500 Descriptive Words | Instantly Improve YOUR Writing [FREE PDF]

These descriptive words will help improve your writing. All these describing words are from my own personal notes. I’m an avid, and active, reader, and over the last couple of years I’ve jotted down the descriptive words that I pop out to me.

This list of descriptive words for writing was born from a desire to become enhance my vocabulary and become a better storyteller, and writer. Three things I care a lot about – just a fun fact about me.

I’ve learned over time – and with many failures – that working with describing words on a page is akin to a potter at the molding wheel. And as writers, we use them to slowly shape our stories whether it’s writing about driving around the world or inspiring people to create their own list of bucket list ideas.

The list is separated by parts of speech; You’ll find a list of adjectives, descriptive phrases, action verbs, and more.

At the end are some phrases I like, that I have read here or there over the years. Make sure to check out our list of descriptive adjectives as well.

I hope you use this list of descriptive words, and phrases and garner inspiration to enhance your tales.

Table Of Contents

500 Describing Words to Improve Your Writing
DESCRIPTIVE WORDS FOR WRITING: ACTION and Strong VERBS
DESCRIPTIVE WORDS FOR WRITING: LIST OF ADVERBS
DESCRIPTIVE WORDS FOR WRITING: NOUNS
DESCRIPTIVE WORDS FOR WRITING: LIST OF PREPOSITIONS WITH DEFINITION
DESCRIPTIVE WORDS FOR WRITING: DESCRIPTIVE PHRASES
Descriptive Words for Food
Descriptive Words for Trees
Descriptive Words in Spanish
List of Common Adjectives
adjective for thick vines
MORE ENGLISH GRAMMAR QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED!

500 Describing Words to Improve Your Writing

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ALBEIT

adjective

1 – although.

“he was making headway, albeit rather slowly.”

1 – very typical of a certain kind of person or thing.

“the archetypal country doctor”

AIMLESS

1 – without purpose or direction.

“Don’t live an aimless life.”

BRAVE

1 – To face or endure danger or pain; showing courage.

The brave healthcare workers are putting their life on the line.

BEWILDERED

1 – perplexed and confused; very puzzled.

“I had a bewildered look on my face”

BRIGHT

1 – giving out or reflecting a lot of light; shining.

The sun was bright in his eyes.

2 – vivid and bold color.

The grass in Ireland is bright green.

BRILLIANT

1 – Bright or Radiant.

The brilliant light was blinding.

1 – Clever or Smart

He was a brilliant student. He always chose to use the right word.

BOUNDLESS

1 – unlimited, infinite, or immense.

The boundless energy of the kid wore me out.

BOHO

1 – socially unconventional in a way regarded as characteristic of creative

Running this travel blog has led me to live a boho life.

2 – woman’s fashion aesthetic is characterized by flowing print fabrics, layers of clothing, and costume jewelry such as long strings of beads, dangling earrings, and multiple bangles.

she went for the boho look in a floor-length green dress teamed with a fringed jacket and chandelier earrings.

BATTERED

1 – hurt by repeated blows or punishment.

he finished the day battered and bruised.

2 – damaged by age or used repeatedly.

I finished the day battered and bruised.

BITTER

1 – a taste sensation that is peculiarly sharp or acrid.

The bitter fruit tasted terrible.

BLITHE

1 – lacking due thought or consideration

Zack Morris showed a blithe disregard for the rules.

2 – Happy or Lighthearted Character

Want to watch a blithe romantic comedy?

BLUISH

1 – having a blue tinge; somewhat blue.

The bluish tint of the water was stylish.

BROODING

1 – Lost in deep sadness of thought.

The kid was brooding that his parents wouldn’t buy the toy.

BABYISH

1 – having the characteristic of a baby.

He acted babyish when he lost the game.

BONA FIDE

1 – not fake; or counterfeit

This is a bona fide masterpiece.

BAGGY

1 – lose or hanging.

My eyes are baggy after a red-eye flight.

BELOVED

1 – loved very dearly.

The teacher was beloved by his students.

BUZZING

1 – a low murmuring or humming sound.

The buzzing bee flew across the park.

BURLY

1 – strong, or strongly built.

The burly bear was intimidating.

BOUNCY

1 – having a lot of bounce.

The trampoline was extra bouncy.

2 – confident or having a jaunty rhythm.

The man was bouncy and full of life.

