Describing Words: 1000+ Descriptive Words to Describe our World! • 7ESL

When speaking or writing in the English language you are going to need to use descriptive words. But what are these types of describing words and how can we use them? We will look at the answers to these questions and look at examples of the different types of descriptive words.

You may be tired of always using the same adjectives and are in desperate need to add some new ones to your vocabulary. If that’s the case, then you’re in the right place! Here we will be sharing with you, the most common descriptive words and describing words. As well as, how to use gerunds, verbs, and nouns as descriptive words.

Descriptive Words

What Are Descriptive Words?

A descriptive word is a word that is used to describe something, that something could be a person, a place, a situation, or an item amongst other things. These words enable you to better explain the condition of something, for example, if you were talking about a person, you might use descriptive words to explain how that person looks. If you were talking about a country, you would use descriptive words to talk about the size of the country for example.

A descriptive word can also help you to intensify the meaning of a word or phrase.

Learn 250 Useful Descriptive Words to Improve Your General Fluency in English

Descriptive Words to Describe Colors

Word
Meaning
Example

Crimson
Deep red
The crimson sun set over the horizon.

Scarlet
Bright red
She wore a scarlet dress to the party.

Burgundy
Dark red or purple
The burgundy wine had a rich, complex flavor.

Rose
Light pink
The rose petals were soft and delicate.

Magenta
Purplish-red
The magenta flowers added a pop of color to the garden.

Lavender
Pale purple
The lavender fields stretched out as far as the eye could see.

Indigo
Deep blue-purple
The indigo dye gave the fabric a deep, rich color.

Azure
Bright blue
The sky was a brilliant shade of azure.

Sapphire
Rich blue
The sapphire earrings sparkled in the light.

Turquoise
Blue-green
The turquoise waters of the Caribbean were crystal clear.

Olive
Yellow-green
The olive trees provided shade from the hot sun.

Lime
Bright green
The lime juice gave the drink a refreshing tang.

Emerald
Deep green
The emerald ring gleamed on her finger.

Chartreuse
Yellow-green
The chartreuse walls of the room added a bold splash of color.

Gold
Yellow-orange
The gold medal gleamed in the athlete’s hand.

Tangerine
Bright orange
The tangerine sunset painted the sky with vibrant hues.

Rust
Orange-red
The rust-colored leaves fell gently from the trees.

Chocolate
Dark brown
The chocolate cake was rich and indulgent.

Beige
Light brown
The walls were painted a soft shade of beige.

Ivory
Creamy white
The ivory wedding gown was stunning.

Pearl
Pale grayish-white
The pearl necklace shimmered in the light.

Silver
Shiny gray
The silver car gleamed in the sun.

Charcoal
Dark gray
The charcoal drawing was incredibly detailed.

Descriptive Words to Describe Shapes

Word
Meaning
Example

Circular
Having the shape of a circle
The plate was circular in shape.

Oval
Having the shape of an ellipse
The mirror was oval-shaped and hung on the wall.

Square
Having four equal sides and four right angles
The window frame was square in shape.

Rectangular
Having four sides with opposite sides parallel and equal in length
The rug was rectangular and covered most of the floor.

Triangular
Having three sides
The roof was triangular in shape.

Diamond
Having a rhombus shape
The diamond ring sparkled on her finger.

Pentagon
Having five sides
The sign had a distinctive pentagon shape.

Hexagon
Having six sides
The honeycomb had a hexagonal shape.

Octagon
Having eight sides
The stop sign was shaped like an octagon.

Sphere
A three-dimensional circular object
The crystal ball was a perfect sphere.

Cube
A three-dimensional object with six square sides
The box was shaped like a cube.

Cylinder
A three-dimensional object with circular bases and straight sides
The can was shaped like a cylinder.

Cone
A three-dimensional object with a circular base and a pointed tip
The ice cream cone was cone-shaped.

Pyramid
A three-dimensional object with a polygonal base and triangular sides that meet at a point
The ancient Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for their pharaohs.

Diamond
A two-dimensional shape with four straight sides of equal length, arranged in a diamond shape
The baseball field was diamond-shaped.

Descriptive Words to Describe Sizes

Word
Meaning
Example

Tiny
Extremely small
The toy car was tiny enough to fit in the palm of her hand.

Petite
Small and delicate
The petite ballerina danced gracefully on stage.

Miniature
Small in size, but accurately detailed
The miniature model of the Eiffel Tower was incredibly detailed.

Compact
Small and efficiently designed
The compact car was easy to park in tight spaces.

Little
Small in size or amount
The little kitten curled up on the cushion.

Dainty
Small and delicate in a pleasing way
The dainty teacup had intricate floral patterns.

Slim
Narrow or thin in shape
The slim laptop was easy to carry around.

Narrow
Long and thin in shape
The narrow path wound its way through the forest.

Short
Not tall in height
The short tree provided some shade on a hot day.

Average
A typical or common size
The average height for an adult male is around 5’9″.

Moderate
Of medium size or amount
The moderate rainfall was enough to water the plants.

Large
Big in size
The large truck took up most of the parking lot.

Grand
Impressive or magnificent in size
The grand palace had elaborate architecture and beautiful gardens.

Massive
Extremely large or heavy
The massive boulder blocked the path completely.

Colossal
Enormous in size or scale
The colossal statue towered over the city.

Giant
Very large in size or stature
The giant redwood trees can grow over 300 feet tall.

