adjectives for creative writing

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 !

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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List of 200+ Descriptive Adjectives and Their Definitions

In our last post, we explored the importance of using the right descriptive words, and how doing so can help you write.

In this post, we venture away from any  plural noun, adverb, or different word s to improve your grammar. Instead, we are going heavy on descriptive adjectives.

We go over everything that  YOU   need to know !

We will go over the different  types  of adjectives – which is a  good lesson  for anyone – that will improve your English skills.

This list of  descriptive adjectives  includes many of the common, as well as some less common, adjectives used in creative writing, and they can be used in all types of writing.

The following list is organized alphabetically with the definitions listed first and the common uses for each adjective afterward.

We’ve also included examples to show how these  descriptive words  can be used.

But first! Let’s break down all the different types of adjectives.  And how they can improve your English grammar. 

EXAMPLES OF INTERROGATIVE ADJECTIVES

Here are examples of predicate adjectives:, using adjectives in writing and speech.

When you’re describing something, it can be helpful to use adjectives. Adjectives are words that describe qualities or characteristics of a person, thing, or place. They can make writing more interesting and help you to clarify your ideas.

There are many different types of adjectives, but they all have one thing in common: they add detail to your writing or speech.

Let’s look at some examples.

The flowers are beautiful.

The flowers are red, orange, and yellow.

The flowers are big, brightly colored, and fragrant.

In the first sentence, the author simply states that the flowers are beautiful. But in the second sentence, the author adds more detail by describing the colors of the flowers. And in the third sentence, the author adds even more detail by describing the size, color, and fragrance of the flowers.

As you can see, adjectives can make your writing or speech more interesting and informative. So next time you’re describing something, try using some adjectives to help your readers or listeners visualize and understand what you’re saying. 

Types of Descriptive Adjectives

What are interrogative adjectives.

Interrogative adjectives ask a question about the subject word, for example,  What, Who, When, Why . And they always start with a capital letter. 

They usually begin with the letters  W and H .

What do you think?

Which one do you like better?

Who was in charge of the order?

WHAT ARE POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVE

When you use  “possessive adjectives”   (my, your, our, its, her, his, and their ) before a noun, you are giving more information about the noun that follows.

Your bike was stolen.

My homework is late.

What Are quantitative adjectives?

Quantitative adjectives are adjectives that indicate quantity or amount. They are used to describe how much of something is present. Some common quantitative adjectives are “few,” “many,” “much,” and “little.” 

WHAT IS A COMPOUND ADJECTIVE?

Compound adjectives are a combination of two or more words used to modify a noun or pronoun. This can happen in different ways.

The first way is by using an adjective and noun together as one word.

big picture

simple math

empty bucket

The second way is by using two adjectives together.

nice and warm

soft and gentle

new and popular

What is a limiting adjective?

A limiting adjective is an adjective that restricts the meaning of the noun it modifies to a particular type or group of things. For example, the adjective “unique” is a limiting adjective because it restricts the meaning of the noun it modifies to “one of a kind.” 

This is a small room.

This is not a large room. 

What is a qualitative adjective?

A qualitative adjective is an adjective that describes a quality or characteristic of a person, place, or thing. 

Some qualitative adjectives are: blue, big, happy, and new. 

WHAT IS A DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVE?

Demonstrative adjectives  (this, that, these, those)  are adjectives that point out the noun by indicating a certain example.

It is this book.

That is a good book.

This is my house.

WHAT ARE LIMITING ADJECTIVES

In descriptive writing, adjectives are limiting adjectives when they identify a noun without telling us anything about the thing being described. What are specifically limiting adjectives? 

Let’s take a look at some examples: 

The tall man 

A good car 

He ran fast 

The small building 

I have a big yard 

She is a good student. 

The words “tall,” “good,” and “big” tell us nothing about the people or things being described.

WHAT IS A PREDICATE ADJECTIVE

A predicate adjective is a word or phrase placed after a linking verb and used to describe someone or something. 

The water was cold.  (cold is the predicate adjective)  

He is a smart young man.  (Young is the predicate adjective)

The students worked hard.  (hard is the predicate adjective)

WHAT ARE PROPER ADJECTIVES?

Proper adjectives  are used to describe nouns and they don’t even have to be a proper nouns:

Harry is a  funny  man.

The new dress looks  pretty .

That was a  fascinating  movie.

In each case,  the adjective  ( funny, pretty, fascinating)  describes what kind of thing the noun is.

Simple Adjectives

A Simple Adjectives Adjectives add detail to a noun in their simplest form; by describing, identifying, or quantifying the person, place, thing, or idea that a noun represents.

MEANING OF DETERMINER IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

What is a determiner in Grammar A determiner is a word that is used before a noun or noun phrase to indicate whether the noun is specific or non-specific.

For example , The and An are determiners, as well as many other words such as my, some, these, our, etc.

They clarify and make more specific what the noun will refer to. Then, an and other similar words are called definite articles, because they can help to determine whether the noun is indefinite  (referring to any member of a group)  or definite  (referring to a particular member of a group) .

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT ADJECTIVE

Do you sometimes find yourself struggling to choose the right adjective?

We know that choosing the right word to describe something that you are writing about is hard.

If you are a blog writer or use article writing services, descriptive words can really make a difference.

When you are writing an article, it is not just about describing the topic in your own words but doing it in an exciting way to wow your audience. How do you do so?

The answer is simple; use lots of adjectives!

An adjective is a word that describes a noun. 

So, when you are writing, it is important to choose descriptive words so that your audience can have a clear image of what you are trying to describe. 

It can be anything ranging from a person to an object and everything in between.

WHAT IS A LINKING VERB? 

A  linking verb , sometimes known as a connecting verb, is a type of verb that connects two different parts of a sentence. 

It can link two clauses, or it can link a subject with a noun complement. As the term suggests, the verb links these phrases together.

The most common way to use linking verbs is within compound sentences. 

Frequently, they’re used to connect  two  main clauses.

The main linking verb types are:  is, am, are, was, were, be, being, and been.  

LINKING VERB EXAMPLES 

I like to read books, and I like to review them on my blog.

In this sentence, the first main clause uses the present tense version of “to like,” while the second clause uses the present tense version of “to review.”

Linking Verb:  I am proud of you.

Controller Noun: My son is proud of his grades.

Linking verbs are also commonly used in conjunction with nouns to create a noun complement-a noun that characterizes the subject of a sentence.

LIST OF DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES AND THEIR DEFINITIONS

abashed –  embarrassed, ashamed, shy, abashed

abstemious –  moderate in eating and drinking, sparing

abrasive –  causing irritation or anger

abstruse –  difficult to comprehend; incomprehensible

academic –  of or pertaining to or like a student or a scholar

accede –  agree, yield, accede

accident –  by chance, without intention

acclivity –  upward slope, rise, incline

acclimate –  accustom to a particular climate or to unfamiliar circumstances

accost –  approach and speak to someone in a forward manner

accretion –  growth by addition of small amounts. I love this descriptive adjective.

accrue –  descriptive language for collect, gather together by natural growth or accumulation

acerbic –  sour, bitter, sharp, cutting in a manner that wounds feelings

achromatic –  colorless

acicular –  long thin rod-shaped; needle-shaped

acidic –  having or denoting the properties of an acid; sharp

acquiescent –  submissive or acquiescent

acquisitive avid –  grasping; greedy; eager to gain by taking from others

adamant –  insistent on having one’s own way; inflexible in one’s attitude or opinion; unyielding; obstinate

adduct –  draw toward

aesthetic –  artistic, beautiful, or pleasing in appearance… etc.

Baboonish –  Of or pertaining to the species of apes

Baffling –  Confusing or hard to understand.”

Bacchanalian –  very happy and lively.

Brittle –  Crisp, delicate, and easily broken; easily fractured or snapped.

Brawny –  Having great strength; muscular and powerful.

