amicable and affable , as well as a term that is closely related to the connotations of jubilant , is convivial , which means both “friendly; agreeable” and “fond of feasting, drinking, and merry company.” The word convivial comes from Latin convīviālis , meaning “festal” or “pertaining to a feast or holiday.” For example: There was a convivial atmosphere in the cafeteria the day before the winter break.

Speaking of feasts, one way to describe a good feast is bounteous , which means “more than sufficient; plentiful; abundant.” A key aspect of feasts is that they have bounteous amounts of food and drink. The word bounteous can also mean “generous,” as in The bounteous King gave most of his fortune to charity , although this use is less common.

One adjective that expresses a superlatively positive sentiment is phenomenal , “highly extraordinary or prodigious; exceptional.” Literally, phenomenal means “of or relating to phenomena,” or “facts, occurrences, or circumstances observed or observable.” However, this literal meaning is often limited to philosophical discussion and is not often used in everyday speech.

Another superlative term to describe something or someone exceptional is exquisite , “of special beauty or charm, or rare and appealing excellence.” The word exquisite comes from Latin exquīsītus , meaning “meticulous, chosen with care.” In other words, something exquisite looks carefully crafted and especially beautiful, “as works of art or workmanship.”

A term closely related to exquisite is sublime , which means “impressing the mind with a sense of grandeur or power; inspiring awe, veneration, etc.” It also means “supreme or outstanding.” The word sublime comes from Latin sublīmis , meaning “high,” which gives sublime the connotation of something transcendent or out of this world.

One of the most informal terms to mean “positive” as in “good” is gnarly , “excellent; wonderful.” This slang term has its origins in ’70s California surfer/skater slang but it has hung around ever since. For example: Alice bought this gnarly jacket at the thrift store that has lots of spangles on it. Literally, gnarly means “twisted with or as if with gnarls or knots,” like the trunk of some trees.

You’ll positively love this word list

These adjectives describe sentiments that are positive so you can be prepared next time you’re feeling optimistic or happy. We hope you find them beneficial, appealing, and maybe even gnarly . Not ready to say goodbye? We can’t blame you there—spread even more cheer with the positive adjectives word list and quiz yourself on their definitions and spelling .

Embrace the bright side of life with these 12 quintessential quotes about summer.

Ways To Say

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• 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.

Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.

It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.

If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.

General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument . Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of  summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine  and engineering .

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135+ List of Adjective Words To Add To Your Writing

Here is a list of adjective words that you can add to your writing projects .

Adjectives play a vital role in forming clear and vivid sentences. They are critical to describing things, events , people , and feelings . Not only are adjectives essential in writing , but they are also a key part of language, and we use them daily to describe our feelings , events , and surroundings. It pairs nicely with our list of mood words for literature .

What Are Adjective Words?

Opinion adjectives, size adjectives, physical quality adjectives, shape adjectives, age adjectives, color adjectives, origin adjectives, material adjectives, purpose adjectives.

An adjective is a term or phrase that describes and modifies the qualities, state, and quantity of nouns and pronouns. There is a specific rule when there’s more than one adjective in a sentence that cannot be broken even in informal speech or writing , unlike grammar and syntax. It’s called the “order of adjectives,” where the use of adjectives is ranked accordingly: opinion, size, physical quality, shape, age, color, origin, material, and purpose.

Opinion adjectives express thoughts and feelings about a topic, person, or thing. It also describes and modifies a person’s facial expression, body parts, actions, and traits. 

Linda has an amazing voice.

The new cafe’s interior design is beautiful .

She had a very cool demeanor. 

• Flirtatious

Many believe that Helena isn’t a flirtatious woman.

Leonardo De Caprio is one of the most handsome Hollywood actors.

My dad has the irritating habit of talking during meals.

My husband is irrationally jealous of my ex-boyfriend.

Our new professor has a lovely personality.

He’s a nice guy when he’s in a good mood.

You should apologize to your mom for your rude behavior.

She’ll use all her seductive charms to get John’s attention.

I want my steak to be delicious, juicy, and tender .

The drink has a very unusual taste.

Old people and kids are the most vulnerable members of our society.

Ed likes to say a lot of weird things.

These words denote the amount of space available or occupied by a person or an object. It also describes how small or large someone or something is.

Liam wants a big house, but his wife says no.

I want a brainy and brawny boyfriend.

They have a compact kitchen with all the necessary tools and appliances.

Every year, Brazil produces an enormous amount of coffee in the world.

The pack must hunt down a giant bear before the winter season begins.

The story she’s been writing contains a hefty amount of comedy.

• Immeasurable

I hope more filmmakers create movies with immeasurable effects on the younger generation.

She wants to buy a life-size standee of her favorite idol.

• Microscopic

The doctor has microscopic handwriting that’s hard to read.

Many people like to wear an oversize t-shirt because it’s trendy and comfortable.

Do you know where I can buy quality dresses that fit my petite body?

Cecile’s short hair makes her look younger.

Our company will build a tall building in the area.

Every guest has unlimited access to the pool and gym.

A dictionary is a vast treasure box of information.

These describe the physical characteristics of a person, animal, place, happening, or thing. 

He likes to surround himself with attractive people .

My father is still young, but he’s already starting to go bald .

A curvy figure is the new sexy.

Lina is small and delicate.  

Our neighbor is preparing an elegant party for her daughter’s birthday.

He’s fit because he’s a gym enthusiast.