Descriptive Words to Describe Age and Time

Word
Meaning
Example

New
Recently created or acquired
She bought a new car last week.

Fresh
Recently made or obtained
The bakery sold fresh bread every morning.

Young
Having lived or existed for only a short time
The young puppy was full of energy.

Juvenile
Of or relating to young people or animals
The juvenile delinquent was arrested for theft.

Infant
Very young, especially in the first year of life
The infant slept soundly in her crib.

Toddler
A young child who is just learning to walk
The toddler stumbled while taking her first steps.

Adolescent
In the stage of development between childhood and adulthood
The adolescent struggled with peer pressure.

Teenage
Relating to the years of one’s age between 13 and 19
She was a typical teenage girl, always on her phone.

Mature
Having reached full natural growth or development
The mature oak tree provided shade on a hot day.

Elderly
Old or aging, often implying physical or mental decline
The elderly man needed help crossing the street.

Aged
Having lived for a long time
The aged book was a valuable antique.

Ancient
Very old, often implying great historical significance
The ancient ruins of Rome attract millions of tourists every year.

Timely
Occurring at the right time or suitable moment
The timely arrival of the ambulance saved his life.

Prompt
Done without delay or at the expected time
The prompt response to the emergency call was appreciated.

Current
Happening or existing now
The current pandemic has affected people all over the world.

Contemporary
Belonging to the same time period or generation
The contemporary art exhibit featured works by modern artists.

Outdated
No longer in use or fashion
The outdated technology was replaced with newer models.

Obsolete
No longer in use or useful
The obsolete machinery was sold for scrap metal.

Descriptive Words to Describe Taste

Word
Meaning
Example

Bitter
Having a sharp, unpleasant taste
Coffee, dark chocolate, tonic water

Sweet
Having a pleasant, sugary taste
Candy, fruit, honey

Sour
Having a tart, acidic taste
Lemon, vinegar, sour cream

Salty
Having a taste of salt
Chips, salted nuts, seaweed salad

Savory
Having a rich, meaty flavor
Steak, bacon, mushroom soup

Spicy
Having a hot, pungent flavor
Chili peppers, hot sauce, curry

Tangy
Having a sharp, acidic taste
Pickles, mustard, citrus fruits

Mild
Having a subtle or subdued taste
Cream cheese, rice, cucumber

Rich
Having a full, satisfying taste
Chocolate cake, beef stew, creamy pasta

Tart
Having a slightly sour taste
Green apples, yogurt, sourdough bread

Bland
Having a dull, uninteresting taste
Plain rice, boiled potatoes, tofu

Astringent
Having a dry, puckering taste
Red wine, tea, unripe fruit

Earthy
Having a natural, woody taste
Beets, mushrooms, root vegetables

Fruity
Having a taste of fruit
Berry jam, tropical juice, apple cider

Nutty
Having a taste of nuts
Almond butter, pecan pie, peanut brittle

Smoky
Having a taste of smoke
Grilled meat, smoked salmon, roasted nuts

Herbal
Having a taste of herbs
Basil pesto, rosemary chicken, mint tea

Floral
Having a taste of flowers
Rosewater, lavender honey, chamomile tea

Citrusy
Having a taste of citrus fruit
Orange juice, lemon zest, grapefruit slices

Robust
Having a strong, bold taste
Espresso, dark beer, aged cheese

Descriptive Words to Describe Sounds

Word
Meaning
Example

Loud
Having a high volume or intensity
Thunder, explosion, car horn

Soft
Having a low volume or intensity
Whisper, rustle, purr

Shrill
Having a high-pitched, piercing sound
Scream, alarm, screech

Mellow
Having a deep, rich, and pleasant sound
Jazz music, warm voice, cello

Melodic
Having a pleasing musical quality
Singing, bird chirping, guitar solo

Harmonious
Having a pleasing blend of sounds
Chorus, symphony, choir

Grating
Having a harsh, irritating sound
Nails on a chalkboard, metal scraping

Jarring
Having a sudden, unpleasant sound
Siren, slamming door, breaking glass

Clanging
Having a loud, ringing sound
Bell, metal drum, cymbal

Thumping
Having a heavy, dull sound
Bass drum, heartbeat, pounding feet

Whirring
Having a continuous, humming sound
Fan, blender, air conditioner

Buzzing
Having a low, vibrating sound
Bee, electrical wires, phone

Rustling
Having a light, swishing sound
Leaves, paper, fabric

Sizzling
Having a hissing, frying sound
Bacon, steak, frying pan

Crackling
Having a popping, snapping sound
Fire, popping popcorn, twigs

Screeching
Having a high-pitched, harsh sound
Brakes, metal scraping, chalkboard

Murmuring
Having a soft, indistinct sound
Whispering, water flowing, wind

Gurgling
Having a bubbling, splashing sound
Waterfall, creek, stomach

Cooing
Having a soft, soothing sound
Pigeon, baby, dove

Descriptive Words to Describe Touch

Descriptive Word
Meaning
Examples

Soft
Delicate or gentle to the touch
The baby’s skin was soft like silk.

Rough
Harsh or abrasive to the touch
The surface of the rock was rough and jagged.

Smooth
Even and without roughness to the touch
The polished marble was smooth to the touch.

Prickly
Covered in small, sharp points that cause a tingling or stinging sensation
The cactus had prickly spines all over its surface.

Cold
Low in temperature to the touch
The ice cube was cold to the touch.

Warm
Moderately high in temperature to the touch
The cup of tea was warm to the touch.

