Writing Enhancement: Astounding Adjectives

Ben G.
A list of more than 300 alluring adjectives to enhance both your writing skills and comprehension. While the words progress from simple to sophisticated, always remember that any and all adjectives offer value in a piece of writing!
365 words 1068 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. minute
    infinitely or immeasurably small
  2. galvanizing
    affected by emotion as if by electricity; thrilling
    An extremely inspiring book or movie may be described as being simply "galvanizing".
  3. opportune
    suitable or advantageous especially for a particular purpose
    That was the opportune time to take advantage of the offer.
  4. engaging
    attracting or delighting
    English class :)
  5. solemn
    dignified and somber in manner or character
  6. intrinsic
    belonging to a thing by its very nature
  7. tacit
    implied by or inferred from actions or statements
  8. distinguished
    standing above others in character or attainment
  9. potent
    having or wielding force or authority
  10. sincere
    open and genuine; not deceitful
  11. indifferent
    marked by a lack of interest
  12. precise
    sharply exact or accurate or delimited
  13. sovereign
    a nation's ruler usually by hereditary right
  14. diffident
    showing modest reserve
  15. lucrative
    producing a sizeable profit
    X didn't prove to be a very lucrative stock.
  16. amenable
    disposed or willing to comply
    He said he was amenable to making the changes we requested.
  17. melancholy
    a constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed
  18. eloquent
    expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively
  19. subservient
    compliant and obedient to authority
  20. denigrating
    harmful and often untrue; tending to discredit or malign
    Defamatory
  21. subtle
    difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
  22. inferior
    of or characteristic of low rank or importance
  23. exquisite
    delicately beautiful
  24. perpetual
    continuing forever or indefinitely
  25. tense
    taut or rigid; stretched tight
  26. effervescent
    marked by high spirits or excitement
  27. obstinate
    refusing to change one's mind or ways; difficult to convince
  28. coarse
    rough to the touch
  29. impoverished
    poor enough to need help from others
  30. vulgar
    of or associated with the great masses of people
  31. bodacious
    not held back by conventional ideas of behavior
  32. triumphant
    experiencing victory
  33. tranquil
    free from disturbance by heavy waves
  34. dainty
    something considered choice to eat
  35. ardent
    characterized by intense emotion
  36. venerable
    profoundly honored
    SAT word!
  37. amiable
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
  38. benevolent
    showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
  39. haughty
    having or showing arrogant superiority
  40. vehement
    marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions
  41. vile
    morally reprehensible
  42. meek
    humble in spirit or manner
  43. illustrious
    widely known and esteemed
  44. animated
    having life or vigor or spirit
  45. refined
    cultivated and genteel
  46. integral
    existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
  47. convoluted
    highly complex or intricate
    Washington is often accused of comprising convoluted politicians in office.
  48. exalted
    of high moral or intellectual value
  49. disparaging
    expressive of low opinion
  50. trifling
    not worth considering
  51. scrupulous
    characterized by extreme care and great effort
  52. nebulous
    lacking definition or definite content
    Vague or unclear intentions may be described as "nebulous"
  53. spontaneous
    said or done without having been planned in advance
  54. eccentric
    conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
  55. devout
    deeply religious
  56. vexed
    troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
  57. austere
    of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
  58. orthodox
    adhering to what is commonly accepted
  59. trivial
    (informal) small and of little importance
  60. contingent
    determined by conditions or circumstances that follow
    The agreement is contingent upon your continuing to get good grades.
  61. barbarous
    able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
  62. zealous
    marked by active interest and enthusiasm
  63. forlorn
    marked by or showing hopelessness
  64. impartial
    free from undue bias or preconceived opinions
  65. wanton
    indulgent in immoral or improper behavior
    He slept with her, too? How wanton is he?
  66. monotonous
    sounded or spoken in a tone unvarying in pitch
    Dragging on
  67. intricate
    having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
  68. candid
    openly straightforward and direct without secretiveness
  69. luminous
    softly bright or radiant
  70. homely
    cozy and comfortable
  71. incredulous
    not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
  72. conclusive
    forming a decisive end or resolution
  73. suggestive
    tending to hint at something improper or indecent
    Look at that suggestive dress she's wearing!
