A reader’s imagination needs direction. It’s not enough to give a vague description and call it good enough. Having something like a descriptive adjectives list is essential for understanding how to strengthen your writing.
Because when you learn how to create concrete imagery in your writing, you give yourself the gift of actually crafting the book you imagine.
Readers will always take imaginative liberties with what you describe. We all have a different experience of what the sound of something “crunching” is. But when you combine that with other words in this descriptive adjectives list, you can craft specifically the image in your mind.
This translation process—from your mind to the reader’s—is what makes for engaging, memorable books.
We’ll take a look at a bunch of descriptive adjectives along with some examples for how to use them.
Here’s what we’ll cover with this descriptive adjectives list:
What are descriptive adjectives?
Descriptive adjectives are words that modify nouns by providing more concrete detail about their characteristics. They help readers understand what something looks, feels, tastes, smells, or sounds like. For example, instead of saying, “The dog barked,” you could say, “The fierce dog barked,” or “The small, timid dog barked.” By adding descriptive adjectives, you give more context and create a more engaging experience for the reader.
Because while you might think saying “dog” is enough to get your point across, it’s important to remember that everyone will imagine a different dog if that’s the only thing you write. In order to accomplish your goals for the scene, you have to be more concrete so readers are all imagining as close to the same thing as possible.
In essence, descriptive adjectives make your writing more colorful and engaging by adding specificity and depth, similar to how strong verbs do.
How to use descriptive adjectives appropriately
While descriptive adjectives can enhance your writing, it’s important to use them wisely. Overloading sentences with too many adjectives can clutter your prose and distract from the main message. This is usually the case when it comes to “purple prose”.
When writing reads as overly flowery or so descriptive that the reader actually loses the visual or it’s too distracting, it’s usually because the author is trying to put too many descriptive adjectives and other language in it.
Here are some tips for using descriptive adjectives appropriately to make your writing stronger:
- Be specific: Use adjectives that give precise descriptions rather than vague or generic ones. For example, instead of saying “plain,” use words like “unadorned,” “ordinary,” or “unassuming” depending on the context.
- Avoid overuse: It’s tempting to pile on adjectives, but moderation is key. Overuse can make your writing seem overwrought or melodramatic. Use just enough to give the reader a clear picture without overwhelming them.
- Match the tone: The adjectives you use should fit the tone and mood of your writing. For example, in a horror story, you might use words like “eerie,” “dark,” or “chilling,” while in a romance, you might use adjectives like “tender,” “passionate,” or “gentle.”
- Show, don’t tell: Descriptive adjectives work best when they enhance an image rather than replace it. Instead of telling the reader how to feel (“The room was depressing”), show it with adjectives and imagery (“The room was dim, cold, and sparsely furnished“).
Here’s an example of the same passage using some from the descriptive adjectives list below versus vague ones.
Vague or no adjectives:
There was the sound of leaves underfoot as we walked through the forest. A woman spoke in the distance, the sound hopeless, despite being difficult to make out. I caught sight of my lab partner’s frown. It mirrored my own feelings.
Descriptive adjectives:
The leaves crunched underfoot as we shuffled through the forest. A woman spoke in the distance, the raspy words despondent, despite being difficult to make out. I caught sight of my lab partner’s face, his frown embedded among the shadow of scruff. It mirrored my own feelings.
Notice that while the first option is fine, and does the job of putting the pieces of the scene together, the version using words from the descriptive adjectives list below creates a much stronger picture that does more to capture the tone of the scene.
Here’s a passage from The Hunger Games to showcase the use of descriptive adjectives when it comes to a cat.
Suzanne Collins could have just left it at “ugliest cat” but she extended the description so the reader ended up with two visuals of the cat at different points in its life. It might seem like a small thing, but a description this strong so early in the book (the first page) goes a long way to engaging the reader and making them want to read on.
When in doubt, get some feedback!
Descriptive adjectives list to strengthen your writing
If you ever feel like your writing is lacking that something extra, or you get beta reader feedback that they just can’t seem to get a clear picture of what’s going on, try swapping (or adding) some adjectives for some from this descriptive adjectives list.