Wet
Covered or saturated with liquid to the touch
The raincoat was wet from the rain.

Dry
Lacking moisture to the touch
The desert sand was dry and gritty.

Bumpy
Having small, uneven surface irregularities to the touch
The dirt road was bumpy and rough to drive on.

Furry
Covered in soft, hair-like projections to the touch
The cat was furry and cuddly.

Slimy
Wet and slippery to the touch
The slug left a slimy trail behind it.

Sticky
Adhesive or glue-like to the touch
The tape was sticky and adhered to the paper.

Tingly
Causing a tingling or prickling sensation to the touch
The minty toothpaste left a tingly sensation in my mouth.

Numb
Lacking sensation or feeling to the touch
My hand felt numb after holding the ice pack for too long.

Jarring
Rough or harsh in a way that shocks the senses to the touch
The impact of the car accident was jarring and painful.

Ticklish
Sensitive to touch in a way that causes laughter or discomfort
I’m ticklish on my feet and it always makes me laugh.

Descriptive Words to Describe Smell

Descriptive Word
Meaning
Examples

Sweet
Pleasantly fragrant and sugary in smell
The aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls was sweet and inviting.

Sour
Having a sharp or acidic odor
The smell of spoiled milk was sour and unpleasant.

Floral
Having the scent of flowers
The bouquet of roses filled the room with a sweet and floral fragrance.

Earthy
Having the aroma of soil, earth or grass
The smell of freshly cut grass was earthy and refreshing.

Spicy
Having a pungent or hot aroma
The curry had a spicy smell that made my nose tingle.

Smoky
Having a strong or distinct smoke-like aroma
The campfire had a smoky smell that lingered on our clothes.

Musky
Having a heavy, animalistic scent
The perfume had a musky smell that was alluring and sensual.

Fruity
Having the sweet aroma of fruit
The bowl of fresh fruit had a fruity smell that was refreshing.

Herbal
Having the scent of herbs, such as mint, basil, or lavender
The tea had an herbal smell that was calming and soothing.

Woody
Having the scent of wood, such as pine or cedar
The cabin had a woody smell that reminded me of the forest.

Chemical
Having a strong or artificial odor
The cleaning solution had a chemical smell that made my eyes water.

Rancid
Having a spoiled or putrid odor
The old cheese had a rancid smell that made me feel nauseous.

Metallic
Having the odor of metal or blood
The smell of the metalwork shop was metallic and sharp.

Fishy
Having the odor of fish or seafood
The fish market had a fishy smell that was overwhelming.

Musty
Having a damp, stale, or moldy odor
The old attic had a musty smell that was unpleasant.

Aromatic
Having a fragrant, pleasant odor
The herbs had an aromatic smell that filled the kitchen with deliciousness.

Pungent
Having a strong, sharp, or overpowering odor
The onions had a pungent smell that made my eyes water.

Foul
Having an extremely unpleasant odor
The garbage had a foul smell that made me gag.

Descriptive Words to Describe Quantity

1. Small quantity:

Word
Meaning
Example

Scanty
Barely sufficient or inadequate
The food was scanty for the large crowd.

Meager
Lacking in quantity or quality
The meager supplies were not enough to sustain them.

Sparse
Thinly scattered or distributed
The sparse population of the village made it peaceful.

Paltry
Insignificant or small in amount
He earned a paltry sum for his hard work.

Modest
Limited or moderate in amount
She had a modest income but lived a comfortable life.

2. Medium quantity:

Word
Meaning
Example

Adequate
Sufficient or satisfactory
The amount of food was adequate for the guests.

Ample
Enough or more than enough
There was ample time to finish the project.

Sufficient
Adequate or enough to meet a need or demand
The evidence was sufficient to prove his innocence.

Considerable
Large or significant in amount
The company made a considerable profit this year.

Substantial
Large or considerable in amount
The investment was substantial and yielded good returns.

3. Large quantity:

Word
Meaning
Example

Abundant
Plentiful or ample in quantity
The garden was abundant with colorful flowers.

Copious
Large in quantity or number
The copious rainfall caused flooding in the area.

Profuse
Abundant or excessive in quantity
The artist created a profuse amount of paintings.

Overflowing
Filled beyond capacity or brimming over
The overflowing river caused extensive damage.

Innumerable
Too many to be counted or too numerous to mention
The stars in the sky were innumerable.

Descriptive Words to Describe Quality

1. Poor quality:

Word
Meaning
Example

Shoddy
Poorly made or inferior in quality
The shoddy furniture fell apart after a few weeks.

Inferior
Lower in quality or value
The inferior materials used in the construction caused problems.

Substandard
Below the accepted standard or quality
The substandard work was unacceptable.

Defective
Faulty or imperfect in quality
The defective product had to be returned to the store.

Flawed
Containing defects or imperfections
The flawed design caused many issues.

2. Average quality:

Word
Meaning
Example

Mediocre
Neither good nor bad; average
The restaurant had mediocre food and service.

Decent
Adequate or satisfactory in quality
The hotel had decent accommodations for the price.

Standard
Conforming to the accepted standard or norm
The product met the standard quality requirements.

Acceptable
Suitable or satisfactory in quality
The proposal was acceptable to the board.

Tolerable
Bearable or acceptable in quality
The noise level was tolerable in the office.

3. High quality:

Word
Meaning
Example

Superior
Higher in quality or value
The superior quality of the fabric made it expensive.