BUOYANT

1 – very apt to stay afloat.

The pool floaty was extremely buoyant.

2 – cheerful.

The buoyant salesman was very charming.

BLEAK

1 – lacking plants or life.

The bleak desert was barren.

2 – Cold and Miserable Outlook.

After his divorce, he had a bleak outlook on life.

BESEECHING

1 – expressing or marked by earnest entreaty or pleading.

The beseeching peasant feared for his life.

BUTTERY

1 – having the taste of butter.

The buttery bread warmed the soul.

COMPOSED

1 – having feelings or actions control or remaining calm.

Even though he was afraid he remained composed.

CAVERNOUS

1 – caverns in either size, shape, or atmosphere.

The cavernous mansion stood empty.

2 – Giving the impression of dark and vast.

The cavernous eyes.

COLONNADES

1 – a series of columns set at specific intervals, and supporting a roof.

The ancient marble colonnades are just one reason to explore the best islands in Greece.

CAREFREE

1 – free from worry or anxiety.

he was a carefree soul.

COARSE

1 – having a rough texture; large grains.

The treated wood was coarse.

CAREFUL

1 – anxious to protect or avoid potential danger or mishaps.

he was careful not to get into trouble.

CREAKY

1 – making or liable to make a harsh, high-pitched sound when being moved or when pressure or weight is applied.

“I climbed the creaky stairs”

CLEAN

1 – dirt free, unmarked, or have been washed.

the room was clean.

CRENULATED

1 – having a wavy outline

The crenelated coast when backpacking Thailand is breathtaking. ..

CLOUDY

1 – covered by clouds.

It was too cloudy to go hiking.

CONGENITAL

1 – present from birth.

“a congenital defect of the heart.”

COLORFUL

1 – a striking array of colors.

The colorful painting lit up the room.

1 – rude language.

They didn’t allow the colorful speech to get past the sensors.

CHIPPER

1 – Happy / Sprightly

He was chipper after getting married in Sweden.

CURT

1 – rude shortness

The curt manager’s comments angered the waiter.

CONFOUNDED

1 – confused

The chef was confounded by the dinner tickets.

CHRONIC

1 – continuing occurrence

I suffer from chronic indigestion.

2 – present and encountered.

Chronic meddling always causes problems.

COMMUNAL

1 – relating to the community / Collective ownership.

The communal garden gives us great vegetables every year.

COLOSSAL

1 – huge in size, power, or stupendous.

The colossal rocks blocked the dusty path.

DELECTABLE

1 – pleasing

Chicago food has some of the most delectable meals I’ve ever had.

DAINTY

1 – delicate

The dainty glass broke from the fall.

2 – tasty

The dainty sandwich was filling.

DISHEVELED

1 – untidy in appearance

Boys often have a disheveled room.

DEDICATED

1 – devoted to a cause or purpose

Star Wars has dedicated fans.

2 – given a purpose

He has a dedicated server to protect his data.

DECORATED

1 – awarded or received marks of honor.

He was decorated with a medal for winning the race.

2 – furnished with something ornamental

A hallmark of the parade are the decorated floats.

DESIGNATE

1 – chosen but not yet installed

the ambassador designates the future assignments.

He has a designated server to protect his data.

DAZZLING

1 – bright, brilliant, or showy, colorful, and impressive.

The dazzling fireworks were the highlight of the festival.

DEVOURING

1 – eating food quickly.

The Lion is a devouring beast.

2 – destructively consuming/absorbing

Don’t let devouring loneliness defeat you.

DEEP

1 – below / far from the surface

His joy was buried deep below the surface of an ocean of swirling emotions.

Deep-Pocketed

1- Having a great deal of money; being wealthy.

The deep-pocketed businessman donated a large sum of money to the charity.

Disagreeable

1- Having a disposition that is not pleasant or agreeable; disagreeable behavior or remarks.

“I’m sorry I was so disagreeable earlier. I had a really bad day.”

DILAPIDATED

1 – fallen into decay or deteriorated

The dilapidated home needed an intense amount of love and care.

DECORATIVE

1 – serving for ornamental decoration.

The decorative replica was made to be displayed. And invoked a strong emotion.

DIVERGENT

1 – moving from the common direction.

Do follow the popular path. Instead, go into the unknown, and discover your divergent path.

Compassionate

1 – Showing concern and sympathy for others, especially those in distress.