Brainy –  Having exceptional intelligence.

Brackish –  Moderately salty, as a small lake or an area of water.

Baleful –  harmful: malignant.

Bull-headed –  having a head that is difficult to influence or persuade 

Broken-hearted –  feeling or showing sorrow because of a loss or disappointment

Capacious –  Apt to hold or contain; spacious.

Capacity –  The power, ability, or opportunity to contain or hold.

Confused –  not be clear in one’s mind; to have no clear idea or concept of a situation or thing.

Cautious –  proceeding from careful thought or consideration; deliberate: a cautious speech; cautious advice.

Cheerful –  means full of cheer, but a couple of  synonyms  are happy and smiling.

Clumsy –  clumsy in a physical manner; ungraceful

Competent –  the ability to do something at the right time and in the right way

Concerned –  to worry about something or be anxious about it.

Consonant –  A consonant is a speech sound

Certain –  positive, definite, dependable.

Cheery –  Just like cheerful, a couple of synonyms are happy and glad.

Clownish –  characteristic of a clown; ludicrous; buffoonish; silly

Competent –  having the skill and knowledge to do something well.

Conscientious –  thorough, careful, and vigilant.

Daedal –  something that is intricate, complex, and cleverly designed with many details or intricacies. A great descriptive adjective.

Darling –  beloved one.

Dashing –  lively, energetic, and charming.

Dastardly –  fiendishly or scoundrel.

Disagreeable –  Unlikely to agree.

Disastrous –  resulting in a disaster. 

Discouraging –  To make somebody feel bad.

Disgusting –  Gross.

Dishonest –  Not honest.

Disillusioning –  the feeling you get when your ideals are shattered.

Distant –  Far away.

Distinctive –  Something, especially a feature or quality that makes .someone or something stand out from the rest of a group.

Distorted –  Not straightforward or direct; devious or deceitful; misleading or fallacious.

Displeasing –  Causing displeasure or annoyance; annoying.

Eager –  having or showing great desire, keenness, or impatience

Early riser –  a person who gets up very early in the morning.

Easygoing –  people who are relaxed and calm with their life, made easier with  quotes by Epictetus ..

Ebullient –  filled with excitement and energy

Eccentric –  deviating from the commonly or customarily accepted, usual, or normal.

Ecliptic –  the process of omission.

Enthusiastic  – having or showing great excitement and interest 

Energetic –  possessing or showing great energy 

Excitable –  easily excited 

Fabulous – very good or excellent

Fantastic – extremely good or pleasing

Flawless – without any mistakes

Fetching – attractive or appealing

Fierce – very intense or powerful

Flattering – making someone look or feel good

Forgiving – willing to forgive someone’s mistakes

Friendly – pleasant and welcoming

Frisky – lively and playful 

Freckle-faced – having many freckles

Fuzzy – covered with fuzz

Funny – amusing or humorous 

Handsome – having a pleasing appearance 

Hearty – vigorous and strong 

Honest – truthful and sincere 

Helpful: kindly disposed and willing to assist 

Happy – contented and satisfied 

Homey – having a comfortable and familiar atmosphere 

Heavy-handed – using a lot of force

Heartless – without feeling or sympathy

Huge – very large 

High-heeled – having a high heel

Halcyon – idyllically calm and peaceful

Hard – physically tough or robust

Hardworking – taking great pains to do one’s work conscientiously

Harmonious – having a pleasingly consistent sound or effect

Haunting – suggestive of the supernatural; ghostly 

ill-mannered –  behaving badly or rudely 

Impatient –  finding it difficult to wait for something 

Inattentive –  not paying attention 

Inconsiderate –  not thinking of other people’s feelings 

Independent –  not needing other people 

Inflexible –  not able to change your mind 

Insensitive  – not caring about other people’s feelings 

Inexpensive –  not costing a lot of money

Incredibly –  extremely; so as to produce a strong impression

Intense –  strong or vigorous; very severe or violent 

inteligente –  means “intelligent.” 

Long-winded –  having a lot to say; talking a lot

Loquacious –  tending to talk a lot; very talkative

Lengthy –  long in duration; taking a long time

Life-giving –  giving life; supplying vitality or energy 

Majestic:  having or showing great beauty or nobility

Magnificent:  very impressive or large

Marvelous:  extremely good or pleasant

Metallic:  of or relating to metals

Mysterious:  difficult or impossible to understand or explain 

quaint –  describes something that is old-fashioned and unusual

quick –  describes something that is fast or that happens quickly

quiet –  describes something that is calm and peaceful 

quantitative –  A word that describes the quantity of something. 

Sarcastic –  tending to mock or ridicule.

Sardonic –  means having a sneering or cynical quality. 

Short-tempered –   easily angered

Sensitive –  easily hurt emotionally or physically

Self-conscious –  aware of and worried about how you look and act around other people 

Self-centered –   thinking only of oneself and one’s own interests 

Thorough – Having or showing care in every detail; painstaking. 

Terrific – good; excellent. 

Tiny – Very small; tiny. 

Tight-fisted – stingy, not generous with money 

Ugly –  not pretty or attractive

Unique –  being the only one of its kind; not having a duplicate

Under –  lower in rank, status, or quality

Understood –  comprehended or grasped 

Uninterested –  not interested

Ubiquitous –  being present everywhere at the same time

Unbelievable –  too extraordinary or unlikely to be believed

Unpredictable –  not able to be foreseen or predicted 

PERSONALITY ADJECTIVES 

Aggressive –  of, relating to or marked by aggression

Active –  positive words for ready and able to take action.

Adventurous –  full of adventure: an adventurous journey.

Agreeable –  a desire to be in agreement with others.

Ambitious –  having a strong desire for success or achievement.

Analytical –  Advanced or careful consideration

Artistic –  creativity or original ideas in any field of artistic endeavor.

Assertive –  characterized by a confident assurance and readiness to defend one’s opinions or actions.

Authoritative –  of or relating to an authority: of recognized or accepted authority

Beautiful –  handsome, pretty

Calm –  Suitable for a situation that requires patience and quiet behavior.

Caring –  Feeling or showing concern for the well-being of others

Charismatic –  the quality of being alluring or attracting; drawing power

Clever –  observant, expeditious, and ingenious

Cooperative –  agreeable, willing to work together towards a common goal

Courteous –  having or showing courtesy : polite

Curious –  that describes a person who is curious or inquisitive.

Daring –  having or showing a readiness to do bold or daring things

Decisive –  acting with or characterized by quick, firm determination; resolute. 

Deliberate –  to think about something carefully.

Dependable –  worthy of being depended on.

Meticulous –  Having extreme attention to detail.

Rational –  Making judgments based on reason rather than emotions.

Spontaneous –  Not planned or premeditated.

Haughty –  having or showing an offensively superior attitude; behaving as if you are better than other people

DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES FOR FOOD

I got an email from a friend who is a professional food writer, and she said  “We’re often asked to describe a dish or a meal using only words that describe food” , and here is an example of some adjectives and  positive words  to describe food.

Appetizing 

Palatable 

Gourmet –  only used in  a singular form.

Divine –  Also only used in a singular form.

Mouth-Watering

Scrumptious

Crackling –  descriptive language for crisp, juicy, but not so sweet as to be cloying. Used to describe the fruit. 

Creamy –  Smooth, rich, not at all lumpy. Used more to describe different types of dessert items.

Substantial –  healthy with enough protein and fiber 

Light –  low-calorie packaged foods ideal for dieting or reducing weight

Healthy –  fresh produce, lean meats, whole grains

Low Carb Diet –  cutting carbs from your diet and counting calories

Meat Eater- no plant-based items like fruits or vegetables.

Acidic –  having acid

Bitter –  having an unpleasantly sharp taste

Bland –  tasteless or unseasoned

Buttery –  of, or relating to butter; “buttery spread”; “a buttery flavor”

Citrusy –  having the flavor of citrus fruit or juice.

