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List of Descriptive Words in English

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In this article, we will provide a comprehensive list of adjectives for four of our senses: smiling, hearing, touching, and smelling. These lists will include descriptive words that can be used to paint a vivid picture of the subject matter, whether in a story, a poem, or a descriptive essay.

Descriptive Words in English

Descriptive words, also known as adjectives, are words that describe or modify a noun or pronoun. They provide additional information about a person, place, thing, or idea.

Some examples of descriptive words are:

  • Color (e.g. red, blue, green)
  • Size (e.g. big, small, tall)
  • Shape (e.g. round, square, rectangular)
  • Age (e.g. young, old, new)
  • Texture (e.g. smooth, rough, soft)
  • Temperature (e.g. hot, cold, warm)
  • Emotion (e.g. happy, sad, angry)
  • Sound (e.g. loud, quiet, musical)
  • Quantity (e.g. many, few, several)
  • Appearance (e.g. beautiful, ugly, handsome)

Descriptive words can also be used to express sensory details such as taste, touch, smell, sound, and sight, to make a picture more vivid in the reader’s mind.

Examples:

  • The warm sun shone on the golden sand.
  • The sweet fragrance of the roses filled the air.
  • The soft fabric of the blanket felt cozy against my skin.
  • The loud explosion echoed across the city.
  • The bright colors of the sunset painted the sky.

List of Descriptive Words in English

Learn a useful list of Adjectives illustrated with pictures and examples.

Words You Can Use to Describe a Smile

  • Cheerful
  • Radiant
  • Beaming
  • Grinning
  • Smirking
  • Laughing
  • Giggling
  • Chuckling
  • Beaming
  • Joyful
  • Pleased
  • Delighted
  • Happy
  • Content
  • Pleased
  • Amused
  • Lighthearted
  • Carefree
  • Playful
  • Elated
  • Thrilled
  • Ecstatic
  • Blissful
  • Gratified
  • Satisfied
  • Appreciative
  • Charmed
  • Puckish
  • Mischievous
  • Witty
  • Teasing
  • Sarcastic
  • Wry
  • Winking
  • Dimpled
  • Infectious
  • Contagious
  • Engaging
  • Alluring
  • Magnetic
  • Captivating
  • Enthralling
  • Enchanting
  • Enraptured
  • Mesmerizing
  • Irresistible
  • Enticing
  • Tempting
  • Bewitching
  • Spellbinding
  • Hypnotic
  • Appealing
  • Attractive
  • Pleasing
  • Beautiful
  • Lovely
  • Handsome
  • Cute
  • Adorable
  • Endearing
  • Precious
  • Sweet
  • Darling
  • Angelic
  • Heavenly
  • Divine
  • Seraphic
  • Seraphical

Words You Can Use to Describe a Smile

Descriptive Words List of Adjectives for Touching

  • Soft
  • Gentle
  • Delicate
  • Tender
  • Smooth
  • Silky
  • Soothing
  • Caring
  • Kind
  • Warm
  • Loving
  • Affectionate
  • Fond
  • Intimate
  • Sensuous
  • Passionate
  • Erotic
  • Sensual
  • Pleasurable
  • Cozy
  • Comforting
  • Nurturing
  • Embracing
  • Snug
  • Protective
  • Secure
  • Supportive
  • Cuddly
  • Snuggly
  • Snuggy
  • Fuzzy
  • Fluffy
  • Velvety
  • Furry
  • Hairy
  • Downy
  • Feathery
  • Fluffy
  • Fuzzy
  • Soft
  • silky
  • Smooth
  • Caressing
  • Massaging
  • Stroking
  • Rubbing
  • Touching
  • Tingling
  • Tickling
  • Pinching
  • Squeezing
  • Gripping
  • Clasping
  • Cradling
  • Cupping
  • Brushing
  • Patting
  • Scratching
  • Picking
  • Poking
  • Pinching
  • Prodding
  • Pressing
  • Squeezing
  • Tugging
  • Pulling
  • Twisting
  • Wrapping
  • Clasping
  • Holding
  • Clutching
  • Clasping
  • Crushing
  • Embracing
  • Enfolding
  • Enveloping
  • Hugging
  • Snuggling
  • Snatching
  • Squeezing
  • Touching
  • Trailing
  • Tracing
  • Tugging
  • Twining
  • Wrapping