When I saw the homeless man on the side of the road, I felt compassion for him and wished I could help him.

Entertaining

1 – A movie that is enjoyable and amusing.

The new comedy starring Melissa McCarthy was very entertaining.

ELUSIVE

1 – hard to pin down, identify, or isolate.

They knew the elusive thief lurked nearby.

EXUBERANT

1 – enthusiastic joy

They were exuberant about their upcoming trip to some of the most beautiful places in the world.

ERECT

1 – vertical position

Few erect columns were peppered throughout the temple ruins.

EXPANSIVE

1 – having the ability to expand.

The expansive landscape is seemingly never-ending.

ECLECTIC

1 – deriving style, ideas, and taste from a wide range of sources.

The eclectic mix of opinions caused an argument.

EXASPERATING

1 – cause a strong feeling of annoyance

The planes exasperating delay made everyone late.

ELABORATE

1 – fully detailed or well planned.

The elaborate design of Bangkok’s royal palace is breathtaking.

EMPHATIC

1 – uttered, or emphasizing on.

The emphatic refusal helped them close the deal.

EFFICIENT

1 – productive / desired effects.

The efficient writer finished before the deadline.

2 – being involved or an immediate agent.

The efficient action helped make a change.

EVER-DEEPENING

1 – go deeper

He had an ever-deepening love for sports.

EXHAUSTIVE

1 – thorough / all possibilities

The exhaustive to-do list was intimidating.

ENDLESS

1 – seemingly without end

The endless forest instilled a mood of tranquility.

EXTRAVAGANT

1 – exceeding normal limits or excessively elaborate

The extravagant building is grand.

2 – extremely high in price

The extravagant purchase maxed out his credit card purchase.

ELEGANT

1 – elegance

The elegant clothes belonged to the king.

EPONYMOUS

1 – relating to or named after

The eponymous landscape outside Dingle is one of the best places to visit in Ireland.

FESTIVE

1 – relating to a celebration, festival, or feast.

The festive dinner got a little out of hand.

FLUSHED

1 – tinged with red in the face, from shame, heat, or physical exertion.

Caught in a lie, his face became flushed with embarrassment.

FERVENT

1 – very hot or passionate desire.

I have a fervent desire to explore the world.

FAST-MOVING

1 – moving quickly

The fast-moving current washed away our supplies.

FANTASTICAL

1 – based on fantasy

Game of Thrones takes place in a fantastical world, filled with dragons, and magic.

FEROCIOUS

1 – unrestrained violence or brutality

The ferocious lion hunted his prey.

FUNERARY

1 – having to do with the burial.

They found treasure in the Pharaoh’s funerary chamber.

FIXATED

1 – focused on something.

The dog was fixated on the squirrel.

FUN-LOVING

1 – loving having fun.

The fun-loving locals love putting on their annual festival.

GRASSY

1 – covered with grass

The grassy knolls are stunning.

GALORE

1 – a large number of

He had charm galore.

GRUESOME

1 – repulsion, or inspiring horror.

The movie was too gruesome for me.

GLORIOUS

1 – possessing glory

When backpacking New Zealand you see glorious landscapes.

Good-Looking

1 – Very good-looking, or beautiful. Can be used to describe people, things, or places. For example, “She is a glorious sight in that dress.”

HARROWING

1 – painful or distressing

It was a harrowing adventure filled with an unexpected twists, turns, and sacrifices.

HEARTY

1 – an unrestrained expression

I was greeted with a hearty welcome.

2 – wholesome or substantial

I enjoyed the hearty meal.

HERBACEOUS

1 – relating to an herb

Those herbaceous florae were savory.

ISOLATED

1 – alone

He was isolated during the exam.

INTOLERABLE

1 – not tolerable or unbearable

The intolerable noise kept me up all night.

IDYLLIC

1 – picturesque or pleasing

The idyllic Irish landscapes are some of the best in Europe.

IMMENSE

1 – great in size or degree

Our immense Universe is without limits.

INTENSE

1 – extreme degree

The intense amount of work was overbearing.

IRKSOME

1 – irk or tedious

Sometimes we all have to do Irksome tasks.

IMPULSE

1 – prone to act, acting momentarily

To lose weight sometimes we have to deny our impulses for bad food.

INVITING

1 – tempting

The inviting meal made my mouth water.

INNATE

1 – existing in, or belonging to

The innate behavior of a child was to cause trouble.