Decadent –  luxurious and sensuous; voluptuous

Delectable –  very great pleasure and enjoyment from a meal. 

Good Descriptive Adjectives

1. Beautiful 

2. charming 

3. funny 

6. intelligent

9. friendly

10. loving 

common adjective

Nationality adjective.

Nationality adjectives examples – The noun adjectives that refer to nationality, or similar concepts.

American, Brazilian, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Russian, Spanish 

List of different descriptive adjectives

1. Beautiful

4. handsome

7. adorable

8. stunning

9. impressive

10. fantastic 

JUST FOR FUN SPANISH ADJECTIVES

Note: This is just for fun, and while I think they are correct, I am not fluent in Spanish, and the gender rules might change them. So double check the gender rule and meaning before you use these adjectives.

Looking for Spanish Adjectives or want the definition of a Spanish adjective?

Follow these quick examples on how to find them and their definitions:

•  ‘aburrido’  is a Spanish adjective meaning ‘boring’.

•  ‘fuera’  is a Spanish adjective meaning ‘outside’.

•  ‘fuertemente’  is a Spanish adjective meaning ‘strongly’.

•  ‘Caliente’  is a Spanish adjective meaning ‘hot’.

•  ‘Seguro’  is a Spanish adjective meaning ‘sure’.

•  ‘grande’  is a Spanish adjective meaning ‘big’.

Bueno –  Good.

Just for More Fun Descriptive Adjectives French

1. beau 

2. bon 

3. charmant

6. généreux

9. intelligent

10. intéressant

12. lumineux

13. magnifique

15. passionnant

16. sympathique

17. talentueux

18. terrible 

In conclusion,  descriptive adjectives  are words that describe the qualities or features of a person, place, or thing. They can be used to make writing more interesting and vivid, and to help the reader get a better understanding of what is being described. There are many different  types of descriptive adjectives , and they can be used to create different effects.

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List of 260 Positive Adjectives to Use in Your Descriptions

Helly Douglas

Table of Contents

What are adjectives and how do we use them, what are positive adjectives, how can prowritingaid help you find the best adjectives, which positive adjectives best describe a place, how to use positive adjectives in your writing.

Adjectives are powerful. Used well, they bring settings and characters to life by adding descriptive details. They can also add flavor to non-fiction texts.

This ultimate list of positive adjectives is perfect if you’re looking for a particular word to describe something optimistically, or simply want to expand your vocabulary. They’re sorted into words that could describe people, and those that best describe places, all helpfully arranged in alphabetical order with a simple explanation of their meaning.

Adjectives are often called "describing words." They modify the noun in a sentence. You can either use them directly before the noun to create a noun phrase or separate them from the noun they’re describing.

Noun phrase: The ambitious employee.

Separated from the noun: The employee was ambitious .

You can use more than one adjective in a sentence separated by a comma. However, try not to overuse adjectives, as this makes your writing harder to read.

Highlight how great a person or place is by using positive adjectives. They are often used to describe personalities, particularly heroes. These adjectives give more detail about how a character behaves, their emotions, and their personality.

When you’re writing, you might find that you rely on the same familiar adjectives. Or perhaps you’ve noticed that you tend to overuse certain words?

ProWritingAid has a range of reports that will help you spot overused words and helpfully suggest alternatives:

All Repeats : Identify adjectives you over-rely on.

Overused Words : Find and eliminate generic words.

Word Explorer : Find a huge range of alternative adjective choices.

Which Positive Adjectives Could Describe a Person ?

If you’re trying to describe a character in a positive way, this wide selection of adjectives is sure to help.

Positive Adjectives A–C

Accomplished: Proficient at something

Adaptable: Able to change quickly

Adept: Good at something

Adventurous: Enjoys taking risks/trying new things

Affable: Friendly

Affectionate: Shows fondness

Agreeable: Willing to do things

Alluring: Sexually appealing

Amazing: Wonderful

Ambitious: Determined to succeed

Amiable: Friendly, pleasant

Amicable: Friendliness

Ample: Plenty of something

Amusing: Makes people laugh

Approachable: Easy to talk to

Articulate: Speaks well in an educated manner

Awesome: Inspiring awe, amazement

Blithesome: Cheerful

Brave: Not scared

Bright: Clever

Brilliant: Clever, inspirational

Broad-minded: Open-minded

Calm: Even-tempered

Capable: Able to do something

Captivating: Keeps attention

Careful: Uses caution

Charismatic: Compels others to agree

Charming: Has charm

Chatty: Talkative

Cheerful: Happy

Communicative: Clear communication with others

Compassionate: Caring

Competitive: Driven to win

Confident: Self-certainty

Conscientious: Does their duty

Considerate: Thinks of others

Convivial: Cheerful, friendly

Courageous: Brave

Courteous: Good manners

Creative: Artistic

Positive Adjectives D–F

Dazzling: Bright

Decisive: Makes decisions quickly

Dependable: Can rely on

Determined: Focused on success

Devoted: Cares deeply for a person or ideal

Diligent: Works hard

Diplomatic: Tactful

Discreet: Keeps secrets

Dynamic: Full of ideas

Easy-going: Relaxed temperament

Educated: Well-studied

Efficient: Completes tasks easily

Elegant: Graceful, stylish

Emotional: Full of emotion

Enchanting: Delights

Energetic: Full of energy

Enlightened: Spiritually aware, rational, well-informed

Engaging: Interesting

Enthusiastic: Keen

Excellent: Very good

Expert: An authority on a subject

Exuberant: Full of energy

Fabulous: Wonderful

Fair-minded: Impartial, just

Faithful: True to something

Fantastic: Wonderful, amazing at something

Fearless: Without fear

Flexible: Able to change easily

Focused: Goal orientated

Forceful: Makes change happen, determined

Frank: Speaks honestly and openly

Friendly: Pleasant to others

Funny: Amusing

Positive Adjectives G–I

Generous: Gives to others

Gentle: Uses a light touch

Giving: Gives to others

Gleaming: Shining, very clean

Glimmering: shining with a wavering light

Glistening: Shining with a sparkling light

Glittering: Shining with a shimmering light

Glowing: Lit up from within

Good: Honest

Gorgeous: Beautiful

Gregarious: Sociable, likes company

Hard-working: Puts in full effort

Helpful: Looks after others

Hilarious: Extremely funny

Honest: Tells the truth

Humorous: Amusing

Imaginative: Has a vivid imagination

Impartial: Not biased

Incredible: Extremely proficient at something

Independent: Able to support themselves

Inquisitive: Interested, curious

Insightful: Has deep understanding

Intellectual: Intelligent, educated

Intelligent: Clever

Intuitive: Instinctive understanding

Inventive: Creative, comes up with new ideas

Positive Adjectives K–M

Kind: Looks after others

Knowledgeable: Intelligent, studied

Kooky: Unusual

Laid-back: Relaxed

Likable: Easily liked by others

Lovely: Good, kind

Loving: Shows affection

Loyal: Consistently supportive

Lustrous: Shining (often to describe hair)