Descriptive Words List of Adjectives for Touching

Descriptive Words List of Adjectives for Hearing, Smelling and Tasting

Descriptive Words List of Adjectives for Hearing, Smelling and Tasting

Hearing Words:

  • Buzz
  • Coo
  • Gurgling
  • Purring
  • Sloshing
  • Squeal
  • Wail
  • Whistling

Smelling Words

  • Burning
  • Fresh
  • Roasted
  • Salty
  • Stale
  • Stinky
  • Sweet
  • Vile

Tasting Words

  • Bitter
  • Bland
  • Nutty
  • Salty
  • Sour
  • Spicy
  • Tangy
  • Tart

Descriptive Words List of Adjectives for Seeing

  • Bent
  • Burnt
  • Cluttered
  • Crooked
  • Foggy
  • Graceful
  • Immense
  • Lovely
  • Massive
  • Neglected
  • Shabby
  • Tidy
  • Tiny
  • Wispy

Common Descriptive Words

Here is the list of synonyms for these descriptive words below:

Large

  • Big
  • Huge
  • Enormous
  • Giant
  • Massive
  • Colossal
  • Immense
  • Gigantic
  • Spacious
  • Extended
  • Vast
  • Broad
  • Extensive
  • Wide
  • Bigger
  • Grand
  • Excessive
  • Stately
  • Monumental
  • Sweeping
  • Expansive
  • Substantial
  • Sizeable
  • Significant
  • Bulky
  • Hefty
  • Significant
  • Goliath
  • Large-scale
  • Monumental
  • Stupendous
  • Mighty
  • Grandiose
  • Hulking
  • Grand

Small

  • Tiny
  • Little
  • Miniature
  • Petite
  • Minute
  • Dwarfish
  • Mini
  • Compact
  • Tiny
  • Petit
  • Smallish
  • Miniature
  • Teensy
  • Wee
  • Slight
  • Micro
  • Diminutive
  • Pint-sized
  • Little
  • Reduced
  • Lesser
  • Shrimp-sized
  • Junior
  • Diminished
  • Paltry
  • Insignificant
  • Unimportant
  • Trivial
  • Negligible
  • Bitty
  • Minute
  • Inferior
  • Middling
  • Inconsiderable

Happy

  • Joyful
  • Pleased
  • Delighted
  • Ecstatic
  • Overjoyed
  • Cheerful
  • Blissful
  • Grinning
  • Smiling
  • Radiant
  • Thrilled
  • Content
  • Grateful
  • Exuberant
  • Elated
  • Merry
  • Glowing
  • Upbeat
  • Lively
  • Animated
  • Energetic
  • Sparkling
  • Vibrant
  • Jovial
  • Cheery
  • Bright
  • Positives
  • Sunny
  • Bubbly
  • Lighthearted
  • Exultant
  • Jubilant
  • Carefree
  • Giddy
  • Radiant

Sad

  • Miserable
  • Gloomy
  • Dejected
  • Disheartened
  • Blue
  • Unhappy
  • Wretched
  • Heartbroken

Nice

  • Amicable
  • Amiable
  • Courteous
  • Likable
  • Gracious
  • Considerate
  • Agreeable
  • Congenial
  • Approachable
  • Charming
  • Cute

Good

  • Excellent
  • Great
  • Fantastic
  • Terrific
  • Wonderful
  • Marvelous
  • Fine
  • Decent
  • Impressive
  • Skillful
  • Strong
  • Top-notch
  • High-quality
  • Superb
  • Appropriate
  • Acceptable
  • Positive
  • Advantageous
  • Healthy
  • Beneficial
  • Respectable
  • Adequate
  • Favorable
  • Suitable
  • Desirable
  • Proper
  • Right
  • Satisfactory
  • Admissible
  • Just
  • Fair
  • Reasonable
  • Reliable
  • Trustworthy
  • Amazing
  • Sensational
  • Splendid
  • Outstanding
  • Exceptional
  • Legendary
  • Awesome