INDELIBLE

1 – memorable or cannot be washed away or erased.

The indelible landscape means there are hundreds of places to visit in the United States.

INFURIATING

1 – the feeling of extreme anger.

The infuriating delay at the airport made him miss his flight.

IMMACULATE

1 – spotless / extremely clean

Singapore is an immaculately clean country.

2 – having no flaw

The glass in Venice is immaculate.

INTRICATE

1 – having many complex parts

Mona Lisa is an intricate painting. Making it the most famous in the world.

INTERIOR

1 – belonging to the inside,

I great battles happen inside the interior of our minds.

JAUNTY

1 – sprightly

he took a jaunty stroll through the park.

JARRING

1 – having a disorienting effect

The jarring truth is that dreams without goals, remain dreams.

KEEN

1 – ready, or in favor of

I am keen to go to the bar.

2 – sensitive perception

He had a keen nose.

LUNGED

1 – having lungs

The lunged fish swan in the pond.

LIMPID

1 – transparent or clear; Glasslike

The limpid waters in Thailand or famed around the world.

LAVISH

1 – expending or bestowing excess

The lavish palace of Versailles is one of the most popular day trips from Paris.

LUDICROUS

1 – outlandish, or eccentric

Some ludicrous movies aren’t bad.

LASCIVIOUS

1 – filled with desire or lust

She was filled with lascivious thoughts.

LISTLESS

1 – lack of interest, or energy

His listless attitude held him back in life.

LONESOME

1 – sad or lonely

Ah, the lonesome road, has many trails, but many rewards.

MONUMENTAL

1 – highly significant, outstanding

The monumental task can be accomplished by taking little steps every day.

MELANCHOLY

1 – expressing sadness

A melancholy nature will keep you stuck.

MERITORIOUS

1 – deserving reward or praise.

A meritorious life of service.

MEDDLESOME

1 – intrusive or getting involved in

The meddlesome raccoon knocked over the trash can.

MAMMOTH

1 – Huge, exceedingly large

Many of the mammoth caves in the United States are worth visiting.

MODERN-DAY

1 – existing today

Many modern-day advances give our lives ease.

MINOR

1 – inferior in size or degree

The minor problems in life or nothing to sweat over – life is too short.

MISTY

1 – covered by mist.

The heavy air of the misty morning endowed the park with an eerie coolness.

MYSTERIOUS

1 – covered by mystery

The monk has a mysterious nature.

OUT-OF-PLACE

1 – not where it should be

The restaurant felt out of place.

ORNATE

1 – elaborate or excessively decorated

The ornate .ruins draw in visitors.

OUTSTANDING

1 – standing out

His outstanding skills put him in line for a promotion.

2 – unpaid

Outstanding bills can be stressful.

OBTUSE

1 – lack of sharpness

His obtuse answer made no sense.

OBLIVIOUS

1 – lacking remembrance, or memory

Don’t be oblivious to the opportunities that life presents you.

OPULENT

1 – wealth, abundance

The opulent hotel is worth the price tag.

PECULIAR

1 – characteristic of a person

His hot temper was peculiar.

2 – different from the normal

The book had a particular plot twist in the book.

PRISTINE

1 – not spoiled, or corrupted

The pristine beaches had soft sand.

2 – earliest state

The pristine state of the forest

PEACEFUL

1 – a sense of peace

The peaceful forest instilled a peace of tranquility.

PUGNACIOUS

1 – argumentative quarrelsome

He has a pugnacious nature.

PANIC

1 – mental and emotional state of fear

Don’t panic. Breathe and slow down.

PASSABLE

1 – able to be passed

The currents were passable during the low tide.

PIVOTAL

1 – turning, a pivot

Taking my first trip to Ireland was a pivotal moment in my life.

1 – critical

It was a pivotal piece of the puzzle.

POLISHED

1 – polishing, smooth, glossy

Polish your writing before publishing the piece.

POSIED

1 – by or in itself

That’s not the facts per se, but valuable to know.

PLUSH

1 – notably luxurious or rich

His plush life made him soft.

POMPOUS

1 – elevated or arrogant

The pompous rhetoric is hurtful.

2- exhibiting an air of self-importance.

The pompous politician lost sight of his vision.

RIGOROUS

1 – extreme or severe

After rigorous training, he was ready to test himself.