Magnificent: Wonderful

Marvelous: Amazing, stunning

Mirthful: Full of humor, amused

Modest: Doesn’t seek credit or well-covered in clothing

Positive Adjectives N–P

Nice: Pleasant

Observant: Sharp-eyed

Open-minded: Willing to listen to alternative ideas

Optimistic: Positive

Organized: Works efficiently and systematically

Outstanding: Beyond normal, very good

Passionate: Feeling strongly, ardent

Patient: Happy to wait

Perfect: No flaws

Persistent: Does not give up

Personable: Pleasant appearance

Philosophical: Calm reaction to difficulties

Pioneering: Trendsetter, first to do something

Placid: Calm, easy-going

Plucky: Courageous

Polite: Well-mannered

Powerful: Strong, has power

Practical: Skilled at manual tasks

Pro-active: Takes action before it becomes necessary

Productive: Gets lots done

Proficient: Skilled at something

Propitious: Favorable

Positive Adjectives Q–S

Qualified: Certified as able to do something

Quick-witted: Intelligent, quick-thinking

Quiet: Not loud

Rational: Thinks without emotion

Ravishing: Delightful, entrancing

Relaxed: Free from tension

Reliable: Consistent, can be relied upon

Remarkable: Unusually skilled or talented

Reserved: Slow to reveal emotions or opinions

Resourceful: Able to find solutions

Responsible: Takes charge, reliable

Romantic: Demonstrates their love

Rousing: Stirs emotions in others

Self-confident: Belief in own abilities

Self-disciplined: controlled

Sensible: Does not make rash decisions

Sensitive: Aware of others

Sincere: Honest and genuine

Sleek: smooth

Sociable: Enjoys company

Spectacular: Wonderful, makes a spectacle

Splendid: Extremely good

Stellar: Exceptionally good

Straightforward: To the point

Stunning: Very beautiful

Stupendous: Extremely impressive

Super: Good

Sympathetic: Cares about others, shows sympathy

Positive Adjectives T–Z

Technological: Understands technology

Thoughtful: Thinks of others

Tough: Can withstand hardships

Trustworthy: To be trusted

Twinkling: Shining

Unassuming: Modest

Understanding: Sympathetic to opinions of others

Unique: one-of-a-kind

Upbeat: positive

Versatile: Skilled at different things

Vibrant: Bright, colorful

Vivacious: Full of life

Vivid: Very bright, strong color

Warm-hearted: Kind to others

Willing: Happy to do something

Witty: Verbally clever, amusing

Wondrous: Wonderful

If you want a vivid description, this list of positive adjectives will help you find the perfect word to describe a setting.

Positive Place Adjectives A–C

Abundant: Full of something

Agricultural: Farmland

Alive: Full of life

Astronomical: Extremely large

Attractive: Appealing, beautiful

Beautiful: Very pretty

Blazing: Full of light or fire

Boundless: Endless, very large

Bountiful: Fertile, lots of something

Breath-taking: Visually beautiful

Bright: Very light

Bustling: Full of people

Calm: Quiet and relaxed

Charming: Quaint, lovely

Colossal: Extremely large

Colorful: Full of color

Cosmopolitan: Includes people from disparate countries

Positive Place Adjectives D–F

Dramatic: Drama

Dusky: Darkish, dim

Enchanted: Magical

Enchanting: Creates a feeling of magic

Extensive: Very large

Fairy-tale-like: Magical

Far-flung: distant

Fascinating: Very interesting

Favorable: Promising, good

Fertile: Full of life, easy to grow

Fresh: New, newly grown

Positive Place Adjectives G–K

Harmonious: Living in harmony, without dispute

Historic: From the past

Homey: Warm, inviting, small

Immaculate: Perfectly clean

Immeasurable: Impossible to measure

Immense: Enormous

Imposing: Large, overwhelming

Impressive: Admirable

Incredible: Beyond belief

Indescribable: Unable to describe using words

Inspiring: Inspires someone

Positive Place Adjectives L–M

Lively: Full of life, energetic

Lush: Especially of vegetation, rich

Luxurious: Luxury

Magical: Magic, wonderful

Magnificent: Extremely beautiful or impressive

Majestic: A sense of majesty

Marvelous: Wonderful

Massive: Very large

Meandering: Not in a straight line

Monumental: Extremely large

Mountainous: Like a mountain

Mysterious: Strange, unknown

Mystical: Magical

Positive Place Adjectives N–P

Nostalgic: Warm feeling of the past

Palatial: Like a palace

Pastoral: Arable farmland

Peaceful: Quiet, undisturbed

Picturesque: Visually attractive

Pleasant: Nice, enjoyable

Prosperous: Rich

Positive Place Adjectives R–Z

Remarkable: Unusual

Rural: Remote, farmland

Sandy: Made of sand

Sensational: Creating a sensation, wonderful

Serene: Calm and tranquil

Shiny: Reflects light

Spacious: Ample space

Stunning: Extremely impressive, attractive

Sun-drenched: Extremely sunny

Superb: Wonderful, best quality

Terrific: Wonderful, great

Towering: Very tall

Tranquil: Quiet and calm

Unspoiled/Unspoilt: Unaffected, undamaged

Vast: Extremely large

Vibrant: Bright, full of life

Adjectives should be used sparingly to have the greatest impact. Overusing adjectives, particularly if they have very similar meanings, weakens your writing, and makes it harder to read. Carefully choosing the most effective ones creates a vivid picture for your reader without over-explaining every detail.

ProWritingAid’s readability suggestions will show you stronger alternatives for weak adjectives. If you write that something is "really good," you’ll see the alternatives below:

If none of those quite fit your meaning, come back to this list to find an adjective that is specific and strong to engage your reader.

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Helly Douglas is a UK writer and teacher, specialising in education, children, and parenting. She loves making the complex seem simple through blogs, articles, and curriculum content. You can check out her work at hellydouglas.com or connect on Twitter @hellydouglas. When she’s not writing, you will find her in a classroom, being a mum or battling against the wilderness of her garden—the garden is winning!

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400+ Adjectives to Describe Texture: A Word List for Writers

Engage the Senses, and You Engage Readers

Visuals are often a writer’s first consideration. You might describe dimensions, shape, and color . Sound could come next, followed by scent . You might assign taste attributes to food, teardrops, and lipstick.

But many writers undervalue texture.

After reading this paragraph, close your eyes and imagine a piece of driftwood that has been sitting on a shelf for three years. How would you describe it? Take your time.

Consider the following:

• After three years, the wood releases no scent.
• It lies on the shelf, silent.
• If you decide to check its taste, your tongue might pick up dust, or maybe it would catch on a knobby protuberance.
• Using your sense of touch, your fingers would feel grain or grooves; you’d notice hardness and temperature.

A Few Well-Chosen Texture Words Can Add Depth and Intrigue

Clanton’s palms patted the surface on both sides of her body. They met the velvety texture of … moss? It certainly wasn’t the carpeting in her office.

Three sentences. Two texture words. We intuit that Clanton is confused , and we can assume she’s in a forest. Or is she?

Jens rubbed the threadbare tweed sleeve of his jacket. Although his hand hitched over the knife strapped beneath, he hoped no one would notice his keen messenger of justice.

Why is Jens wearing a threadbare jacket? To whom will he administer justice, and why? Keen could apply to his fervor as well as the sharpness of the knife.

Vary Your Style Occasionally to Lead With Texture

Do you always describe how something looks and then follow with everything else?

Whenever you write descriptions, imagine how a blind person perceives the world. A well-chosen texture adjective will invigorate your words.

Everything touchable has texture. Pick up a tin-can lid, a paper towel, or a cutting board. Each has a unique surface, distinguishable with closed eyes.

Smooth describes texture, but smooth objects have distinct surfaces. Consider the variations between a tin can, a plastic jar, and a water glass. You could describe all three as smooth, but your fingers will discern the difference.

Instead of smooth , consider:

• tinny, plastic, glassy
• metallic, flexible, glossy
• rusty, slick, glazed

Each adjective carries a different connotation.

The Body Senses Texture in Multiple Ways

• Feet will feel the wooden slats of a swaying footbridge, the give of snowshoes in fluffy snow, or the chafing of a rock in one’s shoe.
• The entire body will sense vibrations when a vehicle shimmies across the steel deck of a bridge.
• Pine needles on the forest floor might lodge in socks and pants, causing prickly tingles.
• Burrs will stick to clothing and hair , irritating wherever they touch skin.
• Tongues are adept at analyzing food textures and detecting goosebumps on a lover’s neck. Speaking of lovers, have you ever worn silk underwear or slept in satin sheets? How would you describe the experience?