My frail grandfather still refuses to even sit up on his bed.

The hotel room had a musky odor filling the air.

His plump lips are what make him so handsome.

The new table in our kitchen has a rough finish.

Please avoid making sharp turns because it’s dangerous.

His long, straight hair makes people mistake him for a girl.

My brother is that tattooed guy riding the big bike. 

My professor told me to work on my untidy writing .

His well-built body is the fruit of his hard work.

These words describe things without referring to the color and type of material used. Use the terms below to describe and compare different objects based on their shape and structure.

Gio inherits his father’s angular face.

Most bodybuilders have a broad torso and narrow waist.

Grandpa said that his crooked front teeth are his lucky charm.

Big cruise ships need to be in deep waters to sail.

A diagonal line divides the layout of The Da Vinci Code book cover.

Professional contractors in Switzerland make globular houses and buildings.  

Our engineer tests the strength of a hollow block by the drop test method.

The wall painting is at an oblique angle.

My mother’s ring has a unique oval ruby ​​gem.

The kingdom’s soldiers have pointy helmets.

• Rectangular

His rectangular smile is contagious.

People with round faces should opt for a layered haircut.

His uncle has a square jaw.

She’s wearing her favorite tapered jeans.

Today, they will perform on the triangular stage in the park.

These words are commonly used in verbal communication and writings to describe or indicate the age of animate and inanimate objects. 

There are no plans to resolve the age-old issue of land distribution.

The aging founder of our company is planning to resign.

My dream is to visit every ancient home and building around the world.

There’s a lot of antique furniture in my grandmother’s house. 

The declining demand for traditional kimonos will ultimately affect Japan’s culture. 

The group that I will tour today has a lot of elderly people .

Her mature boyfriend always helps her make rational decisions.

Peer pressure often leads to bad decisions among young people .

An old man’s advice is the best you can get.

The neighbor’s senescent dog has been with them for 13 years. 

The organization’s senile leader needs will soon step down.

Hailey is promoted to the senior psychologist position at the clinic.

Her teenage daughter loves to party. 

The modeling company is looking for young models to train.

My mom still has her youthful spirit.

Color adjectives describe the shade of nouns and can also express emotions or feelings .

She wants to change her hair color to ashy gray.

Jay looks good in blue clothes.

The designer uses bright colors and chintzy fabrics to make the room livelier.

Her smallpox left her with dotted skin.

He’s a famous celebrity known for his flamboyant lifestyle.

The athlete’s glistening back shines under the sun.

Half of the clothes in her closet are monotone black.

The newborn child has beautiful muddy eyes.

Add sparkle to your fabrics by making opalescent dyes by hand.

She has a natural pink undertone.

The compliment highlights her red cheeks.

The tourist is amazed by the rustic charm of the village.

The little girl’s skirt has lots of splashy flower prints.

• Translucent

The bathrooms are made of frosted and translucent glass.

She likes to add vibrant colors to her room.

These words indicate where a person, animal, or thing comes from. See the most commonly used origin adjectives by many speakers and writers.

I ate the American breakfast offered by the hotel.

Most of the British police don’t carry a gun .

A Caucasian model visits our store to shop for clothes.

New York City was a trading post founded by a Dutch colonist.

Spice up your usual potato salad with English mustard.

My favorite singer will have his European concert tour next year!

I love cheesy French fries with soda.

He has a strong Greek accent.

Italian pizza is the best!

Japanese people have the highest life expectancy . 

Korean culture is prevalent all over the world because of K-Pop.

The majority of English words we know have Greek and Latin origins.

Ysa loves Mexican food, especially enchiladas.

Can you tell me where I can buy Thai rice?

Dad likes the strong, bold, and bittersweet taste of Turkish coffee.

Material is a substance from which an object is made. In most cases, these adjectives are usually nouns that act as adjectives to describe another noun. 

My uncle collects copper coins.

Sheila’s new husband owns a cotton plantation.

She dreams of having a diamond ring.

Angel’s mom is fond of gold utensils.

Her expensive vice includes shopping for leather bags.

Their house has a metal gate painted like wood.

She needs a replacement for her guitar’s nylon strings.

We should avoid using plastic bags to save Mother Earth.

Polyester clothing is affordable but durable. 

Her silk hair floats with the wind.

Wait for a silver car that will take you to your destination.

Ian dreams of living in a stone house.

She likes how velvet skirts feel against her skin.

I prefer using wooden kitchen utensils. 

My favorite part of the house is the wool carpet in our living area.

Purpose adjectives are words that are almost part of the noun. They describe what an item is for. 

Put your dirty garments in the laundry basket .

Can you look in the cleaning supplies aisle and get some borax?

Mon uses his new cooking pan to make pancakes.

Do you want to take dancing lessons?

My dad stores his fishing rods in the shed.

I use my grandmother’s gardening tools for my planting project.

The hammered copper bowl is the center of attention for today’s auction.  

I use a polishing cloth to clean my glasses.

Mom holds the rolling pin like she wants to hit me.

I lost my running shoes at the local gym.

Come with me to the shopping center and buy a gift for Sophia.

Jake always makes sure that his sleeping bag is in his car.

Miko is looking for a new tennis racket for his brother.

I broke our washing machine.

I use a writing app to assist me in my essays. Looking for more descriptive words to elevate your writing ? Check out list of descriptive words !

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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 >  

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Adjectives: An Easy Guide with Examples

An adjective describes qualities or quantities of people, places, ideas, and things. There are negative adjectives and positive adjectives.