Excellent
Exceptionally good or of high quality
The restaurant had excellent food and service.

Premium
Of superior quality and value
The premium brand of clothing was popular among fashion enthusiasts.

Exceptional
Unusually good or outstanding in quality
The company delivered exceptional customer service.

Top-notch
Of the highest quality or excellence
The top-notch performance received a standing ovation.

Descriptive Words to Describe the Weather

Word
Meaning
Example

Sunny
clear and bright with sunshine
It’s a sunny day, let’s go to the beach.

Cloudy
covered with clouds
The sky is cloudy, it might rain later.

Rainy
characterized by rain
It’s a rainy day, don’t forget your umbrella.

Windy
characterized by wind
It’s very windy outside, hold on to your hat.

Stormy
characterized by violent weather conditions such as thunder, lightning, and heavy rain
The stormy weather caused power outages throughout the city.

Snowy
characterized by snowfall
The snowy landscape looks beautiful in winter.

Foggy
covered with or having fog
The foggy morning made it hard to see the road.

Misty
characterized by a fine spray or mist
The misty morning made everything look mysterious.

Hazy
characterized by a lack of clarity or visibility due to atmospheric conditions
The hazy afternoon made the distant mountains barely visible.

Humid
characterized by high levels of moisture in the air
It’s very humid outside, it feels like a sauna.

Dry
characterized by a lack of moisture in the air
The dry heat made it difficult to breathe.

Hot
characterized by high temperature
It’s too hot to go outside, let’s stay indoors.

Cold
characterized by low temperature
The cold weather made me shiver even with my coat on.

Freezing
characterized by a temperature below the freezing point of water
The freezing weather caused the roads to be covered in ice.

Chilly
characterized by a slight coldness
The chilly breeze made me put on a sweater.

Pleasant
characterized by enjoyable weather conditions
The weather is so pleasant today, let’s have a picnic.

Unpleasant
characterized by uncomfortable weather conditions
The weather is so unpleasant today, I don’t want to go outside.

Dreary
characterized by dullness and gloominess
The dreary weather matched my mood.

Muggy
characterized by hot and humid conditions
The muggy weather made it hard to breathe.

Breezy
characterized by a gentle wind
The breezy day made flying kites so much fun.

Descriptive Words to Describe the Environment

Word
Meaning
Example

Pristine
in its original condition; unspoiled
The pristine beach was untouched by tourists.

Lush
abundant in vegetation; green and fertile
The lush rainforest was home to many species of animals.

Arid
lacking in moisture; dry
The arid desert had very little rainfall.

Barren
lacking in vegetation; not productive
The barren land had no plants or trees.

Serene
calm and peaceful; without disturbance
The serene lake was a great place to meditate.

Polluted
contaminated with harmful substances
The polluted air in the city made it difficult to breathe.

Noisy
characterized by loud or disruptive sounds
The noisy construction site made it hard to concentrate.

Vibrant
full of life and energy; colorful
The vibrant city was alive with activity.

Tranquil
calm and quiet; free from disturbance
The tranquil forest was a great place to escape from the city.

Industrial
characterized by factories and machinery
The industrial park was home to many manufacturing companies.

Rural
relating to the countryside; lacking urbanization
The rural farm was miles away from the nearest town.

Urban
relating to the city; characterized by urbanization
The urban landscape was full of skyscrapers and bustling streets.

Picturesque
visually attractive and charming
The picturesque village looked like it came straight out of a postcard.

Secluded
hidden away from view; isolated
The secluded beach was only accessible by boat.

Majestic
grand and impressive; awe-inspiring
The majestic mountains were a sight to behold.

Prickly
covered in thorns or spines; uncomfortable to touch
The prickly cactus was a common sight in the desert.

Rustic
relating to the countryside; simple and traditional
The rustic cabin was a perfect getaway for those seeking a quiet retreat.

Scenic
visually pleasing; having beautiful natural views
The scenic drive along the coast was breathtaking.

Wild
untamed; not domesticated
The wild animals in the jungle were dangerous and unpredictable.

Eerie
strange and mysterious; unsettling
The eerie silence in the abandoned house made us feel uneasy.

Learn more: Words to Describe Someone

Types of Describing Words

What types of descriptive words are there? There are two main types of descriptive words. Adjectives and adverbs. Adjectives are extremely important and useful in the English language. They have been around for many years, largely influential people like Shakespeare invented many during his time on Earth. They provide us with the access to describe the things around us, which comes in handy in many situations. For example, if you’re going to see a doctor about a specific issue, you’ll need to be able to describe it. If you’re writing a story, adjectives will help your audience to visualize your story more vividly. If you looking to complement or describe someone, adjectives are crucial.

Gerunds, verbs, and nouns can also be used as descriptive words. Let’s look at each of these types of descriptive words in a little more detail.

Descriptive Adjectives

An adjective is used to modify or describe a noun. The adjective can give more information about a noun such as things like its size, shape, texture, or color.

An adjective is useful when there is a selection of the same objects which have subtle differences, for example, if there were a group of fish, each one a different color. You are asked ‘which fish do you like?’ You can reply to this question by simply using the adjective, and you could say ‘the blue one.’

Here are a few examples of adjectives in use:

• The building is modern.
• The pizza is delicious.
• Her dress is elegant.
• The concert was loud.
• The movie was exciting.
• The flowers are fragrant.
• The sky is blue.
• The lake is crystal-clear.
• The city is vibrant.
• The sunset was breathtaking.