Consider These Avenues for Adding Texture

Warning: You might find a few story prompts and plot twists in the following list.

• knees grating over gravel, splintered boards, or desiccated bones
• heels rubbing against ankle cuffs or rough ridges in shoes
• bare elbows contacting with people in a crowd or zombies on the prowl
• nose or buttocks reacting to cheap tissues or toilet paper
• chin chafing against a muzzle or rough wool scarf
• ears irritated by a scratchy hatband, collar, or blindfold
• cheeks bumpy after an overnight stint sleeping on the couch
• back aching because of a lumpy mattress or a long ride in a trunk
• wrists raw from rubbing against handcuffs or rope restraints
• thighs covered with red welts from stinging nettle
• legs brushing by a pet, bush, or hanging corpse
• fingernails broken after scouring dried blood from the floor
• fingers gooey from scraping bubblegum off a chandelier
• fingertips freezing while scratching frost off a car window
• lips brittle and split from days in the desert or at sea
• eyes gritty with debris dislodged by helicopter blades

Texture surrounds us. It deserves a prominent place in your writing.

Do You Have an Inventive Mind?

Shakespeare coined many words in common use. From his pen came adjectives such as caked, gnarled, and lustrous . You’ve probably used at least one of his words today.

Add – able, -al, -est, -esque, -free, -ful, -ible, -ic, -ish, -ive, -less, -like, -oid, -ous, and other suffixes to nouns and verbs to create new adjectives.

Let’s consider angora, asphalt, and concrete. We’re already familiar with their texture. Angoraful could describe a baby’s hair. Asphaltous might be appropriate for whisker stubble. Concretesque would be an excellent description for a fitness trainer’s abs .

Better yet, combine words. Smog is a combination of smoke and fog . Brexit was formed by joining British and exit . Chortle is a merging of chuckle and snort .

Your creativity is your only limit.

Ready for the Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious list?

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is another invented adjective so well-known that it didn’t trigger a warning from my spell checker.

The following table presents over 400 texture adjectives. Use them as is or try combining a few. How about ticklehairy , bristlehatched, or gummysoft , for example?

See also the Complexion/Texture list from 300+ Words to Describe Skin .

A and B abrasive, adhesive, alligator-like, asymmetrical, bald, barbed, barnacled, bearded, blemished, blistered, braided, bristly, brittle, broken, bubbled, bubbly, buffed, bumpy, bunched, burnished, burred, bushy, buttery

C caked, calcified, cardboard-like, carved, chafed, chafing, chalky, channeled, chaotic, chipped, chiseled, cleft, clotted, clumped, coagulated, coarse, cobbled, concave, concrete, congealed, convex, corduroy, corroded, corrugated, cottony, cracked, cracking, cratered, creamy, creased, crenelated, crepe-like, crimped, crinkled, crisp, crispy, crocheted, crocodilian, crooked, crosshatched, crude, crumbly, crumpled, crushed, crusty, crystalline, cushioned, cushiony, cutting

D and E damaged, delicate, dense, dented, depressed, diaphanous, dinted, distorted, doughy, downy, drooping, ductile, dull, edged, elastic, emblazoned, embossed, embroidered, enameled, encrusted, engraved, entwined, erupted, etched, even

F feathery, felt, festered, fibrous, filamented, filigreed, filmy, fine, firm, fissured, flabby, flaccid, flaky, flat, flattened, flawed, flawless, fleecy, fleshy, flexible, flinty, flocculent, floppy, fluffy, fluted, foamy, folded, friable, frilled, frilly, frozen, furred, furrowed, furry, fuzzy

G and H gathered, gauzy, gelatinous, gelled, glassy, glazed, glossy, glutinous, gnarled, gnarly, gooey, gouged, grainy, granular, granulated, grating, gravelly, greasy, gristly, gritty, grooved, gummy, hairless, hairy, hard, harsh, hatched, hempen, hirsute, holey, honeycombed, hooked, horned

I ice-covered, impenetrable, imperfect, imprecise, imprinted, incised, incrusted, indented, inelastic, inflexible, inlaid, inscribed, inset, interlaced, interlocked, intertwined, interwoven, intricate, ironed, irregular, itchy

J to L jacquard-woven, jagged, jellied, jumbled, keen, knitted, knobbly, knobby, knotted, knotty, laced, lacy, latticed, layered, leathery, level, limp, lined, linen, liquid, lizard-like, lumpy

M to O malleable, marked, marred, matte, meshed, metallic, mirror-smooth, misshapen, molten, mosaic, mushy, mutilated, nappy, needlelike, neoprene-covered, nicked, nodular, notched, nubby, oily, ossified, overlaid

P padded, papery, parchment-thin, patchy, patinated, patterned, paved, pebbled, pebbly, peeling, petrified, pillowy, pinked, pitted, plaited, plastered, plastic, pleated, pliable, pliant, plumose, plumy, pocked, pockmarked, pointed, polished, porous, potholed, powdery, pressed, prickly, printed, protuberant, puckered, puffy, pulpy

Q and R quilled, quilted, ragged, rasped, razor-sharp, regular, reptilian, ribbed, rich, ridged, rigid, rocky, rough, rubbery, rucked, ruffled, rumpled, runneled, rusty, rutted

Sa to Sl sandy, satiny, scalloped, scaly, scarred, scooped, scored, scraped, scratched, scratchy, scrunched, sculpted, sculptured, serpentine, serrated, set-in, shaggy, sharp, sharp edged, shaved, shingled, shirred, shorn, shredded, shriveled, silken, silky, sleek, slick, slimy, slippery, slit

Sm to Sy smooth, snarled, soapy, soft, soggy, solid, spiked, spiny, splintered, split, spongy, springy, squashy, squidgy, squishy, stamped, steely, stiff, stitched, stony, straw-like, streaked, stretchy, stringy, stubbly, stuccoed, studded, stuffed, supple, suppurated, syrupy

T to V tacky, tarnished, taut, tensile, terrycloth-draped, tessellated, thick, thin, thorny, threadlike, tickling, tickly, tinny, tooled, toothed, toothy, tough, tufted, tweedy, twilled, twisted, unblemished, undulating, uneven, uniform, unshaven, unshorn, unyielding, upholstered, varnished, veined, veinous, velvety, veneered, viscid, viscous

W to Y wadded, waffled, warped, washboard, watery, wavy, waxen, waxy, weather beaten, webbed, well-defined, well-honed, whiskery, wilted, wiry, withered, wizened, wooden, woody, woolen, woolly, worsted, woven, wrinkled, yielding

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2 thoughts on “ 400+ Adjectives to Describe Texture: A Word List for Writers ”

I saw this on Kboards. I’ve been bookmarking all your wonderful blog posts and just wanted to stop by and say thanks. Awesome list. Happy Holidays, Tess

Thanks, Tess.

Expanded versions of these blog posts will appear in a book sometime next year. I’m enjoying the challenge, although sometimes I realize I need to pay more attention to my own advice. 😉

Happy Holidays to you too!

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• Prepositions

200+ Adjectives To Describe A Creative Person and Creativity

If you’re stumped on how to describe a creative person with adjectives, you’re not alone. It can be tricky to find the right words to define someone whose work is defined by its originality and inventiveness. However, there are a few characteristics that are often found in creative people. 

They tend to be inquisitive and open-minded, always exploring new ideas and approaches. They’re also usually good at problem-solving, seeing things from different angles and coming up with innovative solutions. And of course, creative people often have a strong sense of intuition and imagination, which allows them to see possibilities where others see only limitations. 

So if you’re looking for a way to describe a creative person, keep these qualities in mind.

Table of Contents

How to describe a creative person with adjectives?

If you’re looking for creative adjectives to describe someone, you’ve come to the right place. This article is chock-full of creative words to describe a person, whether you’re looking for positive adjectives to describe a creative person or creative adjectives to describe someone with a more negative connotation. 