So, if I say the building was tall , tall is the adjective.

If we want to get a little more technical, adjectives modify or describe nouns .

A noun is a person, place, idea, or thing.

So, if you’ve used a word to describe something, like this:

• The dog was big .

... you’ve probably used an adjective.

Adjectives only modify (describe) nouns. You can’t use an adjective to modify verbs, adverbs, or other adjectives. Adverbs modify verbs.

What Are the Different Types of Adjectives?

There are a few different types of adjectives.

In this article, we'll look at:

• Qualitative and quantitative adjectives
• Absolute, comparative, and superlative adjectives
• Predicate adjectives
• Adjective phrases

Quantitive and Qualitative Adjectives

Adjectives can describe the qualities of nouns. This means that they describe a noun’s size , age , shape , color , origin , material , or purpose . Qualitative adjectives can also describe an opinion on something.

For example, if we say The tree was green or The painting was pretty , the adjectives green and pretty describe qualities of the nouns tree and painting .

Adjectives can also describe quantities of nouns. Quantitative adjectives describe the amount of something.

If we say There were many trees , the adjective many describes the quantity of the trees.

All adjectives—quantitative and qualitative—fall into three main categories, each with their own rules.

What Are the Three Main Types of Adjective?

The three types of adjective are absolute adjectives , comparative adjectives , and superlative adjectives .

Don’t worry if those terms aren’t familiar—you’ll recognize each of the types when you see them.

Let’s look at some examples.

Absolute Adjectives

Absolute adjectives cannot be intensified or used to compare.

For example, if something is perfect , something else cannot be more perfect than it.

With absolute adjectives, you usually can’t add the suffix -er . Someone can’t be perfect-er than someone else.

Here are some examples of absolute adjectives:

Comparative Adjectives

Comparative adjectives compare two or more objects, ideas, people, or places. For example, larger is a comparative adjective.

Comparative adjectives usually end with the -er suffix, or include the words more and less .

One of the most common mistakes people make with comparative adjectives is incorrect formation.

Here are some examples of correct and incorrect formation for comparative adjectives:

Correct: The lake was larger than the pond. Incorrect: The lake was more large than the pond.

Correct: The book was more interesting than the movie. Incorrect: The book was interestinger than the movie.

But how do you know which comparative adjective formation to use? Here are a few handy rules:

• If the adjective you want to use only has one syllable, add -er to the end to make it comparative, e.g. smaller , wider , bigger , sadder , colder , rounder , brighter , sharper
• If the adjective has two syllables and doesn’t end in -y , or three or more syllables, add more or less to the start, e.g. more dangerous , more effective , more intelligent , less exciting , less important , less serious
• If the adjective ends in -y , change the y to an i and add -er , e.g. sunny → sunnier , funny → funnier , shiny → shinier , happy → happier

Here are some comparative adjectives in a sentence:

• The light was brighter than the sun.
• The math lesson was more boring than the English lesson.
• It is sunnier today than it was yesterday.
• She can run faster than him.
• The test was more important to her than having fun.

Superlative Adjectives

A superlative adjective describes something that is the most or least that it can be:

• It was the tallest tree in the forest.
• Our business was the fastest-growing in its field.
• We saw the most beautiful sunset.
• It was the least convincing argument I’ve ever heard.

Superlative adjectives end in -est , or are preceded by most or least .

Adjectives can have comparative and superlative forms.

Here’s an example:

Adjective: Tall

Comparative form: He was taller than her.

Superlative form: He was the tallest in the school.

How to Use Adjectives in a Sentence (with Examples)

Most adjectives can come before or after the noun in a sentence:

• The dark sky → The sky is dark
• The fluffy cat → The cat is fluffy
• The interesting book → The book is interesting

But in many cases, the adjective can’t come directly after the noun.

For example, if you want to describe someone’s hair as curly , you can’t say Their hair curly . You’ll need to add a verb, e.g. Their hair was curly .

Adjectives that come before a noun or after a noun and verb like this are called attributive adjectives .

When Can I Put an Adjective Directly After a Noun?

Short answer? Yes. Here’s why.

Some phrases, titles, or names of institutions will place an adjective directly after a noun:

• Time immemorial
• Queen consort
• Poet Laureate

The adjectives here (highlighted) are called postpositive adjectives . The word postpositive just means that the adjective comes directly after (post) the noun.

Here are some postpositive adjectives in a sentence:

• Something terrible has happened.
• It was the best job available at the time.
• I had the worst time imaginable .

These adjectives are postpositive because of where they are in the sentence. If we move them around, their type can change.

For example, if I wrote:

• I have a terrible headache.

... then the adjective terrible goes back to being an attributive adjective.

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When does a noun become an adjective.

Adjectives usually modify nouns. But sometimes, a noun can be used in place of an adjective to describe another noun .

Here are some examples of nouns being used as adjectives:

• Clothes shop
• Ladies room
• Ticket office
• Running shoes
• Tennis club

In these cases, the noun being used as an adjective always comes before the main noun in the phrase.

You can then use adjectives to describe these phrases:

• The busy clothes shop
• Her new running shoes
• The fastest race horse

Now you know how to identify the different types of adjectives. But what happens if you want to use more than one adjective together?

What Order Do Adjectives Go In?

If you use multiple adjectives before a noun, they need to go in the right order. We’re big fans of breaking grammar rules, but the order of adjectives is one that you pretty much always need to follow.

