Writing with Adjectives
Words to Describe a Grandfather: Adjectives for Cards, Speeches and Stories
Good words to describe a grandfather depend on what you want to say about him. For his character, try patient,…
The right word, for whatever you are trying to describe
Adjective lists for every subject you might write about, and plain-English guides to using them well. Free, and written to be read in a couple of minutes.
- 927 guides
- 14 subjects
- Free — no account needed
Two libraries
Start wherever your question is
One half teaches you to use adjectives well. The other hands you the words.
242 guides
Writing with Adjectives
How adjectives behave in a sentence — the order they fall into, how they compare, when they carry opinion rather than fact, and how to reach for a vivid word without overreaching.
Browse the guides685 word lists
Adjectives by Subject
Curated describing words for people, food, places, feelings, work and more — each list sorted by shade of meaning, with example sentences so you can hear how the word behaves.
Browse the listsWord lists
Find the adjective you are reaching for
Pick the subject you are writing about — the list is already made.
Nature & Environment
87 lists
Emotions & Feelings
73 lists
Work & Professions
69 lists
Personality & Character
67 lists
Objects & Everyday Things
67 lists
People & Relationships
63 lists
Animals & Creatures
47 lists
Appearance & Physical Traits
40 lists
Arts & Entertainment
34 lists
Food & Drinks
33 lists
Travel & Places
33 lists
Events & Celebrations
27 lists
Education & Learning
24 lists
Health & Wellness
21 lists
Recently published
New guides
Writing with Adjectives
Adjectives for New Year: Words for the Night, the Fresh Start and the Year Ahead
Good words to describe the New Year depend on which part of it you mean. For the night itself, try…
Writing with Adjectives
Adjectives for Thanksgiving: Words for the Food, the Table and the Feeling
Good adjectives for Thanksgiving depend on what you are describing. For the meal, try golden, savory, buttery, hearty and homemade.…
Writing with Adjectives
Words to Describe Affect: Flat, Blunted, Labile and More
In psychology and medicine, affect (stressed on the first syllable: AF-fect) is a person’s visible emotional expression: what you can…
Writing with Adjectives
Limiting Adjectives: Definition, Types and Examples
Limiting adjectives are words that come before a noun and narrow down which thing or how many you mean, without…
Writing with Adjectives
Adjectives Anchor Chart: What to Put on It, With Ready-to-Copy Examples
A good adjectives anchor chart does one job: it reminds students that an adjective is a word that describes a…
Worth your time
Editors’ picks
People & Relationships
Describing Society: A Guide to Adjectives for Social Commentary
Understanding how to use adjectives to describe societal aspects is crucial for effective communication, critical analysis, and nuanced expression. This…
Work & Professions
Adjectives for Goals: Ambitious, Realistic, Long-Term (and Football Goals)
Good adjectives for a goal say how hard it is (ambitious, challenging, modest, realistic), how clear it is (specific, measurable,…
Animals & Creatures
Describing Flight: A Guide to Adjectives for Wings
Understanding how to use adjectives to describe wings is crucial for vivid and accurate communication, whether you’re crafting a fantasy…
Nature & Environment
Describing Nature: A Comprehensive Guide to Adjectives
Adjectives are essential for bringing the natural world to life in our writing and speech. They allow us to paint…
Most read
Grammar essentials
01
Adjectives for the Future: Predicting and Describing What’s to Come
Writing with Adjectives · 15 min
02
Describing Time: Mastering Adjectives for Years in English
Writing with Adjectives · 12 min
03
Terrific Tuesday: Mastering Adjectives for the Second Day of the Week
Writing with Adjectives · 13 min
04
“Irregardless” and the Words People Insist Are Not Words
Writing with Adjectives · 2 min
05
The Phrases That Say the Same Thing Twice
Writing with Adjectives · 2 min
06
140 Adjectives That Start With H
Writing with Adjectives · 9 min
07
Mood Words: Words to Describe Mood in Writing, With Examples
Writing with Adjectives · 6 min
08
Describing Homes: Mastering Adjectives for Houses
Writing with Adjectives · 16 min
About this site
Who writes this, and how
Every guide here is written to be checked. If something on this site is wrong, we would rather hear about it than leave it standing.
Editorial standards
How guides are researched, which style authorities we follow, and what happens when a rule is genuinely disputed.
Read the policyCorrections
Spotted an error, a broken example, or a rule that has moved on? Send it over and it gets fixed.
Get in touchYour privacy
What we collect, what our advertising partners collect, and how to opt out of personalised ads.
Privacy policyGrammar Simplified
Plain-English grammar guides and curated adjective lists. Free to read, checked against Merriam-Webster, Chicago and AP before publication.
242 grammar guides →