It is worth noting that an adjective is likely end with the following letters:

Suffix
Examples

-al
Logical, Rational, Regional, Principal, Clinical

-an
American, Mexican, Human, Suburban, Urban

-ar
Popular, Clear, Lunar, Regular, Cellular, Solar

-ent
Decent, Magnificent, Excellent, Independent, Fluent

-ful
Beautiful, Blissful, Helpful, Grateful, Successful

-ic
Athletic, Majestic, Historic, Romantic, Comedic

-ical
Magical, Fantastical, Chemical, Logical, Historical

-ine
Feminine, Ovine, Porcine, Marine, Alpine

-ile
Immobile, Juvenile, Agile, Hostile, Infantile

-ive
Aggressive, Adaptive, Creative, Positive, Productive

-less
Colourless, Thoughtless, Endless, Fearless, Pointless

-ous
Ginormous, Luminous, Dangerous, Courageous, Enormous

-some
Awesome, Boresome, Tedious, Troublesome, Fearsome

However, as with many grammar rules there are exceptions and so sometimes an adjective might not fall into one of these categories. Some of the less common endings for adjectives can be -ing, -er, -y, -ary, -ate.

These types of descriptive words can appear anywhere in a sentence.

Related: 515 Descriptive Adjectives to Describe Everything in English!

Descriptive Adverbs

An adverb is the other type of descriptive word that we are going to look at. An adverb is a word that can further explain an adjective or many other types of words such as verbs, phrases, sentences, or even other adverbs. This type of descriptive word is more often than not, placed directly before or after the verb in the sentence you are creating. Usually, you will find that an adverb ends in the letters -ly, but as with adjectives, this rule can waiver from time to time, and not all adverbs will end in these letters.

Here are some examples of adverbs in a sentence:

• The old man walks slowly along the street.
• She danced gracefully on the stage.
• The toddler is running excitedly toward the playground.
• He spoke softly to avoid waking the baby.
• The chef cooked the steak perfectly.
• She sings beautifully in the choir.
• He writes legibly on the chalkboard.
• The bird flew gracefully through the air.
• The boxer punches powerfully in the ring.
• The dog barks loudly at strangers.

You can also use two adverbs together to form an adverb phrase, here are some examples of this.

• The runners sprinted effortlessly down the track.
• She sang beautifully during the performance.
• He solved the math problem surprisingly quickly.
• The chef cooked the meal extremely well.
• The flowers bloomed suddenly after the rain.

Gerunds, Verbs, and Nouns Used As Descriptive Words

Gerunds Used As Descriptive Words

Encase you’re unfamiliar with gerunds; a gerund is verb ending in -ing, which acts as a noun. Some examples of gerunds are: asking and running. If used correctly, these words can be used as adjectives by modifying adverbs.

Here are some examples of how to use gerunds as descriptive words:

• “She enjoys painting landscapes on the weekends”
• “The rushing waterfall was a breathtaking sight”
• “The boiling tea kettle let out a high-pitched whistle”
• “The blinding sunshine made it difficult to see”
• “The dazzling fireworks lit up the night sky”
• “The deafening music was too loud for my ears”

Verbs Used As Descriptive Words

Verbs are used to describe actions, states and occurrences. Commonly used verbs include: achieve, limit and receive. Verbs ending in -ed and -ing used to describe, can be disguised as adjectives. Another way would be to use a verb to modify a noun or a pronoun.

Here are some examples of how to use verbs as descriptive words:

• “Her story was extremely puzzling“
• “I am so satisfied with my work”
• “I’m just always bored for some reason”
• “Never go near a smiling crocodile”
• “My dad is going to repair our broken porch”

Nouns Used As Descriptive Words

A noun is a word which is used to identify specific things, this could be a place or an animal, even an object. To use a noun as a descriptive word, you will have to use it to modify another noun. This is called an adjectival noun or noun modifying.

Here are some examples of how to use nouns as descriptive words:

• “I love race cars”
• “I bought my son a bed in the shape of a sports car”
• “Good always wins and bad always loses”
• -“The ugly is on its way”
• “The rich should help the poor“

Describing Words (from A-Z)

Descriptive Words that Start with A

• Abandoned
• Abnormal
• Abundant
• Abusive
• Academic
• Acceptable
• Accomplished
• Achy
• Active
• Adaptable
• Adorable
• Adventurous
• Affordable
• Alert
• Ambitious
• Amused
• Arrogant

Descriptive Words that Start with B

• Babyish
• Baffling
• Baggy
• Balanced
• Basic
• Beaming
• Beautified
• Beneficial
• Bewildered
• Blue-Eyed
• Blushing
• Boisterous
• Bookish
• Brainy
• Brash
• Brilliant
• Brittle

Descriptive Words that Start with C

• Calculating
• Calm
• Captivating
• Carefree
• Casual
• Cautious
• Cerulean
• Charismatic
• Charming
• Cheerful
• Clever
• Combative
• Comfortable
• Courageous
• Creative
• Crisp
• Cyan

Descriptive Words that Start with D

• Damaged
• Dangerous
• Dark
• Decent
• Deep
• Defeated
• Delicious
• Delighted
• Deluxe
• Depressed
• Determined
• Different
• Discreet
• Diverse
• Divine
• Dominant
• Dynamic

Descriptive Words that Start with E

• Eager
• Earthly
• Easy-Going
• Efficacious
• Effortless
• Elegant
• Emotional
• Empty
• Enchanting
• Enraged
• Enthusiastic
• Equable
• Evanescent
• Exciting
• Exemplary
• Exuberant
• Eye-catching