  74. aloof
    distant, cold, or detached in manner
  75. intermediate
    around the middle of a scale of evaluation
  76. shady
    sheltered from the sun's rays
  77. turbulent
    characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination
  78. congenial
    suitable to your needs
  79. erroneous
    containing or characterized by mistakes
  80. palpable
    capable of being perceived
  81. magnanimous
    noble and generous in spirit
  82. rancid
    having an offensive smell or taste
  83. prudent
    marked by sound judgment
  84. malignant
    dangerous to health
  85. disinterested
    unaffected by concern for one's own welfare
  86. staid
    characterized by dignity and propriety
  87. indulgent
    given to yielding to the wishes of someone
  88. whimsical
    determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
  89. brazen
    not held back by conventional ideas of behavior
  90. authoritative
    of recognized power or excellence
  91. reflective
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
  92. pragmatic
    concerned with practical matters
  93. economical
    using the minimum of time or resources for effectiveness
  94. invaluable
    having incalculable monetary or intellectual worth
  95. audacious
    disposed to venture or take risks
  96. compassionate
    showing or having sympathy for another's suffering
  97. deplorable
    of very poor quality or condition
  98. tumultuous
    characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination
  99. affable
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
  100. unintelligible
    not clearly understood or expressed
    Often used as a synonym of unintelligent
  101. stolid
    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
  102. ostensible
    appearing as such but not necessarily so
  103. antecedent
    preceding in time or order
  104. astounding
    bewildering or striking dumb with wonder
  105. affluent
    having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
  106. fastidious
    giving careful attention to detail
  107. arid
    lacking sufficient water or rainfall
  108. lamentable
    bad; unfortunate
  109. uncanny
    surpassing the ordinary or normal
  110. quotidian
    found in the ordinary course of events
  111. reputable
    held in high esteem and honor
  112. paltry
    contemptibly small in amount or size
    That's quite a paltry dish you have there for a growing boy.
  113. ostentatious
    intended to attract notice and impress others
  114. auspicious
    indicating favorable circumstances and good luck
  115. amorous
    inclined toward or displaying love
  116. opulent
    rich and superior in quality
  117. bashful
    self-consciously timid
  118. pretentious
    creating an appearance of importance or distinction
  119. angelic
    having a sweet nature
    Innocent and pure
  120. licentious
    lacking moral discipline
    ...Certainly not angelic!
  121. fictitious
    formed or conceived by the imagination
  122. cultured
    marked by refinement in taste and manners
  123. alluring
    highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire
  124. oblivious
    lacking conscious awareness of
  125. erratic
    liable to sudden unpredictable change
  126. intriguing
    capable of arousing interest or curiosity
  127. astute
    marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
  128. clairvoyant
    someone who can perceive things not present to the senses
    She had a clairvoyant sense of the future...
  129. resplendent
    having great beauty
  130. obstreperous
    noisily and stubbornly defiant
  131. incensed
    angered at something unjust or wrong
  132. discordant
    not in agreement or harmony
  133. naive
    marked by or showing unaffected simplicity
    I wouldn't call her crazy, but that decision nevertheless made her seem a bit naive.
  134. prosaic
    lacking wit or imagination
  135. revolting
    highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
  136. reminiscent
    serving to bring to mind
  137. nimble
    moving quickly and lightly
  138. pungent
    strong and sharp to the sense of taste or smell
    What is that pungent smell?
  139. diabolical
    showing cunning or ingenuity or wickedness
  140. avid
    marked by active interest and enthusiasm
    I'm an avid fan of Vocabulary.com.
    Are you an avid fan of this list?
  141. adorable
    lovable especially in a childlike or naive way
  142. perplexing
    lacking clarity of meaning
  143. frigid
    extremely cold
  144. resentful
    full of or marked by indignant ill will
  145. woeful
    affected by or full of grief or sadness
  146. insidious
    working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way
  147. opaque
    not transmitting or reflecting light or radiant energy
  148. deceptive
    deliberately designed to mislead
  149. inordinate
    beyond normal limits
  150. sardonic
    disdainfully or ironically humorous
    Humorous or satyrical writing is often described as being sardonic.
  151. balmy
    mild and pleasant
  152. jubilant
    full of high-spirited delight
  153. rudimentary
    being in the earliest stages of development
  154. inestimable
    beyond calculation or measure
  155. prior
    earlier in time
    Simple alternative to "previous"
  156. promiscuous
    casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior
    No one wants to see your Cleveland!
  157. facetious
    cleverly amusing in tone
  158. contemplative
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
  159. provocative
    serving or tending to excite or stimulate
  160. conciliatory
    making or willing to make concessions
  161. nostalgic
    unhappy about being away and longing for familiar things
    We felt rather nostalgic after playing with a Koosh ball from our childhood!