If you’re a native English speaker, you might not even notice that you put adjectives in a certain order. Check out this tweet:

For fun, let’s try messing up that order (yes, we said fun ; we’re grammar nerds here at ProWritingAid).

• I have a rectangular old little whittling lovely French green silver knife.

Sounds strange, right?

We will say, this is for illustrative purposes only. You shouldn’t use this many adjectives in one sentence. It will distract your reader and dilute your meaning rather than strengthen it. More on that later.

So, what order do adjectives go in?

Opinion → Size → Age → Shape → Color → Origin → Material → Purpose

Examples of adjectives in the correct order:

• The pretty purple cotton dress.
• The gnarly old tree.
• The big green monster.

Examples of adjectives in the wrong order:

• The cotton purple pretty dress.
• The old gnarly tree.
• The green big monster.

Here’s a handy chart to help you get your adjective order right every time:

What Is an Adjective Phrase?

An adjective phrase is a group of two or more words (including an adjective) that describe a noun.

Adjective phrases can be made up of:

• A string of two or more adjectives
• An adverb and an adjective
• An intensifier and and adjective

The adjective can appear anywhere in the group.

Here are some examples of adjective phrases:

The apartment is as clean as a whistle.

What Is a Predicate Adjective?

Predicate adjectives modify the subject of a sentence. For an adjective to be a predicate adjective, the sentence must also contain a linking verb.

Let’s look at an example.

In the sentence "The cat is black," the subject of the sentence is "cat," the predicate adjective is "black" and the linking verb is "is."

Here are some more examples. The adjectives are highlighted and the linking verbs are in bold.

The music sounds jarring . The light appeared bright . His whining became unbearable . That gift would be perfect for Samantha.

Looking for more examples of adjectives? Check out this detailed list of adjectives starting with "a". We also have a full list of positive adjectives .

How Do Adjectives Make Your Writing More Effective?

Descriptive adjectives can help you convey ideas, images, and tone to your reader. However, if you rely on imprecise and overused adjectives, you could actually put your reader off.

Not all adjectives are equal. You should avoid using weak adjectives in your writing . But how do you spot a weak adjective?

Examples of Weak Adjectives

If you have used intensifiers like very or really to make your adjective stronger, you could probably be using a better adjective.

Take this sentence:

• She was very angry.

Your idea of very angry could be completely different to mine. I might imagine someone tearing their hair out, shouting, stomping around. You might see someone with a slightly furrowed brow and a frown.

However, if we change very angry to furious , we’re much more likely to imagine similar things.

Here are a few more examples of weak adjectives and how we can replace them with strong ones:

Weak: Happy + very = I’m very happy . Strong: I’m ecstatic .

Weak: Hot + very = It’s very hot out today. Strong: It’s sweltering out today.

Weak: Sleepy + very = She looks very sleepy . Strong: She looks exhausted .

Weak: Glad + very = He’ll be very glad to see you. Strong: He’ll be delighted to see you.

Weak: Funny + very = You’re very funny . Strong: You’re hilarious .

Weak: Dirty + very = That dog is very dirty . Strong: That dog is filthy .

Weak: Big + very = The elephant in the room is very big . Strong: The elephant in the room is enormous .

Imprecise vs. Precise Adjectives

You should also avoid using too many imprecise adjectives. Take this example:

• It was a beautiful warm day.

We don’t know what the writer means by beautiful here, and everyone’s idea of warm is different. Here’s how we could rewrite that sentence using more specific adjectives:

• The sun had drawn people out into the balmy air, and the sky was such a deep blue you could almost dive into it.

Now we have a better idea of the quality of the day. And we haven’t just added stronger adjectives.

If you spot weak adjectives in your writing, it’s often a sign that you need to rework your sentence to give your reader some more information. Why does it matter that the day was beautiful and warm?

How to Use Adjectives in Business Writing

Adjectives aren’t just for fiction writers. Let’s look at how this works in a business writing context.

• We made a good deal with them. We’ll be able to implement a better sales strategy going forward.

Good and better are both pretty vague. It’s not clear why the deal is good or how it will lead to better strategy. Let’s expand:

• We made a mutually beneficial deal with them. Now our sales strategies are aligned, and we can work together to target customers instead of sending conflicting messages.

Stuck for precise adjectives to use in your business writing? Here are 35 powerful business-focussed adjectives.

How to Avoid Weak Adjectives

Which adjectives should you avoid? Here are 100 common adjectives that could make your writing vague.

Remember, it’s fine to use these, but consider if you could replace them with something more powerful.

100 Most Common Adjectives

How to Strengthen Your Adjectives

You could pick out all of your adjectives with a highlighter and then come up with synonyms for each of them. Sound like a lot of work? We think so too.

ProWritingAid’s Thesaurus Report will highlight all of the adjectives in your document and show you synonyms for each of them.

As we said above, replacing your weak adjectives isn’t always the answer. If none of the synonyms look quite right for the tone you’re trying to set, consider re-working your sentence to get your point across more effectively.

Check out our complete guide to ProWritingAid’s Thesaurus Report and start improving your adjective use today.

What Are Some Examples of Adjectives to Describe People?

Taking the time to review your adjectives can help you write stronger, more specific content that helps you achieve your purpose faster. Whether that’s conveying findings in a report or creating a spellbinding scene in a novel, using adjectives carefully pays.