Descriptive Words that Start with F

• Fabulous
• Factual
• Faithful
• Fake
• Famous
• Fancy
• Fascinating
• Fashionable
• Fearless
• Feisty
• Fierce
• Fine
• Flawless
• Flustered
• Foreign
• Free
• Frightened

Descriptive Words that Start with G

• Gaping
• Generic
• Generous
• Gentle
• Giant
• Gifted
• Glamorous
• Gleaming
• Gloomy
• Glowing
• Glum
• Goal-oriented
• Good-looking
• Graceful
• Grieving
• Grumpy
• Guarded

Descriptive Words that Start with H

• Handed
• Handsome
• Harmful
• Harmonious
• Hasty
• Hated
• Hazel
• Headstrong
• Healthy
• Heavenly
• Helpful
• Heroic
• Hideous
• High-spirited
• Hilarious
• Homely
• Humongous

Descriptive Words that Start with I

• Iconic
• Icy
• Ideal
• Idealistic
• Idolised
• Illegal
• Immortal
• Immune
• Impervious
• Impossible
• Improper
• Inclined
• Inexpensive
• Inquisitive
• Intense
• Intriguing
• Introverted

Descriptive Words that Start with J

• Jaded
• Jagged
• Jam-packed
• Jangling
• Jarring
• Jaunty
• Jealous
• Jeering
• Jesting
• Jewelled
• Jittery
• Jolly
• Joyful
• Joyous
• Jubilant
• Jumpy
• Juvenile

Descriptive Words that Start with K

• Kaleidoscopic
• Kaput
• Keeled
• Keen
• Keyless
• Kind
• Kindhearted
• Kindly
• Kindred
• Kinetic
• Kingly
• Kissable
• Klutzy
• Knockout
• Knotted
• Knowledgeable
• Known

Descriptive Words that Start with L

• Ladylike
• Lame
• Lanky
• Lawful
• Lazy
• Legendary
• Lesser
• Liberated
• Licit
• Lively
• Livid
• Lonely
• Loud
• Lovable
• Lucky
• Luxurious
• Lyrical

Descriptive Words that Start with M

• Macabre
• Machiavellian
• Mad
• Magical
• Magnanimous
• Maladapted
• Malefic
• Malleable
• Marvellous
• Memorable
• Mindful
• Modern
• Motionless
• Motivated
• Motivational
• Musical
• Mysterious

Descriptive Words that Start with N

• Naive
• Narcissistic
• Narrow
• Nasty
• Native
• Natural
• Naughty
• Nauseated
• Nauseating
• Nauseous
• Neat
• Necessary
• Needed
• Needy
• Nervous
• New
• Nice

Descriptive Words that Start with O

• Obedient
• Obnoxious
• Obscure
• Observant
• Odd
• Odorous
• Official
• Old-fashioned
• Openhearted
• Open-minded
• Original
• Outgoing
• Out-of-this-world
• Outrageous
• Overjoyed
• Overprotective
• Overthinker

Descriptive Words that Start with P

• Panicky
• Participant
• Passionate
• Patient
• Peaceful
• Perceptive
• Perfect
• Persistent
• Personable
• Petty
• Placid
• Playful
• Powerful
• Precious
• Pretty
• Professional
• Proud

Descriptive Words that Start with Q

• Quaint
• Qualified
• Quality
• Quarrelsome
• Queasy
• Queer
• Quenched
• Querulous
• Questionable
• Questioning
• Quick
• Quiet
• Quirky
• Quiver
• Quixotic
• Quotable

Descriptive Words that Start with R

• Rabid
• Racy
• Radiant
• Radical
• Radioactive
• Rakish
• Rampant
• Rare
• Raspy
• Rational
• Reachable
• Real
• Relieved
• Repulsive
• Respectable
• Responsible
• Romantic

Descriptive Words that Start with S

• Sad
• Safe
• Salty
• Sanctimonious
• Sanguine
• Sarcastic
• Sassy
• Scented
• Scintillating
• Sedentary
• Self-assertive
• Selfless
• Sensitive
• Silky
• Sparkling
• Splendid
• Strange

Descriptive Words that Start with T

• Talented
• Talkative
• Tall
• Tantalising
• Tasteful
• Tasty
• Tempting
• Tenacious
• Tender
• Terrible
• Thankful
• Thoughtless
• Tinted
• Tolerant
• Tremendous
• Trustful
• Trustworthy

Descriptive Words that Start with U

• Uber
• Ugly
• Ulterior
• Ultimate
• Unaffected
• Unbelievable
• Unbroken
• Uninterested
• Universal
• Unlucky
• Unpleasant
• Unused
• Unusual
• Up-front
• Uptight
• Useful
• Utter

Descriptive Words that Start with V

• Vainglorious
• Valiant
• Valid
• Validatory
• Valorous
• Valuable
• Vast
• Vaulting
• Versatile
• Vibrant
• Victorious
• Vigilant
• Vigorous
• Vivacious
• Vivid
• Vociferous

Descriptive Words that Start with W

• Wacky
• Wanted
• Warm
• Warmhearted
• Wasteful
• Weak
• Wealthy
• Well-behaved
• Whole
• Wicked
• Wide-awake
• Wild
• Witty
• Wordy
• Worrisome
• Worshipful
• Wrong