But before we get into all of that, let’s start with a quick definition of what we mean by creative adjectives. Creative adjectives are words that are used to describe someone who is creative. Simple, right? Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get into the good stuff.

J | K | L | M

Final verdict

A creative person is someone who sees the world a little differently. They’re often able to find beauty in things that others might miss, and they have a unique way of looking at the world. Creative people are often imaginative and curious, always exploring new ideas and ways of doing things. They’re also often passionate and expressive, with a strong need to express their creativity. If you’re looking for a way to describe someone who is creative, any of these terms might be a good fit.

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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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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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Awesome Adjectives List

Adjectives are words that describe nouns. When you write with interesting adjectives, you help your reader know more about how your characters and your setting look, feel, smell, taste, and sound. Better adjectives create a story with more vivid and precise detail. For example, your character could have blue eyes. Or, your character could have narrowed, ice-blue eyes that glint like sharpened diamonds. Your character just got a lot more interesting with some stronger adjectives. Explore the lists of awesome adjectives for kids that will help you bring your story to life. See our story samples for more awesome adjectives in action.

Choose an Awesome Adjectives List:

• Easy Adjectives List - 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade adjectives
• Advanced Adjectives List - 5th grade, 6th grade, middle school adjectives

Activities:

Also try our adjective-based activities.

Awesome Adjectives List- For Kids Grades 2, 3, 4

Download the adjectives list for kids in 2nd, 3rd, 4th grade: PDF Download-- Awesome Adjectives List (2nd, 3rd, 4th grade)

Busy Lazy Careless Clumsy Nimble Brave Mighty Meek Clever Dull Afraid Scared Cowardly Bashful Proud Fair Greedy Wise Foolish Tricky Truthful Loyal Happy Cheerful Joyful Carefree Friendly Moody Crabby Cranky Awful Gloomy Angry Worried Excited Calm Bored Hardworking Silly Wild Crazy Fussy Still Odd Starving Stuffed Alert Sleepy Surprised Tense

Rude Selfish Strict Tough Polite Amusing Kind Gentle Quiet Caring Hopeful Rich Thrifty Stingy Spoiled Generous Quick Speedy Swift Hasty Rapid Good Fantastic Splendid Wonderful Hard Difficult Challenging Easy Simple Chilly Freezing Icy Steaming Sizzling Muggy Cozy Huge Great Vast Sturdy Grand Heavy Plump Deep Puny Small Tiny Petite Long Endless

Beautiful Adorable Shining Sparkling Glowing Fluttering Soaring Crawling Creeping Sloppy Messy Slimy Grimy Crispy Spiky Rusty Smelly Foul Stinky Curly Fuzzy Plush Lumpy Wrinkly Smooth Glassy Snug Stiff Ugly Hideous Horrid Dreadful Nasty Cruel Creepy Loud Shrill Muffled Creaky

Awesome Adjectives List- Grades 5, 6, Middle School

Download the list for kids in 5th grade, 6th grade and middle school: PDF Download-- Awesome Adjectives List (5th, 6th, Middle School)

Graceful Clumsy Awkward Nimble Clever Dull Obtuse Meek Anemic Frightened Timid Vigilant Cautious Capable Adequate Absent-minded Adventurous Daring Indifferent Apologetic Hideous Horrid Dreadful Ghastly Revolting Nasty Cruel Cheeky Obnoxious Disrespectful Contrary Ornery Subtle Optimistic Courageous Cowardly Gullible Arrogant Haughty Naïve Curious Stubborn Brazen Modest Humble Proud Dishonest Righteous Greedy Wise Tricky Loyal Relaxed Tranquil Lazy Rambunctious Erratic Fidgety Lively Still Famished Surprised Startled Sullen Terrified Furious Annoyed

Sullen Groggy Alert Tense Cranky Gloomy Irritable Lonely Exhausted Ecstatic Cheerful Delighted Blithe Content Carefree Demanding Challenging Effortless Simple

Fantastic Marvelous Splendid Brilliant Superb Striking Stunning Gorgeous Picturesque Lovely Charming Enchanting Delicate Pleasant Monstrous Immense Enormous Massive Brawny Bulky Towering Rotund Cavernous Puny Minute Diminutive Microscopic Petite Slight Bitter Frosty Sweltering Scorching Blistering Muggy Stifling Oppressive Cozy Eternal Ceaseless Perpetual Endless Temporary Intimidating Menacing Miserable Dangerous Delinquent Vile Quarrelsome Hostile Malicious Savage Stern Somber Mysterious Shocking Infamous Ingenious Thrifty Generous Prudent Stingy Spoiled

Anxious Nervous Impatient Worried Excited Courteous Compassionate Benevolent Polite Amusing Entertaining Creative Precise Eccentric Decrepit Ancient Rotten Whimsical Dense Desolate Disgusting Dismal Opulent Idyllic Lavish Edgy Trendy Peculiar Rancid Fetid Foul Filthy Repulsive Lousy Fluttering Soaring Sparkling Gilded Verdant Glowing Askew Dowdy Gaunt Sloppy Serious Grave Intense Severe Heavy Solemn Absurd Ridiculous Sluggish Dawdling Meandering Scarce Copious Muffled Lulling Creaky Shrill Piercing Slimy Grimy Gauzy Mangy Swollen Parched Crispy Spiky Slick Fuzzy Lumpy Plush Wrinkly Slick Glassy Snug Stiff

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20+ Best Words to Describe Creativity, Adjectives for Creativity

Creativity, in its simplest form, refers to the ability to generate unique ideas and solutions. It is the spark that ignites innovation and drives human progress. When we delve into the realm of creativity, we discover a vast array of words that beautifully encapsulate its essence. Words like imaginative, inventive, original, resourceful, and visionary come to mind. Each of these terms paints a vivid picture of the boundless imagination and limitless potential that creativity holds. In this blog post, we will explore these words and delve deeper into the multifaceted nature of creativity.

Table of Contents

Adjectives for Creativity

Here are the 20 Most Popular adjectives for creativity:

• Adventurous
• Imaginative
• Resourceful
• Risk-taking
• Thought-provoking
• Unconventional

Adjectives for a creative person:

Adjectives for creative thinking:.

• Outside-the-box
• Open-minded
• Problem-solving

Adjectives for a creative writer:

• Captivating

Adjectives for a creative director:

• Collaborative

Words to Describe Creativity with Meanings

• Adventurous : Willing to take creative risks.
• Artistic : Having skill in creating visual or performing arts.
• Bold : Fearlessly innovative and daring.
• Curious : Eager to explore new ideas.
• Daring : Courageously inventive and unconventional.
• Expressive : Capable of conveying emotions through art.
• Imaginative : Having a rich and inventive imagination.
• Innovative : Introducing original and groundbreaking ideas.
• Inspiring : Provoking creativity and motivation in others.
• Inventive : Skilled in devising unique solutions.
• Original : Fresh and distinctive in creative expression.
• Playful : Approaching creativity with a lighthearted and fun mindset.
• Resourceful : Skillful in finding creative solutions.
• Risk-taking : Willing to embrace calculated creative risks.
• Talented : Naturally gifted in creative endeavors.
• Thought-provoking : Stimulating deep thinking and reflection.
• Unconventional : Deviating from traditional norms and methods.
• Unique : One-of-a-kind and distinctively original.
• Visionary : Possessing foresight and innovative ideas.
• Versatile : Adaptable and capable of diverse creative expressions.