Pretty

  • Beautiful
  • Gorgeous
  • Attractive
  • Lovely
  • Charming
  • Elegant
  • Appealing
  • Delightful
  • Cute
  • Graceful
  • Adorable
  • Radiant
  • Alluring
  • Stunning
  • Exquisite
  • Artistic
  • Handsome
  • Fascinating
  • Eye-catching
  • Engaging
  • Bewitching
  • Engaging
  • Enchanting
  • Beauteous
  • Comely
  • Dazzling
  • Beguiling
  • Fair
  • Fair-skinned
  • Fine-looking
  • Glamorous
  • Glowing
  • Good-looking
  • Radiant
  • Out of this world
  • Mesmerizing

Bad

  • Poor
  • Inferior
  • Substandard
  • Defective
  • Flawed
  • Imperfect
  • Faulty
  • Broken
  • Unsatisfactory
  • Inadequate
  • Lousy
  • Terrible
  • Horrible
  • Abysmal
  • Appalling
  • Awful
  • Deplorable
  • Dreadful
  • Abominable
  • Disastrous
  • Unpleasant
  • Detestable
  • Loathsome
  • Repulsive
  • Revolting
  • Nasty
  • Offensive
  • Hateful
  • Irritating
  • Annoying
  • Frustrating
  • Miserable

Funny

  • Amusing
  • Comical
  • Hilarious
  • Humorous
  • Witty
  • Jocular
  • Jokester
  • Comedic
  • Irreverent
  • Silly
  • Goofy
  • Whimsical
  • Quirky
  • Odd
  • Eccentric
  • Droll
  • Laughter-inducing

Useful

  • Valuable
  • Practical
  • Effective
  • Efficient
  • Helpful
  • Advantageous
  • Essential
  • Relevant
  • Appropriate
  • Beneficial

Scared

  • Frightened
  • Afraid
  • Terrified
  • Petrified
  • Panicked
  • Nervous
  • Apprehensive
  • Anxious
  • Intimidated
  • Alarmed

Big

  • Large
  • Huge
  • Gigantic
  • Enormous
  • Massive
  • Colossus
  • Imposing
  • Grand
  • Spacious
  • Extended

Interesting

  • Fascinating
  • Engaging
  • Captivating
  • Intriguing
  • Enthralling
  • Compelling
  • Engrossing
  • Alluring
  • Appealing
  • Gripping

Said

  • Spoke
  • Declared
  • Stated
  • Mentioned
  • Expressed
  • Announced
  • Uttered
  • Articulated
  • Pronounced
  • Voiced
  • Remarked
  • Communicated
  • Conveyed
  • Disclosed
  • Elaborated
  • Proclaimed
  • Yelled
  • Shouted
  • Whispered
  • Called out
  • Boomed
  • Declared loudly
  • Explained
  • Related
  • Proffered
  • Indicated
  • Revealed
  • Asserted
  • Enunciated
  • Babbled
  • Ranted
  • Chattered
  • Murmured
  • Gossiped

Angry

  • Irritated
  • Frustrated
  • Annoyed
  • Pissed off
  • Bothered
  • Upset
  • Infuriated
  • Agitated
  • Incensed
  • Enraged
  • Cross
  • Aggravated
  • Provoked
  • Exasperated
  • Furious
  • Irked
  • Displeased
  • Maddened
  • Riled up
  • Agitated
  • Chafed
  • Inflamed
  • Irascible
  • Cross
  • Sore
  • Belligerent
  • Ranting
  • Raving
  • Vexed
  • Resentful
  • Disgruntled
  • Outraged
  • Livid
  • Perturbed
  • Acrimonious

Shocked

  • Astonished
  • Surprised
  • Startled
  • Amazed
  • Dumbfounded
  • Baffled
  • Mystified
  • Stupefied
  • Dumbstruck
  • Aghast
  • Appalled
  • Shaken
  • Dazed
  • Disbelieving
  • Astounded
  • Perplexed
  • Dumb
  • Nonplussed
  • Flabbergasted
  • Thunderstruck
  • Astonished
  • Incredulous
  • Gobsmacked
  • Shocked speechless
  • Breathtaking
  • Taken aback
  • Staggered
  • Unsettled
  • Overwhelmed
  • Horrified
  • Alarmed
  • Disconcerted
  • Unnerved
  • Awestruck
  • Disturbed

Descriptive Words in English | Image

List of Descriptive Words: Common Adjectives in English

Examples of Descriptive Words in English

Nice

  • enjoyable: Games can make learning more enjoyable.
  • pleasurable: We do everything we can to make your trip pleasurable.
  • thoughtful: It was really thoughtful of you to remember my birthday.
  • courteous: The hotel staff are friendly and courteous.
  • lovely: That was a lovely cup of tea.
  • likeable: She’s warm, friendly and likeable.
  • pleasing: The new building was pleasing to the eye.