Sidesplitting

1 – When something is so funny that it causes one’s sides to split, it is side-splitting.

My mom’s joke was sidesplittingly funny.

THUNDEROUS

1 – like thunder

The thunderous roar of the waves beating along the coast.

DESCRIPTIVE WORDS FOR WRITING: ACTION and Strong VERBS

These are some of the best words. They are great when wanting to show a clear meaning of a sentence or improve a short story.

ATTRIBUTE

1- regard something as being caused by.

I attribute my grammar skill to how many questions I ask.

ATTEST

verb

1 – provide clear evidence; declare that something exist.

I attest that life is good

AMEND

1 – make minor changes.

I had to amend your application before sending it in.

ADMIRE

1 – regard (an object, quality, or person) with respect or warm approval.

I admire your commitment to learning the English Language.

ACCLAIMED

1 – praise enthusiastically

I acclaimed actor won the best actor for his deep performance.

ACCOMPLISH

1 – achieve or complete successfully.

I accomplish my goals.

AMPLIFY

1 – increase in sound

They amplify the sound at the concert.

2 – make copies of something

The notes amplify that new evidence. ..

ALTER

1 – change, or make changes too

They altered the rules of the game.

AROSE

1 – (of a problem, opportunity, or situation) emerge; become apparent.

“a string of new difficulties have arisen “

2 – get or stand up.

“he arose at 5:30 to work out.”

BAIL

1 – to clear out or save (Usually water from a boat)

They bailed him out of trouble.

BABBLE

1 – talk enthusiastically for a long time

Just one of the many fun facts about me. Sometimes I like to babble about travel.

BESET

1 – to set upon

We were beset with locals trying to make a sale.

2 – to set with ornaments

The roses are beset with thrones.

BELIE

1 – fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict.

I newspaper story belied the facts.

2 – fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation); betray.

The notebooks belie Darwin’s later recollection.

BATTER

1 – hit repeatedly with blows.

He battered the broken car.

BEWILDER

1 – become perplexed.

I was bewildered by the lack of work the team had done.

BOW

1 – bend the head or upper part of the body as a sign of respect, greeting, or shame.

It is common to bow in Asia.

2 – play (a stringed instrument or music) using a bow.

The techniques by which the pieces were bowed.

BROOD

1 – think deeply about something that makes the person unhappy.

He brooded over his bad day.

BOOST

1 – encourage or help

I need to boost my spirits.

2 – push from below

She needs to boost to master the English Language.

BEWITCHED

1 – cast a spell or enchant.

I was bewitched by the lush landscape.

BUZZ

1 – low murmuring or humming sound.

Flies buzz when they fly.

BOLT

1 – lock with a bar that slides into a socket.

He bolted the door for protection.

2 – ran away quickly.

He bolted down the street.

BASH

1 – strike hard.

He bashed the wall in anger.

2 – criticize.

He bashed the smoking industry.

BUST

1 – break or burst

They bust the water balloon.

2 – lose something

He went bust at the poker table…

COMPRESS

1 – squeeze together

Compress the laptop’s file to save space.

CONCLUDE

1 – to bring to an end.

The summit concluded with world peace.

2 – to reach a logical end or decision.

The magazine concludes that Rome is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

He concluded his college application with a question.

1 – unmarked, free dirt

He cleaned the room every other week.

CASCADE

1 – fall or hang in copious or luxuriant quantities.

“the cool water cascading down the waterfall.”

CONTRACT

1 – decrease in size, number, or range.

“glass contracts as it cools.”

2 – become shorter and tighter to affect the movement of part of the body.

“The heart is a muscle that contracts about seventy times a minute”

COIL

1 – wind into rings

The sailor coiled the rope.

CANOPY

1 – to cover something

Massive trees canopied the small island.

CRINKLE

1 – to form short bends or ripples / Wrinkle

Don’t crinkle my shirt.

2 – a think crackling sound

The crinkling bag woke up the dog.

CHORTLE

1 – chuckle or laugh

He chortled with amusement.

2 – sing or chant

She chortled in her happiness.

CRUMBLE

1 – broken into small parts.

The Greek Islands are filled with crumbling ruins.

CADGE

1 – beg or sponge

He cadges for a free cup of coffee.

CRACKLE

1 – sharp, quick, repeated noises

The crackling fire.

DREDGE

1 – to dig and bring to light.

Don’t dredge up those painful memories.