Example Sentences for Creativity Adjectives

• She embarked on an adventurous artistic journey.
• The bold concept captured everyone’s attention.
• His curious nature led him to explore uncharted territories.
• The daring design pushed the boundaries of creativity.
• Her expressive artwork evoked powerful emotions in viewers.
• The imaginative story transported readers to a magical realm.
• The company’s innovative approach revolutionized the industry.
• The speech was inspiring and motivated others to pursue their dreams.
• Her inventive solution solved the problem effectively.
• The band’s original sound attracted a loyal fanbase.
• The playful artwork brought joy and laughter to onlookers.
• He demonstrated resourceful thinking in finding a solution.
• Taking risk-taking decisions led to great creative breakthroughs.
• The gallery showcased works by talented artists from around the world.
• The film left a thought-provoking impact on the audience.
• The artist’s unconventional approach challenged traditional norms.
• Her style was unique , unlike anything seen before.
• The CEO’s visionary ideas shaped the company’s success.
• The versatile actor effortlessly portrayed a range of characters.

Explore More Words:

Words to Describe Dream

Words to Describe Love

Words to Describe a Veterans

Adjectives for Diversity

How to describe creativity in writing?

Creativity in writing can be described as the ability to think imaginatively, produce original ideas, and express them in a unique and captivating manner.

What kind of adjective is creative?

“Creative” is an adjective that describes someone or something that demonstrates the ability to think innovatively, generate unique ideas, and produce original works of art, literature, or other forms of expression.

What is a creative thinker person?

A creative thinker person is someone who possesses the ability to approach problems and challenges with originality, think outside the box, and generate innovative solutions by leveraging their imagination and unconventional thought processes.

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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.

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Strengthen Your Creative Writing with Extraordinary Adverbs

Writing styles ebb and flow and come and go. Currently, there is an all-out assault on adverbs.

Somehow, they’ve become a sign of unsophisticated writing. But the truth is, when you use them properly, they can crank up the quality of your work. Therefore, our team at Next Chapters thought it was essential to address the misconceptions around adverbs by answering some of your most frequently asked questions.

What is an Adverb?

Adverbs are words or phrases that modify or qualify an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word group. In general, they express a relation of:

There are also conjunctive/linking adverbs that connect one clause to another. By doing so, they can show specific relationships between clauses, such as sequence, contrast, and cause and effect.

What Are Some Examples of Adverbs?

Let’s highlight a few adverb examples in sentences.

We’ve bolded the adverbs in the sentences below:

• No matter how many times I listen to “Let It Be,” I’ll always love it.
• She’s the only one who knows the password to the safe.
• I gently placed the old vase back on the shelf.
• I hid a note between two books in the library.
• Dinner will be ready soon .
• Naturally , John thought he was great at everything.

How can Adverbs Help to Foster Your Unique Writing Style?

Adverbs provide a great way to emphasize a particular point, emphasis certain verbs or adjectives, and add an extra layer of meaning and flair to your work. You can also use adverbs to create a sense of rhythm in your writing and evoke an emotion or atmosphere. By using adverbs in your writing, you can create a distinctive and memorable style that your readers will recognize.

What Are the Three Main Adverb Positions?

Depending on the adverb, you can include them at the beginning (front), middle (mid), or end of a sentence. People refer to these spots in the clause as “positions.”

• Suddenly I felt a hunger pang like a lightning bolt.
• Therefore , the real problem is plastic water bottles.
• Homemade cooking always tastes better than fast food.
• She quietly hummed a tune to herself.
• I’ll be home soon .
• You have to stop coming in so late .

While there are numerous exceptions to the following positions, this chart will give you a general sense of where each kind of adverb goes in a sentence.

How Can I Use Adverbs to Create Powerful Imagery?

Adverbs can help you paint a picture in the reader’s mind. They add detail to a sentence that shows the scene, character, or action more clearly.

For example: She ran quickly across the field.

The adverb “quickly” conveys the speed of her movements better than “She ran across the field.”

You can also use adverbs to express the intensity or mood of the action.

For example: “He shouted angrily.”

Through the use of this adverb, the reader knows the mood of the character. By combining adverbs with other descriptive language, writers can create more vivid and evocative images.

What Are Some Creative Ways To Use Adverbs In A Narrative?

Adverbs can be a great way to add color and detail to any narrative. Here are some creative ways to use adverbs:

• Use adverbs to describe the actions of your characters. For example, instead of saying, “he walked,” you could say, “he slowly sauntered” or “he eagerly scurried.” Using adverbs can help create vivid images in your readers’ minds and bring your story to life.
• Use adverbs to describe the setting. Instead of simply describing a place as “dark,” you could say “ominously dark” or “hauntingly dark.” Doing so will help create an atmosphere and mood for your narrative.
• Use adverbs to describe the emotions of your characters. For example, you could say, “She angrily slammed the door” or “She sadly sighed.” Adverbs can help your readers connect with the characters.

What Are The Differences Between Adjectives And Adverbs In Creative Writing?

Adjectives and adverbs are essential parts of creative writing but have different functions. Adjectives describe nouns, helping readers better understand the people, places, and things in the story.

Adverbs, on the other hand, describe verbs and are used to add more detail to the action in a scene. They can also provide context for the readers and give them insight into the feelings or emotions of the characters.

#1 Best Practice: Use Adverbs Sparingly

You’ll frequently hear authors, teachers, and other writing experts say that people only use adverbs when they haven’t found a strong enough verb. While in some instances, this expert advice is correct. But sometimes, it’s the detail of the adverb that truly sets the scene and immerses the reader.

That being said, the overall goal should be to use adverbs sparingly. Find and use strong verbs, and when there isn’t one that you think works in your writing, try adding an adverb for additional context.

Any Other Pointers?

Adverbs can be powerful tools for adding detail and texture to creative writing. Here are some tips for effectively incorporating adverbs into your writing:

• Vary the types of adverbs you use: There are many different categories of adverbs. Make sure you’re taking advantage of this variety to ensure your work doesn’t feel repetitive.
• Look for opportunities to use an action verb instead of an adverb: Action verbs can often convey the same meaning as an adverb and are often more evocative. For example, instead of saying, “I quickly ran upstairs,” you could say, “I sprinted upstairs.”
• Place adverbs strategically in your writing: Consider where you place adverbs in a sentence. Placing them at the end of a sentence or clause can add emphasis and draw attention to the adverb.
• Use them in dialogue: We speak much differently than we write. It’s one of the reasons it’s so hard to write good dialogue. Adverbs can add a certain level of “realness” to your dialogue, as we use them regularly in everyday speech.

Get a Little Help From Next Chapters

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Powerful Verbs for Your Writing

Inventory Your Own Verbs for Powerful Writing

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Verbs are action words, right? We all remember that from elementary school. Verbs describe the action that is taking place.

But verbs don't have to surrender all the fun and emotional power to adjectives —the words that traditionally paint the pictures in our heads. As a matter of fact, the most powerful writers use verbs quite effectively to illustrate their writing.

Review Your Verbs

After you complete a draft of your paper, it might be a good idea to conduct a verb inventory. Just read over your draft and underline all your verbs. Do you see repetition? Are you bored?

Verbs like said, walked, looked, and thought can be replaced with more descriptive words like mumbled, sauntered, eyeballed, and pondered . Here are a few more suggestions:

• severed (with his eyes)

Get Creative With Verbs

One way to make verbs more interesting is to invent them from other word forms. Sounds illegal, doesn't it? But it's not like you're printing dollar bills in your basement.

One type of noun that works well is animal types, since some animals have very strong characteristics. Skunks, for instance, have a reputation for being stinky or spoiling the air.

Do the following statements evoke powerful images?

• He skunked the party up with his cologne... She snaked the hallways... She wormed her way out of the class...

Jobs as Verbs

Another noun type that works well is names of occupations. We often use doctor as a verb, as in the following sentence:

• She doctored the paper until it was perfect.

Doesn't that evoke the image of a woman hovering over a piece of writing, tools in hand, crafting and nurturing the paper to perfection? What other occupations could paint such a clear scene? How about police ?

• Mrs. Parsons policed her garden until it was completely pest free.