Good

  • excellent: Second-hand computers can be excellent value.
  • amazing: He’s an amazing player to watch.
  • marverlous: I can’t stand him, but my wife thinks he’s marvellous.
  • fantastic: It’s a fantastic place, really beautiful!

Bad

  • awful: The weather was awful.
  • rotten:  He’s a rotten driver.
  • naughty: You’re a very naughty boy! Look what you’ve done!
  • terrible: Their son had been injured in a terrible accident.
  • nasty: There’s a nasty streak in her character.

Happy

  • cheerful: She’s feeling more cheerful today.
  • delighted: Sandy will be delighted to see you.
  • pleased:  She seemed pleased by the compliment.
  • glad: I’m really glad I don’t have to go back there again.
  • joyful: Christmas is a joyful occasion for children.

Big

  • huge: These shoes make my feet look huge.
  • giant: He’s a giant of a man.
  • enormous: The team made an enormous effort.
  • large: Los Angeles is the second largest city in the US.

Difficult

  • thorny: There are still some thorny questions to be answered.
  • acute: The housing shortage is more acute than first thought.
  • challenging: Teaching young children is a challenging and rewarding job.
  • tricky: I can get you tickets for the show but it’ll be tricky.
  • complex: Photosynthesis is a highly complex process.

Interesting

  • exciting: I’ve got some very exciting news for you.
  • fascinating: That sounds absolutely fascinating.
  • thrilling: It’s not a thrilling task but is easy and only takes minutes.

Useful

  • beneficial: Cycling is highly beneficial to health and the environment.
  • viable: The committee came forward with one viable solution.
  • workable: I’m sure we can come to some workable arrangement.
  • efficient: We offer a fast, friendly and efficient service.
  • profitable: The advertising campaign proved very profitable.

Angry

  • touchy: She is very touchy about her past.
  • mad: Are you still mad at me?
  • cross: She gets cross when he goes out drinking.
  • enraged: Many readers were enraged by his article.

Fast

  • agile: Dogs are surprisingly agile.
  • brisk: They set off at a brisk pace.
  • quick: She walked with short, quick steps.
  • speedy: We hope you make a speedy recovery.

Kind

  • courteous: The staff are always courteous and helpful.
  • helpful: She’s a helpful child.
  • considerate: It was very considerate of you to let us know you were going to be late.

Easy

  • simple: There is no simple answer to this question.
  • uncomplicated: Why can’t I have an uncomplicated life?
  • obvious: The obvious way of reducing pollution is to use cars less.

Funny

  • comical: The note of pure panic in his voice was almost comical.
  • gleeful: The park was full of gleeful children playing on sleds.
  • humorous: The film has some mildly humorous moments.
  • entertaining: Children’s TV nowadays is much more entertaining.

Little

  • small: The T-shirt was too small for him.
  • tiny: She always felt a tiny bit sad.
  • minute: You only need a minute amount.
  • slight: The picture was at a slight angle.

Smart

  • bright: He was an exceptionally bright child.
  • clever: Lucy is quite clever and does well at school.
  • brainy: He always was the brainy one.
  • brilliant: I think that’s a brilliant idea.

Pretty

  • beautiful: She was even more beautiful than I had remembered.
  • lovely: She had a lovely face.
  • attractive: Women seem to find him attractive.
  • cute: The baby’s so cute.

Sad

  • gloomy: Anne dismissed these gloomy thoughts from her mind.
  • unhappy: Leslie had an unhappy childhood.
  • downcast: Penelope sat silently, her eyes downcast.
  • mournful: Durant was thin, mournful and silent.