DASH

1 – travel somewhere in a hurry

I dashed through the forest.

2 – strike, or destroy

The ship was dashed upon the rocks.

She dashed his spirits.

DISMAY

1 – cause (someone) to feel consternation and distress.

A deep feeling of dismay overtook the room.

DUMBFOUND

1 – greatly astonish or amaze

I’m often dumbfounded after watching the task force meetings.

DEVOUR

1 – eat / destroy / adsorb quickly

I want to devour the big meal.

2 – read eagerly

Amy always devours a good book.

DISHEVEL

1 – make (someone’s) clothes or hair messy.

Boris Johnson disheveled his hair before being on camera.

DAUNT

1 – to lessen the courage of

A lesser man would be daunted by this challenge.

1 – to set apart for a purpose. to distinguish as a class

We designate this room as the class lab.

2 – to point out a location

A marker designating where the trial starts.

DISTASTE

1 – to feel aversion to (Offend)

His distaste for the joke was apparent.

DELVE

1 – to dig

Suspicion led him to delve into his wife’s bag.

1 – to search for information

He delved into the past to find the problem.

DRIFT

1 – to get carried along (by water, air, etc)

The windy drift pushed the hot air balloon to the west.

1 – a pile of something in heaps

Snow drifts covered the landscape.

DEVIATE

1 – to stray or move from a principle, standard, or topic.

Don’t deviate from your goals. Stayed focused even when life is tough.

EXASPERATE

1 – to cause annoyance or irritation

I hope you’re not exasperated by this list of descriptive words.

1 – Set up / to fix/put together in an upright position

The father and son erected the tree house.

EMERGE

1 – to become known,

Jane emerged from her travels a most well-rounded person.

EMBELLISH

1 – To make it ornamental or make it more attractive.

Frank embellished his life story to impress his date.

ENDOW

1 – to furnish / to provide with

I’m endowed with a good sense of humor.

ENTICE

1 – allure or tempt

He was enticed by the smell of the chocolate.

EFFACE

1 – eliminate by wearing away surface

The rocks are effaced by wear and tear.

FESTER

1 – rot slowly

Don’t let your anger fester about your tough English test.

FILCH

1 – steal secretly

He filches the cookie from the jar.

FEIGN

1 – give a false appearance

The company feigned how bad his leg hurt.

FRESCOED

1 – containing frescoes

The frescoed walls of the chapel inspired my love of art.

FLIT

1 – to pass quickly or shift

The chortling birds flitted around the forest.

GURGLE

1 – to flow in an irregular current

The stream gurgling stream swept over the rocks.

2 – ta gurgling sound

The gurgling stream blocked the path.

GARNER

1 – to gather,

Tim garnered his courage before presenting his essay to his teachers.

HASTEN

1 – move quickly

He hastened his journey home.

HOIST

1 – lift or raise by tackle

Hoist the flag.

HEAVE

1 – lift or raise or pull

He heaved the trunk onto the oak table.

HAUNT

1 – a harmful or disquieting occurrence

The past mistakes haunted him.

2 – to visit often to seek the company of

I spend a lot of time haunting the bookstore.

INTERTWINE

1 – cross one with another.

The intertwined vines were impassable.

INTER

1 – place a body in a tomb or grave

The king was interred with all the honor due him.

INTERWEAVE

1 – weave.

It’s dangerous to interweave lies and the truth.

IRK

1 – to make, irritated, or weary

He was irked trying to learn all the English grammar rules.

IMBUE

1 – endow or influence

He imbued the spirit of the old times.

INTERSPERSE

1 – spaced in intervals

The interspersed paintings covered the east wing.

JAGGED

1 – sharp uneven surface

The jagged mountains dotted the horizon.

JOSTLE

1 – come into contact or pushing

The jostling crowd flooded to the door.

2 – vying for a position.

The workers began to jostle for the new job.

1 – expend or bestow

His lavish habits cost him a lot of money.

LINGER

1 – slow parting

The effects lingered long after it was over.

LOOM

1 – take a large shape or an impending occurrence

The teacher loomed over the student to make sure he wasn’t cheating.

LAY-BY

1 – an area to stop

Lay-by the dock the ship tied up.

MUTTER

1 – utter barely audible sounds in a low voice.

He muttered to himself about his workload.

MESMERIZE

1 – hypnotizing

The mesmerizing beauty of the best islands in Croatia is not easily forgotten.