  162. malevolent
    wishing or appearing to wish evil to others
  163. tempestuous
    characterized by violent emotions or behavior
  164. taciturn
    habitually reserved and uncommunicative
  165. taut
    pulled or drawn tight
  166. immutable
    not subject or susceptible to change or variation
  167. lustrous
    reflecting light
    Not to be confused with "luscious".
  168. depraved
    deviating from what is considered moral or right or proper
  169. obsequious
    attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
  170. clandestine
    conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
  171. commendable
    worthy of high praise
    To commend someone for their work is to praise or appreciate them for what they've done.
  172. impromptu
    with little or no preparation or forethought
  173. aromatic
    having a strong pleasant odor
  174. disreputable
    lacking respectability in character, behavior or appearance
  175. vivacious
    vigorous and animated
  176. meager
    deficient in amount or quality or extent
  177. exorbitant
    greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation
    You're not being rational if you're being exorbitant.
  178. antagonistic
    characterized by feelings of intense dislike or hostility
  179. unconventional
    not conforming to standards
  180. surreptitious
    marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
  181. complaisant
    showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others
  182. incipient
    only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
  183. refractory
    stubbornly resistant to authority or control
    His refractory demeanor made him an unworthy candidate for the job.
  184. ubiquitous
    being present everywhere at once
    Cell phones have become a ubiquitous aspect of society---nearly everyone has one!
  185. luscious
    having strong sexual appeal
  186. premeditated
    characterized by deliberate purpose and a degree of planning
  187. outlandish
    noticeably or extremely unconventional or unusual
  188. overt
    open and observable; not secret or hidden
  189. fervid
    characterized by intense emotion
  190. flamboyant
    tending to attract attention; marked by ostentatious display
  191. mundane
    found in the ordinary course of events
  192. incorrigible
    impervious to correction by punishment
  193. tantalizing
    arousing desire or expectation for something unattainable
  194. heinous
    extremely wicked or deeply criminal
    Never have I seen a crime quite so heinous.
  195. indubitable
    too obvious to be doubted
  196. smug
    marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction
  197. omniscient
    knowing, seeing, or understanding everything
  198. imperceptible
    impossible or difficult to sense
  199. convivial
    occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company
  200. voracious
    devouring or craving food in great quantities
    I'm so voracious I could eat a horse!
  201. clarion
    loud and clear
  202. inane
    devoid of intelligence
    Unintelligible
  203. torpid
    in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation
  204. detrimental
    causing harm or injury
  205. tawdry
    tastelessly showy
  206. trite
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
  207. colloquial
    characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation
  208. candescent
    glowing from great heat
  209. cogent
    powerfully persuasive
  210. ravishing
    stunningly beautiful
    Also used to describe extreme hunger. A person voracious enough to eat a horse may describe themselves as "ravishing" for food.
  211. intrusive
    tending to enter uninvited
  212. asperity
    harshness of manner
  213. outlandish
    noticeably or extremely unconventional or unusual
    Barbara's purple house is somewhat outlandish; personally, though, I like it.
  214. effulgent
    radiating or as if radiating light
  215. pristine
    immaculately clean and unused
  216. torrid
    characterized by intense emotion
    Be careful not to conflate this with "torpid"
  217. reprehensible
    bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
  218. fallacious
    containing or based on incorrect reasoning
  219. forthright
    characterized by directness in manner or speech
  220. inconspicuous
    not prominent or readily noticeable
  221. nefarious
    extremely wicked
  222. fortuitous
    lucky; occurring by happy chance
  223. redolent
    having a strong pleasant odor
  224. indeterminate
    not fixed or known in advance
  225. abhorrent
    offensive to the mind
  226. cryptic
    having a secret or hidden meaning
  227. enlightening
    tending to increase knowledge or dissipate ignorance
  228. preeminent
    greatest in importance, degree, or significance
  229. factious
    dissenting with the majority opinion
  230. scurrilous
    expressing offensive, insulting, or scandalous criticism
  231. calamitous
    having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences
  232. bona fide
    not counterfeit or copied
  233. recalcitrant
    stubbornly resistant to authority or control
  234. egotistical
    having an inflated idea of one's own importance
  235. lethargic
    deficient in alertness or activity
  236. poignancy
    a quality that arouses emotions, especially pity or sorrow
    Marley and Me was notorious for its poignancy---eliciting tears in even the most macho of men.