Sound of a voice descriptive adjectives list
- Melodious
- Raspy
- Booming
- Whispery
- Gravelly
- Shrill
- Soft
- Piercing
- Husky
- Silky
- Deep
- Flat
- Brittle
- Throaty
- Lilting
- Breathy
- Monotonous
- Velvety
- Nasal
- Muffled
- Crisp
- Echoing
- Harsh
- Wobbly
- Soothing
Example of using these descriptive adjectives:
“What is it you wish to do?” the man’s breathy monotone pulled my brows together. When I didn’t reply, he continued in a velvety voice that brought goosebumps to my skin. “Anything you want, I must obey.”
Physical appearance descriptive adjectives list
- Slender
- Athletic
- Curvy
- Petite
- Tall
- Stocky
- Lanky
- Muscular
- Plump
- Lean
- Brawny
- Chiseled
- Graceful
- Stout
- Svelte
- Broad-shouldered
- Scruffy
- Dapper
- Elegant
- Shabby
- Handsome
- Radiant
- Youthful
- Wrinkled
- Rugged
- Pale
- Tanned
- Freckled
- Rosy
- Flawless
Example of using these descriptive adjectives:
The freckled youth stood taller, hoping it would elongate his otherwise stocky nature. While he was broad-shouldered and in shape, the shabby set of his hair and what he could barely call scruff on his chin would only come across as rugged, no matter how elegant he attempted to appear.
NOTE: in this example, it’s worth pointing out that you can use these descriptive adjectives as opposites in order to further explain—as is the case with “elegant” above.
Check out another example that includes a few different types of descriptive adjectives from Spells for Forgetting:
Descriptive adjectives list for movement
- Brisk
- Leisurely
- Shuffling
- Graceful
- Limping
- Hesitant
- Confident
- Staggering
- Steady
- Purposeful
- Swaying
- Bouncy
- Plodding
- Lightfooted
- Lumbering
- Cautious
- Energetic
- Sluggish
- Swaggering
- Jerky
- Tiptoeing
- Marching
- Trudging
- Elegant
- Hunched
Example of using these descriptive adjectives:
She saw the man hunched over the fallen tree, swaying ever so slightly. Approaching with caution, so as to not disturb one such as him, she tiptoed until only paced separated the two. The man jerked in her direction. For one who appeared as sluggish as he, the way he stood and closed the gap between them was fast, yet gentle.
Visual descriptive adjectives list
- Bright
- Glittering
- Opaque
- Murky
- Vibrant
- Shimmering
- Dusky
- Golden
- Ragged
- Cloudy
Example of using these descriptive adjectives:
While the meadow usually appeared bright and vibrant on a sunny day, it was now muted with lingering frost, glittering in the early morning sun.
Here’s another example from The Women by Kristin Hannah, that includes both visual and sound:
Emotional descriptive adjectives list
- Ecstatic
- Heartbroken
- Anxious
- Hopeful
- Melancholy
- Despondent
- Nostalgic
- Triumphant
- Sorrowful
- Pathetic
Example of using these descriptive adjectives:
As I peered through the storefront’s foggy window, the melancholy of the shop owner’s face was evident. Where one might assume the crippled man pathetic, even embarrassing to be around, all I could muster was the feeling of being heartbroken.
Textural descriptive adjectives list
- Smooth
- Jagged
- Velvety
- Coarse
- Grainy
- Slippery
- Rough
- Sticky
- Slick
- Pocked
Example of using these descriptive adjectives:
Despite the creature being pocked with a skin that appeared grainy, the woman had a hard time keeping hold of its slippery dampness.
Sound descriptive adjectives list
- Crisp
- Booming
- Faint
- Raspy
- Piercing
- Muffled
- Melodic
- Shrill
- Thudding
- Scraping
Example of using these descriptive adjectives:
The faint screeching turned into a shrill panic as the woman wandered further down the alley, drowning out the thudding of her own heart.
Taste and smell descriptive adjectives list
- Savory
- Bitter
- Pungent
- Tangy
- Fragrant
- Zesty
- Aromatic
- Putrid
- Sugary
- Chalky
Example of using these descriptive adjectives:
I choked down the pungent dessert, following it immediately with a swig of bitter wine fragrant with roses. Even the beverage’s tang couldn’t rid my mouth of the chalky taste.
Remember that using this descriptive adjectives list should be done in moderation. Sometimes, you can use the simple, plain versions of words if you have enough surrounding context. Practice makes perfect!