Descriptive Words that Start with X

• Xanthospermous
• Xanthous
• Xebec
• Xeme
• Xenial
• Xenodochial
• Xenogeneic
• Xeric
• Xerothermic
• Xylographic
• Xystus

Descriptive Words that Start with Y

• Yappy
• Yawning
• Yearly
• Yeasty
• Yellow
• Yellowish
• Yern
• Yiddish
• Yodelling
• Young
• Young-at-heart
• Youthful
• Yummy

Descriptive Words that Start with Z

• Zaftig
• Zany
• Zazzy
• Zealand
• Zealful
• Zealous
• Zenithal
• Zestful
• Zesty
• Zigzag
• Zingy
• Zionist
• Zippy
• Zoological
• Zootrophic
• Zymotic

List of Descriptive Words

Descriptive Adjectives

Here is a comprehensive list of descriptive adjectives.

• Abandoned
• Able
• Academic
• Acclaimed
• Accomplished
• Acrobatic
• Active
• Adible
• Admirable
• Adorable
• Adventurous
• Afraid
• Aggresive
• Agile
• Alarmed
• Ample
• Amused
• Ancient
• Angelic
• Angry
• Babyish
• Bad
• Baggy
• Beloved
• Bewitched
• Bitter
• Blank
• Bleak
• Blind
• Boring
• Bouncy
• Brave
• Bright
• Brilliant
• Buoyant
• Burly
• Busy
• Buttery
• Buzzing
• Calm
• Carefree
• Careful
• Cautious
• Cavernous
• Chubby
• Classic
• Clean
• Clear
• Clever
• Cloudy
• Clumsy
• Cluttered
• Coarse
• Cold
• Colourful
• Comfortable
• Common
• Composed
• Concerned
• Conventional
• Crowded
• Cuddly
• Curly
• Damaged
• Dangerous
• Dark
• Dazzling
• Dear
• Decent
• Deep
• Defiant
• Delicious
• Delirious
• Demanding
• Dense
• Devoted
• Dim
• Dirty
• Disfigured
• Early
• Easy
• Elastic
• Elderly
• Electric
• Elementary
• Embellished
• Emotional
• Empty
• Enchanted
• Energetic
• Ethical
• Euphoric
• Everlasting
• Evil
• Exotic
• Faithful
• Famous
• Fancy
• Fashionable
• Fatal
• Fearful
• Female
• Filthy
• Firm
• Flat
• Flawed
• Flustered
• Focused
• Foolhardy
• Gregarious
• Grim
• Handsome
• Handy
• Intelligent
• Intrepid
• Joyful
• Jubilant
• Keen
• Kooky
• Lanky
• Lazy
• Limp
• Luxurious
• Mediocre
• Mellow
• Miserable
• Naive
• Nasty
• Nautical
• Neat
• Needy
• Negative
• Nervous
• Nice
• Nocturnal
• Ordinary
• Organic
• Ornate
• Powerless
• Practical
• Precious
• Puzzled
• Questionable
• Quirky
• Ragged
• Rapid
• Ready
• Recent
• Red
• Regal
• Reliable
• Sad
• Sandy
• Sane
• Scarce
• Scented
• Scornful
• Secret
• Selfish

Descriptive Adverbs

Now we have a list of adverbs.

• Accidentally
• Always
• Amusingly
• Angrily
• Anxiously
• Apathetically
• Assertively
• Awkwardly
• Badly
• Begrudgingly
• Blindly
• Blissfully
• Boastfully
• Boldly
• Bravely
• Brightly
• Cheerfully
• Cooly
• Coyly
• Crazily
• Defiantly
• Deftly
• Deliberately
• Devotedly
• Doubtfully
• Dramatically
• Dutifully
• Eagerly
• Elegantly
• Enormously
• Evenly
• Eventually
• Exactly
• Faintly
• Faithfully
• Finally
• Foolishly
• Frequently
• Frivolously
• Gleefully
• Gracefully
• Greedily
• Happily
• Hastily
• Honestly
• Hopelessly
• Hourly
• Hungrily
• Innocently
• Inquisitively
• Intelligently
• Irritably
• Jealously
• Justly
• Kindly
• Lazily
• Loosely
• Madly
• Meagerly
• Merrily
• Methodically
• Mortally
• Mysteriously
• Neglectfully
• Nervously
• Never
• Normally
• Obediently
• Obnoxiously
• Occasionally
• Often
• Only
• Perfectly
• Pointlessly
• Politely
• Poorly
• Powerfully
• Promptly
• Quickly
• Rapidly
• Rarely
• Rashly
• Regularly
• Rudely
• Safely
• Seldom
• Selfishly
• Seriously
• Shakily
• Sharply
• Silently
• Slowly
• Solemnly
• Sometimes
• Speedily
• Sternly
• Tactfully
• Technically
• Tediously
• Tragically
• Unexpectedly
• Usually
• Vacantly
• Victoriously
• Vivaciously
• Vividly
• Warmly
• Wearily
• Weekly
• Weirdly
• Wildly
• Yearly
• Youthfully
• Zealously

Synonyms for Common Descriptive Words

INTERESTING

• Absorbing
• Amusing
• Captivating
• Compelling
• Diverting
• Engaging
• Engrossing
• Entertaining
• Enthralling
• Fascinating
• Gripping
• Intriguing
• Riveting
• Striking