    A moment is often described as being "poignant".
  237. brassy
    resembling or containing an alloy of zinc and copper
  238. altruistic
    showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others
  239. somnolent
    inclined to or marked by drowsiness
  240. illusory
    having the nature of something unreal or deceptive
  241. bombastic
    ostentatiously lofty in style
  242. prosy
    lacking wit or imagination
  243. neglectful
    not showing due care or attention
  244. malleable
    easily influenced
    Malleable metal is metal that has been heated to be moved or shaped more easily. Likewise, malleable people are people easily influenced, shaped or changed by those around them. Most children begin very malleable and lose this malleability over time. In psychology, the phenomena is known as plasticity.
  245. inconsequential
    lacking worth or importance
  246. scraggy
    having a sharply uneven surface or outline
    Atop the scraggy mountain even the most skilled of hikers may struggle.
  247. cantankerous
    stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate
  248. illusive
    based on or having the nature of a fantasy
  249. quintessential
    representing the perfect example of a class or quality
  250. chipper
    having a cheerful, lively, and self-confident air
  251. macho
    used of men; markedly masculine in appearance or manner
  252. gargantuan
    of great mass; huge and bulky
  253. extemporaneous
    with little or no preparation or forethought
    I extemporaneously created a list on Vocabulary.com.
  254. ambrosial
    worthy of the gods
  255. myopic
    lacking foresight or scope
  256. meretricious
    tastelessly showy
    A sports car is considered meretricious by some.
  257. listless
    marked by low spirits; showing no enthusiasm
  258. idiosyncratic
    peculiar to the individual
  259. sleazy
    morally degraded
  260. amnesic
    of or relating to or caused by amnesia
  261. archetypal
    of an original pattern on which other things are modeled
  262. nugatory
    of no real value
    A nugget of gold
  263. slumberous
    inclined to or marked by drowsiness
  264. euphonious
    having a pleasant sound
  265. euphoric
    characterized by a feeling of well-being or elation
  266. mesmerizing
    attracting and holding interest as if by a spell
  267. atypical
    not representative of a group, class, or type
    Simple, yet effective in writing
  268. phantasmal
    resembling or characteristic of a phantom
  269. titillating
    pleasantly and superficially exciting
  270. scrumptious
    extremely pleasing to the sense of taste
  271. egocentric
    limited to or caring only about yourself and your own needs
  272. incommodious
    uncomfortably or inconveniently small
    A bit of an old-fashioned word.
  273. cacophonous
    having an unpleasant sound
  274. scabrous
    rough to the touch, as if covered with scales or projections
  275. crepuscular
    like or relating to twilight; dim
    Dogs are known for being crepuscular, being most active at sunrise and sunset.
  276. deviant
    a person whose behavior does not conform to social norms
  277. empathetic
    showing ready comprehension of others' states
    Sympathy is showing an understanding of another's emotions. Empathy is personally identifying with another's emotions (putting yourself in someone another's shoes).
  278. moronic
    having a mental age of between eight and twelve years
  279. duplicitous
    marked by deliberate deceptiveness
  280. limpid
    clear and bright
  281. tenebrous
    dark and gloomy
  282. luminescent
    emitting light not caused by heat
  283. somniferous
    sleep inducing
  284. persnickety
    characterized by excessive attention to trivial details
  285. delusory
    causing one to believe what is not true or fail to believe what is true
  286. reputable
    held in high esteem and honor
    John is a very reputable surgeon --- he'll get the job done right.
  287. snoopy
    offensively curious or inquisitive
    Don't go snooping through my house!
  288. applaudable
    worthy of high praise
  289. pedantic
    marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning
  290. loopy
    informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
  291. languid
    lacking spirit or liveliness
  292. benign
    not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive
    The tumor we once thought cancerous was found to be benign.
  293. capricious
    determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity
  294. laconic
    brief and to the point
    A laconic individual isn't very talkative.
    Usually used to describe words (e.g. a laconic individual isn't very talkative).
  295. satyrical
    of or relating to or having the characteristics of a satyr
  296. quixotic
    not sensible about practical matters
    One of the coolest words of all time (in my humble opinion) :)
    Antonym of "pragmatic"
  297. frivolous
    not serious in content, attitude, or behavior
  298. formidable
    extremely impressive in strength or excellence
  299. gregarious
    temperamentally seeking and enjoying the company of others
  300. vapid
    lacking significance or liveliness or spirit or zest
    He seemed a bit vapid despite having won the game.