Now you know how adjectives work, and what to avoid, you’re ready to start using adjectives to enhance your points and create intricate descriptions. Happy writing!

Common Questions about Adjectives: An Easy Guide with Examples

"worse" vs. "worst". what is the difference, what's the difference between a coordinate adjective and a hierarchical adjective, what is a compound adjective, what is a generic description and why shouldn't you overuse them, what are coordinate adjectives and why should you have a comma between them, why should i show emotions rather than telling them, when to use "some" and "any" in a sentence, how are "pretty" and "quite" used, where can you omit "to me" in a sentence, "more than" vs "over", why is it better to use "two" instead of "a couple of", what is a superlative, why should you omit "own" in the phrase "my own" used before a noun, why should you avoid using both "little" and "bit" in one sentence, when should i use "less" and when should i use "fewer", weak words series: why you should avoid weak adjectives and verbs, repeated synonyms, learn more about grammar:.

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Best Words to Use in Good College Essays

Why is using good vocabulary so important in an essay?

Using strong vocabulary in college admissions essays is crucial to articulating your skills and competencies, but also central in showing admissions officers that you can express yourself clearly in written English. Although vocabulary may not be the main aspect of your essay that the admissions committee pays attention to, using appropriate and sophisticated vocabulary will nearly always make your essay more compelling. 

Choosing which vocabulary or words to use can be difficult for anyone but it can be even more challenging if English is not your first language. This article suggests some useful words to effectively describe yourself and your experiences when writing college admissions essays.

Table of Contents 

• How to Choose Vocabulary for College Admissions Essays

How to Choose Vocabulary Terms for College Applications Essays

Writing a college essay is all about describing who you are and how you fit into the school you are applying for. Therefore, an important question to ask yourself here would be “Who are you?” rather than trying to boast with elevated and “sophisticated” words that do not quite fit in your essay. It is recommended to first brainstorm and outline the aspects you would like to highlight about yourself in order to choose the right words to use.

Best Words to Use in College Admissions Essays

The following list of adjectives , verbs and nouns are the words commonly used in college admissions essays. Using these words will help you to effectively express yourself in a short essay of about 650 words. Let’s find out why they are effective terms using some specific examples within admissions essays. 

Adjectives to Use in Essays

Adjectives are words that provide information about a noun. When it comes to formatting college admissions essays , using strong adjectives will not only make your essay more visual and distinctive but also help you demonstrate that you can communicate well in English. The following adjectives signal to admissions officers that you are both a good college candidate and a capable writer.

Definition : Able to express ideas and feelings clearly in words

Example : I am an articulate writer and I always aim to intrigue audiences with my message using precise words.

Definition: Able to do things well

Example : Having part-time jobs during the semester helped me become capable at handling multiple things at once. 

Detail-oriented

Definition : Interested in and paying great attention to detail

Example : When working on a scientific report, taking a detail-oriented approach is crucial.

Definition : Giving a lot of attention to one particular thing

Example : My mentor encouraged me, saying that I would do well in college because I am very focused on my studies.

Goal-oriented

Definition : Laser-focused on achieving good results on given tasks

Example Today’s society is goal-oriented , requiring problems to be resolved quickly.

Inspirational

Definition : Making people feel full of hope or encouraged

Example : Students who share their stories of how they successfully completed degrees in foreign country are often inspirational to those who are planning to study abroad.

Definition : Very enthusiastic or determined out of a strong desire to do something

Example : Colleges often seek highly motivated people who will not readily drop out of courses.

Definition : Arranged according to a particular system

Example : My father is one of the most organized people I know, and there is no doubt that I inherited this attitude from him.

Definition : Based on or acting on good judgment and practical ideas or understanding

Example : My colleagues strongly agreed to adopt the sensible suggestions I made. 

Definition : Giving encouragement and/or providing support in the form of action

Example : Knowing that I am a supportive member of the student council, the teachers used to ask me to advocate on behalf of other students.

Verbs to Use in Essays

Verbs are used to describe an action, state, or occurrence. In college admissions essays, it is essential to choose verbs that would most appropriately describe your past experiences. Similar to verbs in resume and CVs , using appropriate verbs in your admissions essay can add to the detail and action, enthralling your reader and improving your chances of acceptance.

Definition : To succeed in finishing something or reaching an aim, especially following a significant amount of work or effort

Example : I aim to achieve my goals through continual academic and extracurricular efforts. 

Definition : To express a thought, feeling, or idea so that it is understood by other people

Example : I carefully chose my words to convey the proper amount of urgency about the matter.

Definition : To effectively organize so that all the parts work well together

Example : My role was to coordinate the reports from each department in school and send them to the principal.

Demonstrate

Definition : To clarify something by way of doing it in front of others

Example : As the leader of the after-school cooking club, I demonstrated each step of the recipe to introduce new menus. 

Definition : To improve or increase (especially a skill, feeling, or metric)

Example : Studying abroad was a great opportunity for me to enhance my communication skills.

Investigate

Definition : To examine a crime, problem, statement, etc. carefully, especially in order to discover the truth

Example : It is always important to investigate the terms and conditions before signing any contract.

Definition : To succeed in doing or dealing with something, especially something difficult

Example : After engaging in numerous debates, I managed to learn how to effectively communicate.

Definition : To (cause to) work, be in action or have an effect

Example : Having the ability to operate machines and systems is crucial for systems engineers.