AMAZING

• Astonishing
• Awesome
• Breathtaking
• Brilliant
• Extraordinary
• Fabulous
• Fantastic
• Incredible
• Marvelous
• Overwhelming
• Phenomenal
• Prodigious
• Remarkable
• Significant
• Spectacular
• Staggering
• Stunning
• Stupendous
• Tremendous
• Unbelievable
• Unexpected
• Unimaginable
• Wonderful

NICE

• Admirable
• Amiable
• Charming
• Congenial
• Considerate
• Courteous
• Delightful
• Enjoyable
• Gracious
• Kind
• Lovely
• Pleasant
• Pleasing
• Pleasurable

GREAT

• Awesome
• Excellent
• Exceptional
• Extraordinary
• Incredible
• Magnificent
• Marvelous
• Outstanding
• Phenomenal
• Spectacular
• Superb
• Superior
• Terrific
• Wonderful

HAPPY

• Amused
• Blissful
• Bright
• Charmed
• Cheerful
• Contented
• Delighted
• Eager
• Ecstatic
• Elated
• Enthusiastic
• Excited
• Exultant
• Glad
• Gleeful
• Hopeful
• Joyful
• Loving
• Marvelous
• Merry
• Optimistic
• Overjoyed
• Pleased
• Positive
• Satisfied
• Thrilled

GOOD

• Amazing
• Excellent
• Exceptional
• Fantastic
• Marvelous
• Outstanding
• Pleasant
• Splendid
• Stupendous
• Super
• Terrific
• Wonderful

FUNNY

• Amusing
• Comical
• Droll
• Entertaining
• Farcical
• Gleeful
• Goofy
• Hilarious
• Humorous
• Hysterical
• Jocular
• Laughable
• Ludicrous
• Nonsensical
• Sidesplitting
• Whimsical

BAD

• Awful
• Crummy
• Despicable
• Disagreeable
• Disgraceful
• Dreadful
• Horrible
• Lousy
• Nasty
• Naughty
• Outrageous
• Rotten
• Terrible
• Unpleasant
• Wicked
• Wretched

SMALL

• Diminutive
• Little
• Mini
• Miniature
• Minute
• Petite
• Skimpy
• Slight
• Teeny-weeny
• Tiny
• Wee

IMPORTANT

• Consequential
• Critical
• Crucial
• Decisive
• Essential
• Eventful
• Extensive
• Far-reaching
• Fundamental
• Great
• Imperative
• Key
• Major
• Paramount
• Serious
• Significant
• Substantial
• Urgent
• Vital

RICH

• Affluent
• Deep-pocketed
• Fat cat
• Flush
• In the money
• Loaded (Slang)
• Moneyed
• Opulent
• Prosperous
• Wealthy
• Well-fixed
• Well-heeled
• Well-off/better off (informal)
• Well-to-do

SAD

• Blue
• Cheerless
• Dejected
• Depressed
• Desperate
• Discouraged
• Disgusted
• Downcast
• Forlorn
• Frustrated
• Gloomy
• Hateful
• Heartbroken
• Heavy
• Melancholy
• Miserable
• Mournful
• Somber
• Sorrowful
• Tearful
• Unhappy
• Upset
• Weepy
• Woeful
• Wretched

KIND

• Amiable
• Attentive
• Avuncular
• Benevolent
• Benign (formal)
• Caring
• Compassionate
• Congenial
• Considerate
• Friendly
• Generous
• Gentle
• Gracious
• Kindhearted
• Nice
• Sympathetic
• Thoughtful

ATTRACTIVE

• Alluring
• Beautiful
• Cute
• Glamorous
• Good-looking
• Gorgeous
• Handsome
• Lovely
• Pretty
• Stunning

REALLY

• Certainly
• Easily
• Genuinely
• Honestly
• Positively
• Precisely
• Truly
• Undoubtedly
• Unmistakably
• Unquestionably
• Verily

VERY

• Absolutely
• Acutely
• Awfully (informal)
• Decidedly
• Deeply
• Eminently
• Exceedingly
• Excessively
• Greatly
• Highly
• Jolly (Br.E)
• Noticeably
• Particularly
• Profoundly

EXTREMELY

• Really
• Remarkably
• Seriously
• Significantly
• Singularly
• Supremely
• Terribly
• Terrifically
• Thoroughly
• Tremendously
• Truly
• Uncommonly
• Unusually

NORMALLY

• Almost always
• As a general rule
• As a rule
• By and large
• Commonly
• For the most part
• Generally
• In general
• In the general run of things
• Mainly
• Most of the time
• Mostly
• Ordinarily
• Usually

QUICKLY

• Swiftly
• Rapidly
• Hurriedly
• Speedily
• Fast
• Quick
• Hastily
• Briskly
• At high speed
• Apace (literary)
• At full speed

SERIOUSLY

• All joking aside
• Honestly
• In earnest
• No joking (informal)
• Sincerely
• To be serious
• Truly
• Truthfully

KINDLY

• Affectionately
• Agreeably
• Cordially
• Generously
• Graciously
• Helpfully
• Lovingly
• Obligingly
• Politely
• Tenderly
• Thoughtfully

FINALLY

• At last
• At length
• At long last
• At the end of the day
• At the last
• At the last moment
• Eventually
• In the end
• In the long run
• Ultimately
• In conclusion

ONLY

• At a push
• At most
• But
• Just
• Merely
• No more than
• Nothing but
• Purely
• Simply

Describing Words Infographic 

Descriptive Words Infographic 1

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Descriptive Words Infographic 2

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Describing Everything with Words