  301. keen
    intense or sharp
  302. arbitrary
    based on or subject to individual discretion or preference
  303. inevitable
    incapable of being avoided or prevented
  304. sparse
    not dense or plentiful
  305. ambiguous
    having more than one possible meaning
  306. spurious
    plausible but false
  307. incandescent
    characterized by ardent emotion, intensity, or brilliance
  308. extroverted
    at ease in talking to others
    My extroverted husband does the schmoozing at parties.
    Antonym of "introverted". An introverted classmate may not talk to others around them.
  309. malicious
    having the nature of threatening evil
  310. nihilistic
    relating to a complete rejection of moral values and beliefs
    Jeffrey Dahmer was known for being a nihilist.
  311. liberal
    showing or characterized by broad-mindedness
  312. conservative
    resistant to change
  313. conscientious
    characterized by extreme care and great effort
  314. hypothetical
    a conjectural possibility or circumstance
  315. garrulous
    full of trivial conversation
    My conversation with Sam about the weather was garrulous.
    Small talk.
  316. ulterior
    lying beyond what is openly revealed or avowed
  317. wistful
    showing pensive sadness
  318. pensive
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
  319. esoteric
    understandable only by an enlightened inner circle
  320. xenophobic
    having abnormal fear or hatred of foreigners
  321. zany
    ludicrous or foolish
    Eccentric yet humorous (e.g. a clown).
  322. obsolete
    no longer in use
    Hardcover dictionaries are becoming obsolete with the rise of websites like vocabulary.com.
  323. obscure
    not clearly understood or expressed
  324. onerous
    burdensome or difficult to endure
  325. frenetic
    fast and energetic in an uncontrolled or wild way
    Love this word!
  326. eclectic
    selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
  327. resilient
    recovering readily from adversity, depression, or the like
  328. disdainful
    having or showing arrogant superiority
  329. variegated
    having an assortment of colors
  330. imperative
    requiring attention or action
  331. loquacious
    full of trivial conversation
  332. banal
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
    The word "plethora" has become quite banal among writers. See "hackneyed"
  333. analogous
    similar or equivalent in some respects
    You've probably heard the word "analogy". Dog is to mammal as eagle is to bird. Boy is to girl as man is to woman. An analogy is a likening of two sets of items that would otherwise remain unconnected. Analogous items are items somehow linked together in a fashion similar to that of an analogy.
  334. jaunty
    having a cheerful, lively, and self-confident air
  335. tyrannical
    characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule
  336. cynical
    believing the worst of human nature and motives
    Not to sound cynical, but I think the show will be a flop.
  337. ethereal
    characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy
  338. fervent
    characterized by intense emotion
    A fervent speech was delivered to Congress by the President with regard to the new Bill in works.
  339. ominous
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
  340. jaded
    exhausted
    I'm still a bit jaded from work but I'll try my best to help.
    ...after a long day of learning vocab!
  341. feral
    wild and menacing
    That feral beast is going to eat me!
  342. tangible
    perceptible by the senses, especially the sense of touch
  343. exasperated
    greatly annoyed; out of patience
  344. liable
    subject to legal action
  345. hackneyed
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
    See "banal"
  346. hasty
    excessively quick
  347. salient
    conspicuous, prominent, or important
  348. unanimous
    in complete agreement
  349. impetuous
    characterized by undue haste and lack of thought
  350. qualitative
    involving distinguishing attributes
  351. quaint
    attractively old-fashioned
  352. rational
    consistent with or based on or using reason
    Let's not jump to any conclusions and do something irrational now...
  353. nascent
    being born or beginning
  354. latent
    potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
  355. miscellaneous
    consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
  356. mischievous
    naughtily or annoyingly playful
  357. morose
    showing a brooding ill humor
  358. judicious
    marked by the exercise of common sense in practical matters
  359. pompous
    puffed up with vanity
    See egocentric
  360. vain
    having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
  361. stoic
    seeming unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive
    He was quite stoic in his answers to police.
  362. earnest
    devout or heartfelt
  363. retroactive
    affecting things past
  364. shrewd
    marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
    Shrewd often has a negative connotation. Crafty, sly and even manipulative are often used interchangeably with "shrewd"
  365. shallow
    not deep or strong; not affecting one deeply
    Shallow people are often harsh, cold or indifferent toward others' emotions.
Created on Sat Mar 24 19:38:03 EDT 2012 (updated Mon Oct 15 22:25:12 EDT 2012)

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