Participate

Definition : To take part in an event or become involved in an activity or group

Example : Students are encouraged to actively participate in discussions and decision-making during the student council meeting.

Definition : To watch a person or activity to ensure that everything is done correctly, safely, and/or according to the rules or guidelines.

Example : I was responsible for supervising students during the event to prevent any possible accidents.

Nouns to Use in Essays

Many strong nouns exist that can be introduced in college admissions essays to help students better express their abilities, talents, achievements, etc. The following nouns will help you articulate the valuable experiences you had in the past and the abilities you gained accordingly. Be careful not to use nouns that you do not understand or that might not sound natural in your essay.

Definition : Something that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore tests a person’s ability

Example: My challenge was to motivate the survey participants to provide honest responses.

Definition : Understanding of or information about a subject that you get by experience or study, either known by one person or by people generally

Example: Having relevant knowledge in a given field is a power that can only be unlocked through extended hands-on experiences. 

Opportunity

Definition : An occasion or situation that makes it possible to do something that you want to do or have to do, or the possibility of doing something

Example: I am honored to be given the opportunity to apply for this faculty position.

Definition : An ability to do an activity or job well, especially because you have practiced it

Example: Through various projects, I learned that communication skills are key when working with others. 

Definition : The action of working together in a group with other people; especially used when the action is successful

Example: Seamless teamwork can drive the most satisfactory outcomes.

If you are currently writing a college admissions essay, see our Admissions Resources page for articles on writing application essays to get into any school, including How to Answer the Common App Essay Prompts. And don’t forget to receive professional English proofreading services , including essay editing services for any of your application documents.

A list of adjectives by their type and usage

Published July 20, 2020. Updated December 6, 2021.

Adjectives are modifiers. They describe nouns and pronouns to make them more specific. These modifiers help clarify your writing so that it is easier to read and understand.

If you’re looking for an adjective list to help you understand these descriptive words and improve your writing, we’ve got you covered. In this guide you’ll find a:

• List of adjectives that answers the question “which?”
• Descriptive adjectives list
• List of adjectives that answers the question “whose?”
• A list of adjectives that answers the question “how many?”

List of positive adjectives

Personality adjectives list, list of adjectives for kids.

By the end, you’ll know the questions that adjectives answer and how to use them. You’ll also have access to a list of adjectives for each question and category, as well as the chance to practice what you’ve learned and create your own adjective list. To begin with, let’s explore adjectives lists that answer the questions “which,” “what kind,” “whose,” and “how many?”

List of adjectives that answers the question “which one?”

While most words on an adjectives list will expand the meaning of a noun or pronoun, demonstratives modify words by introducing or limiting them.

Demonstrative adjectives list :

When they precede a noun, the words on the demonstrative adjectives list answer the question “which?”

This villager wants to go fishing.

I want to sell these turnips.

Those hornets stung me twice already.

I owe a great debt to that raccoon.

These same words can function as demonstrative pronouns if they come after and replace a noun.

Keep reading below to find a descriptive adjectives list, which includes words that answer the question “what kind?” For general information on adjectives, visit this adjectives guide or this other informative page .

Descriptive adjectives list: words that answer the question “what kind?”

All of the words on the descriptive adjectives list answer the question “what kind?” These words can often be taken out of a sentence and, though the sentence will lose specificity, it will still make sense. Below, you’ll find we’ve divided the descriptive adjectives list into three categories:

• Objective list of adjectives : The words on this adjectives list are fact-based and observable.
• Subjective list of adjectives : You’ve likely heard the phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” The words on the subjective adjectives list uphold this sentiment and include words that may be matters of opinion.
• Proper list of adjectives : Words on the proper adjectives list use a form of a proper noun to clarify words.

Objective adjectives list :

Subjective adjective list :

Proper adjectives list : 

• Shakespearean

List of adjectives that answer the question “whose?”

Possessives answer the question “whose?” When these words replace a noun, they function as possessive pronouns. However, they act as adjectives when they modify a noun or pronoun.

Possessive adjective list:

List of adjectives that answer the question “how many?”

Below is a list of adjectives that answer the question “how many?” This list is divided into three sections: definite, indefinite, and distributive.

Definite adjective list : These words give a precise count to the word they are modifying.

Indefinite adjective list : These words modify a noun or pronoun but without the specificity of a definite modifier.

A list of distributive adjectives : These words answer “which” or “how many” by singling out nouns or pronouns in a group. They may be definite or indefinite.

A list of positive adjectives alongside their comparative and superlative forms.

A list of positive adjectives and their negative counterparts

List of positive adjectives to describe appearance: 

A list of positive adjectives to describe taste:

List of positive adjectives to describe smells:

Personality adjectives list for fiction writing:

Personality adjectives list for nonfiction writing:

Personality adjectives list for your resume:

List of adjectives for kids in grades K-1:

List of adjectives for kids in grades 2-4:

List of adjectives for kids in grades 5-6:

Worried about your writing? The Chegg Writing grammar checker can help you identify and fix potential writing issues.

Review exercises

1. Using any list of adjectives above, complete the following sentences:

a. She has the _____ _____ hair I’ve ever seen on a llama.

b. He is a ______, ______, ______ raccoon, and I wish him ill.

2. Create a list of adjectives to describe a person that you want to use in your writing.

3. Create a list of adjectives to describe sensory experiences that you want to use in your writing.

Parts of Speech Guides

For more details, visit these additional guides on parts of speech .