You can get very creative with unusual verbs:

• bubble-wrapped the insult (to suggest that the insult was surrounded by "softer" words)
• tabled your idea

But you do have to use colorful verbs tactfully. Use good judgment and don't overdo the creativity. Language is like clothing--too much color can be just plain odd.

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Tips on How to Use Adjectives Effectively in Fiction

 Adjectives are like swear words. The more you use them the less impact they have.

Is there a rule of thumb for how often we should use adjectives in a piece of writing?

The unhelpful answer is: not really. But let’s think about swearing again. Here’s a piece of purple prose with the adjectives removed and replaced with: “swearword.” (You can substitute any swear word you’d like.)

The swearword sun magnified the swearword house until its swearword silhouette filled the swearword skyline. Swearword swearword and swearword swearword rays burned through its swearword, swearword windows and sent swearword, swearword shadows down the swearword hillside.

See, it gets a bit boring after a while,  and tiring to read. Even if we revert to adjectives instead of swear words, it doesn’t read well.

The bloodshot sun magnified the crumbling house until its looming silhouette filled the darkening skyline. Fiery red and flaming amber rays burned through its stark, gaping windows and sent long, deep shadows down the heathery hillside. 

It’s exhausting to read something with that many adjectives.

 So the first rule for adjectives is: less is more.

Notice how in the passage above it becomes hard to know where to focus.  The second rule is: adjectives should enhance your writing, and make it clearer. 

 Several years ago, as a beginning writer, I entered a short story contest for which every entry received a critique. My story got nowhere and the critique it received got screwed up into a ball and thrown around the room, eventually landing in the trash. I can’t remember exactly what it said, but I do remember the general gist was: over-written, purple prose with a side order of flowery writing. After I’d ranted a while about the idiocy of the competition readers I sent it out to another contest. Bizarrely, it came third.

I felt vindicated. Sort of. Then a few months ago when I came upon that story, and I realised the first competition’s readers knew more about literature than the second. Luckily, although that story was published, the journal had such a tiny circulation that only a few hundred people will ever have seen it. Here’s a snippet: Hannah painted the wide open spaces in front of them, and tiny flowers shyly hiding their heads .

The story is about a childless couple and I think the idea of that sentence was to convey their loss, but it is so oblique and full of cliché that instead of illuminating it obscures. In another part: She draws back from its icy coldness… What she draws back from is a cold hand, so “icy” is (a) wrong: there is no ice on the hand, and (b) superfluous: if I want to use an image if ice, I don’t need “coldness” too. Everybody knows ice is cold! So it could be instead, She draws back from its coldness… or perhaps, Its iciness makes her recoil.

The third rule for adjectives is: choose them carefully.

An exercise many creative writing tutors recommend it to take a piece of writing and get rid of all adjectives. Let’s return to that first passage and see how it is with all adjectives removed:

The sun magnified the house until its silhouette filled the skyline. Rays burned through its windows and sent shadows down the hillside.  Doing this doesn’t mean we can’t use adjectives, but it does help to show where they are needed and where they aren’t. In this passage, without the adjectives there is no sense of the house being a ruin. But perhaps crumbling wasn’t the best adjective to convey that. It could just mean a house that was in need of repair, whereas the house in this story has no roof or windows. Perhaps it would be better to simply say ruined. To give a sense of it being sunset, we could put back in either  bloodshot sun or long shadows . It doesn’t need both. Because the sun appears first, and because this is the beginning of a horror story, let’s opt for blood! And to keep the blood images going, let’s change a verb. The rays no longer burn; instead they spill.

The bloodshot sun magnified the ruined house until its silhouette filled the skyline. Crimson rays spilled through its empty windows, sending shadows down the hillside. 

So, to sum up: with adjectives, less is more and they should make writing clearer, not confuse or exhaust the reader. As long as you remember that, there are no rules!

11 Comments on “Tips on How to Use Adjectives Effectively in Fiction”

Loved where you were going with this, Yvonne. Thanks for this informative piece.

Thanks Ruchira.

When I read a bit of “purple prose” like you wrote above, I simply know something isn’t right. I wouldn’t be able to read an entire story like that. I can never pinpoint and explain the problem nearly so well, though. Thank you for the lesson.

I had fun writing that first bit of purple prose Christine! And totally, you could not read an entire story – at least not without getting a severe headache! Thanks for your comment.

You have dissected and explained an issue I’ve had lately with some of the books I’ve tried to read. Years ago I would sit and pick apart my writing as if I were building a Lego essay. Hours spent looking for the most powerful way to phrase my ideas. Now that I’ve taken up writing again I’m looking forward to practicing and learning it as a craft. I’m so glad I’ve found your blog!

RAWR, when I began writing I’d spend ages trying to find clever ways to describe something and now I really see that plain language can often be the most powerful. Your phrase “as if I were building a Lego essay” is a great example – original yet not overpowering. Thanks for your kind comment and I’m glad to have you here!

Good tip Yvonne. I never thought about adjectives that way before.

Thanks Salma.

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Creative Adjectives to Try To Describe Light

Table of Contents

Light is basically defined as something that illuminates, extends, and makes things visible. It may seem like a very dull subject to write about. But with the right  adjectives to describe light , a writer can use them to depict different moods, atmospheres, and imaginative points of view.

There are many ways you can go about describing light. And there are countless adjectives to describe it. And we’re going to talk about that and more in this article. Keep on reading to learn how to describe light interestingly and creatively!

What are Adjectives?

Adjectives are words that modify a noun by giving it additional characteristics or qualities . These characteristics can include color, size, shape, personality, and so on.

Unlike adverbs, adjectives are associated with nouns, not verbs. When people describe an object, they often resort to adjectives. For example, when you say, “That lamp is ivory,” you are saying its color is ivory.

Why Adjectives Are Important

The English language comprises countless adjectives, and for a good reason. Without adjectives, our language would be bland and not nearly as expressive.

From describing personality traits to setting the scene of a story, adjectives give meaning to our words. They are powerful tools that allow the writer to paint a picture of the story that the reader is about to experience. And it ultimately makes it feel more personal for the reader.

Creative Adjectives to Describe Light

• Aureate:  denoting a golden and extravagant color
• Blinding:  light that’s bright enough to obscure vision
• Coruscating:  something that’s flashing or sparkling
• Crepuscular:  dim or similar to twilight;
• Dappled:  light that makes spots or rounded patches on surfaces
• Fluorescent:  bright light that’s usually from an electric source
• Glancing:  flashing or gleaming intermittently
• Gleaming:  shining and radiating light
• Glimmering:  shines faintly or unsteadily
• Glinting:  gives out or reflects only small flashes of light.
• Glistening:  shining with sparkling light.
• Glittering:  Adding sparkle to the skin; also brilliant or superficially attractive
• Glossy:  shiny and smooth, also characterizes wealth or opulence
• Illuminating:  colorful or shining; highlighted or made clear
• Incandescent:  light that appears warm and glowing
• Iridescent:  rainbow-colored light
• Lucent:  Shining, clear, or bright
• Luminescent:  light that is emitted without the use of heat, also known as cold light
• Luminous:  brimming with bright light
• Lustrous:  light that is smooth or evenly lit
• Penumbral : partially shaded
• Phosphorescent:  light that continues to glow even after the removal of its source
• Prismatic:  colorful light that’s produced when light passes through a prism
• Radiant:  shining light that’s glowing brightly.
• Resplendent:  attractive and impressive because of rich colors
• Scintillating:  sparkling or shining very brightly, also related to a clever personality
• Shimmering:  a reflection of soft or wavering light
• Spectral:  composed of several colors of the spectrum
• Translucent:  diffused light or transparent

Wrapping Up

With these creative  adjectives to describe light,  you can add much more depth to your writing. You can describe light in a way that is more meaningful and interesting. These adjectives will help draw the reader in and engage them in your writing.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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