More on adjectives

• Intro to adjectives
• Adjectives A-Z
• Demonstrative adjectives
• Positive and negative adjectives
• Possessive adjectives
• Predicate and attributive adjectives
• Adjectives list
• Adjective clause
• Adjective phrase
• Comparative adjectives
• Compound adjectives
• Participles
• Proper adjectives
• Superlative adjectives

More on parts of speech

Published July 19, 2020.

Written by Melissa DeVrieze Meyer. Melissa is a professional writer and editor based in New Jersey. She pens articles and study guides about grammar, plagiarism, and style for academic brands, and authors reviews and literary commentary for independent publishers and agencies. When she isn’t putting pen to paper, you’ll find her with her nose in a book and a dog on her lap or, occasionally, on Twitter . 

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100+ Useful Words and Phrases to Write a Great Essay

By: Author Sophia

Posted on Last updated: October 25, 2023

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How to Write a Great Essay in English! This lesson provides 100+ useful words, transition words and expressions used in writing an essay. Let’s take a look!

The secret to a successful essay doesn’t just lie in the clever things you talk about and the way you structure your points.

Useful Words and Phrases to Write a Great Essay

Overview of an essay.

Useful Phrases for Proficiency Essays

Developing the argument

• The first aspect to point out is that…
• Let us start by considering the facts.
• The novel portrays, deals with, revolves around…
• Central to the novel is…
• The character of xxx embodies/ epitomizes…

The other side of the argument

• It would also be interesting to see…
• One should, nevertheless, consider the problem from another angle.
• Equally relevant to the issue are the questions of…
• The arguments we have presented… suggest that…/ prove that…/ would indicate that…
• From these arguments one must…/ could…/ might… conclude that…
• All of this points to the conclusion that…
• To conclude…

Ordering elements

• Firstly,…/ Secondly,…/ Finally,… (note the comma after all these introductory words.)
• As a final point…
• On the one hand, …. on the other hand…
• If on the one hand it can be said that… the same is not true for…
• The first argument suggests that… whilst the second suggests that…
• There are at least xxx points to highlight.

Adding elements

• Furthermore, one should not forget that…
• In addition to…
• Moreover…
• It is important to add that…

Accepting other points of view

• Nevertheless, one should accept that…
• However, we also agree that…

Personal opinion

• We/I personally believe that…
• Our/My own point of view is that…
• It is my contention that…
• I am convinced that…
• My own opinion is…

Others’ opinions

• According to some critics… Critics:
• believe that
• suggest that
• are convinced that
• point out that
• emphasize that
• contend that
• go as far as to say that
• argue for this

Introducing examples

• For example…
• For instance…
• To illustrate this point…

Introducing facts

• It is… true that…/ clear that…/ noticeable that…
• One should note here that…

Saying what you think is true

• This leads us to believe that…
• It is very possible that…
• In view of these facts, it is quite likely that…
• Doubtless,…
• One cannot deny that…
• It is (very) clear from these observations that…
• All the same, it is possible that…
• It is difficult to believe that…

Accepting other points to a certain degree

• One can agree up to a certain point with…
• Certainly,… However,…
• It cannot be denied that…

Emphasizing particular points

• The last example highlights the fact that…
• Not only… but also…
• We would even go so far as to say that…

Moderating, agreeing, disagreeing

• By and large…
• Perhaps we should also point out the fact that…
• It would be unfair not to mention the fact that…
• One must admit that…
• We cannot ignore the fact that…
• One cannot possibly accept the fact that…

Consequences

• From these facts, one may conclude that…
• That is why, in our opinion, …
• Which seems to confirm the idea that…
• Thus,…/ Therefore,…
• Some critics suggest…, whereas others…
• Compared to…
• On the one hand, there is the firm belief that… On the other hand, many people are convinced that…

How to Write a Great Essay | Image 1

How to Write a Great Essay | Image 2

Phrases For Balanced Arguments

Introduction

• It is often said that…
• It is undeniable that…
• It is a well-known fact that…
• One of the most striking features of this text is…
• The first thing that needs to be said is…
• First of all, let us try to analyze…
• One argument in support of…
• We must distinguish carefully between…
• The second reason for…
• An important aspect of the text is…
• It is worth stating at this point that…
• On the other hand, we can observe that…
• The other side of the coin is, however, that…
• Another way of looking at this question is to…
• What conclusions can be drawn from all this?
• The most satisfactory conclusion that we can come to is…
• To sum up… we are convinced that…/ …we believe that…/ …we have to accept that…

How to Write a Great Essay | Image 3

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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.

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Describing Words

This tool helps you find adjectives for things that you're trying to describe. Also check out ReverseDictionary.org and RelatedWords.org . Here are some adjectives for essay : . You can get the definitions of these essay adjectives by clicking on them. You might also like some words related to essay (and find more here ).

Sort By Usage Frequency

Click words for definitions.

Loading you some adjectives... Won't be much longer! :)

Words to Describe essay

Below is a list of describing words for essay . You can sort the descriptive words by uniqueness or commonness using the button above. Sorry if there's a few unusual suggestions! The algorithm isn't perfect, but it does a pretty good job for most common nouns. Here's the list of words that can be used to describe essay :

• introductory ethnological
• fair and thoughtful
• exhaustive and critical
• sublime fragmentary
• introductory ethnographical
• sober literary
• brilliant but misleading
• timid and unsuspected
• famous conservative
• ridiculous descriptive
• lighthearted rollicking
• historical, philosophical and practical
• highly intelligent and critical
• instructive short
• feeble and too hasty
• instructive introductory
• interesting introductory
• modest and brief
• hauntingly elegiacal
• deplorably inadequate
• symbolic final
• nay posthumous
• viciously difficult
• late linguistic
• primarily philological
• late and primarily philological
• excellent and classic
• discursive familiar
• critical philosophic
• preliminary and extra-judicial
• meritorious illustrative
• shallow deistical
• good atheistic
• physico-grammatical
• pleasant and sane
• eloquent and comfortable
• fifth and fruitless
• ingenious but ineffectual
• omnibus and unfocused
• somewhat omnibus and unfocused
• somewhat omnibus
• latest unpublished
• single and disastrous
• timid nor indolent
• weighty, valuable
• provocative delightful
• personal informal
• chivalrous and pathetic
• enigmatic and rather frigid
• latest faint
• unknown and original
• witty, piquant
• rhetorically eloquent
• long and keenly comprehensive
• keenly comprehensive
• disgraceful, girlish
• brilliant but totally misleading
• excellent and concise
• oddly unsympathetic
• --bibliographical
• somewhat rhapsodic
• thoughtful and pleasing
• short but terse
• brief contemplative
• noble and affluent
• classic and most wonderful
• short complementary
• extremely inconclusive
• amusing and extremely inconclusive
• finely discursive
• absurdly grandiloquent
• long and absurdly grandiloquent
• trenchant discursive
• characteristically insightful
• urbane and eloquent
• moral, critical and personal
• fourth moral
• interesting and incisive
• urbane moral
• misleading and inaccurate
• prosaic theological
• exquisitely feline
• readable, authoritative
• strong, anti-slavery
• _historico-critical
• exhaustive and elegant
• single sophistical
• helpful and able
• fascinating and characteristic
• linear historical
• candid psychological
• able bibliographical
• notorious terminal
• charming and acute
• old ingenious
• remarkably incisive

Popular Searches

As you've probably noticed, adjectives for " essay " are listed above. Hopefully the above generated list of words to describe essay suits your needs.

If you're getting strange results, it may be that your query isn't quite in the right format. The search box should be a simple word or phrase, like "tiger" or "blue eyes". A search for words to describe "people who have blue eyes" will likely return zero results. So if you're not getting ideal results, check that your search term, " essay " isn't confusing the engine in this manner.

Note also that if there aren't many essay adjectives, or if there are none at all, it could be that your search term has an abiguous part-of-speech. For example, the word "blue" can be an noun and an adjective. This confuses the engine and so you might not get many adjectives describing it. I may look into fixing this in the future. You might also be wondering: What type of word is essay ?

The idea for the Describing Words engine came when I was building the engine for Related Words (it's like a thesaurus, but gives you a much broader set of related words, rather than just synonyms). While playing around with word vectors and the " HasProperty " API of conceptnet, I had a bit of fun trying to get the adjectives which commonly describe a word. Eventually I realised that there's a much better way of doing this: parse books!

Project Gutenberg was the initial corpus, but the parser got greedier and greedier and I ended up feeding it somewhere around 100 gigabytes of text files - mostly fiction, including many contemporary works. The parser simply looks through each book and pulls out the various descriptions of nouns.

Hopefully it's more than just a novelty and some people will actually find it useful for their writing and brainstorming, but one neat little thing to try is to compare two nouns which are similar, but different in some significant way - for example, gender is interesting: " woman " versus " man " and " boy " versus " girl ". On an inital quick analysis it seems that authors of fiction are at least 4x more likely to describe women (as opposed to men) with beauty-related terms (regarding their weight, features and general attractiveness). In fact, "beautiful" is possibly the most widely used adjective for women in all of the world's literature, which is quite in line with the general unidimensional representation of women in many other media forms . If anyone wants to do further research into this, let me know and I can give you a lot more data (for example, there are about 25000 different entries for "woman" - too many to show here).

The blueness of the results represents their relative frequency. You can hover over an item for a second and the frequency score should pop up. The "uniqueness" sorting is default, and thanks to my Complicated Algorithm™, it orders them by the adjectives' uniqueness to that particular noun relative to other nouns (it's actually pretty simple). As you'd expect, you can click the "Sort By Usage Frequency" button to adjectives by their usage frequency for that noun.

Special thanks to the contributors of the open-source mongodb which was used in this project.

Please note that Describing Words uses third party scripts (such as Google Analytics and advertisements) which use cookies. To learn more, see the privacy policy .

Recent Queries

200 Adjectives with Meanings in English

Are you looking for impressive words to make your writing more interesting? We have a list of 200 adjectives with simple meanings to help you improve your speaking and writing. whether you’re a student, a writer, or just want to use better words in your daily life, this list is perfect for you. By using these adjectives in your sentences, you can make your communication more interesting and expressive. So, let’s explore these 200 adjectives with meanings to enhance your vocabulary.  _Start using these words today and see the difference!

List of Adjectives with Meanings

So this is our comprehensive compilation of “200 Adjectives with Meanings” which is useful for anyone who wants to improve their vocabulary and speaking skills. You can use these words to make your language sound better and express your thoughts more effectively. _start using these words to improve your speaking and writing skills right away!

200 Most Important Adjectives in English important adjectives in English list of 200 popular adjectives in English List of Adjectives

Synonyms for Beautiful with Example Sentences

Synonyms for Amazing with Example Sentences

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