NESTLED

1 – settle snugly

A small town nestled among the mountains.

NAB

1 – grab or catch

He nabbed the best spot in the class for the English lesson.

OOZE

1 – a slow trickle, to seep out of something

The oozing gunk stained the floor.

OSTRACIZE

1 – exiled

He was ostracized after his betrayal was made public.

PEEK

1 – to peer through / to look furtively.

Don’t peek around the corner.

PLUNGE

1 – to go deep into, or thrust into something.

I plunged into the task of self-development.

PLATEAU

1 – landscape with a level surface, and little change

He wandered the plateau looking for his lost wallet.

PROBE

1 – search for information.

His friend probed him with questions about the girl.

PEPPERED

1 – sprinkled throughout

The olive trees peppered the Greek countryside.

PLOD

1 – work laboriously

The book plodded along slowly.

STEEPED

1 – soaked in

The city was steeped in charm.

SHRIEK

1 – a loud sharp noise

He shirked when he thought he saw a ghost.

SPRAWL

1 – to spread without restraint

The sprawling landscape of the desert is one of the best things to do in Tucson.

STUFFED

1 – fill with things or with satiety

He was stuffed after Thanksgiving dinner.

TEMPT

1 – feeling to do something (usually wrong)

He was tempted to eat the candy.

DESCRIPTIVE WORDS FOR WRITING: LIST OF ADVERBS

ABRUPTLY

adverb

1 – Suddenly or Unexpectedly.

The car stopped abruptly.

2 – In a rude manner.

His mom abruptly cut him off.

3 – Steep

The hill ascends abruptly.

Apathetically

1- Without enthusiasm or interest.

She played with the dog apathetically, barely looking at it.

ADDITIONALLY

1 – extra factor or circumstance.

brokers finance themselves additionally by short-term borrowing.

2 – used to introduce a new fact or argument.

Additionally, the regulations require a clean environment.

ALTERNATELY

1 – one after the other or next

Alternately, don’t give up when things get hard.

Begrudgingly

begrudgingly (adverb) – unwillingly; reluctantly

I begrudgingly gave him my number.

Deliberately

1- done or planned with care and intention

The mother deliberately left the child in the car while she went into the store.

Dramatically

1. in a dramatic manner

The actress dramatically read the lines from the script.

EFFECTIVELY

1 – being effective or in effect

John effectively finished his to-do list before stopping for the day.

EVIDENTLY

1 – evident or provide evidence

He was evidently born in Ohio.

EXPERTLY

1 – expert in something

He expertly navigated his way through the maze of alleyways.

Extraordinary

1 – strikingly unusual or different; remarkable

This painting is extraordinary!

FURTHERMORE

1 – what precedes

Furthermore, people should travel more.

GRIMLY

1 – a gloomy or somber

He grimly walked to see his boos.

1 – a sinister character

The dark figure had a grimly stance that shadows seemed to cling to.

Inquisitively

1- Inquisitively is defined as in a curious or questioning manner.

Looking inquisitively at someone means looking at them in a way that suggests you want to know more about them. For example, you may be staring intently at their face as if you are trying to read their thoughts.

Intelligently

1 – In an intelligent way

The mother cat was intelligently trying to get her kitten out from under the car.

IMMENSELY

1 – to a great degree

The immensely talented writer self-published his book.

INTENTIONALLY

1 – intentional manner or awareness

He intentionally arrived at the airport early.

INTENSELY

1 – intense

He intensely focused on the problem at hand.

IMPULSIVELY

1 – from impulse

He impulsively got up early every morning.

INVITINGLY

He invitingly offered me a free drink.

INFURIATINGLY

1 – extreme anger

Moving to my wife in Sweden is an infuriatingly slow process.

INNATELY

1 – born or existing in.

He innately loved filling his head with quotes about adventure.

INDELIBLY

1 – lasting or unforgettable cannot be removed.

The indelibly hued landscape when backpacking Italy changed my life.

INTRICATELY

1 – complex with many parts

The intricately designed plot has levels of detail.

KEENLY

1 – eager or intense

They are keenly attuned to your bad behavior.

LIMPIDLY

1 – clear; glassiness

The limpidly rushing water of the cascading waterfall.

LUDICROUSLY

1 – meriting laughter or exaggeration

He ludicrously lost his wallet.

LAVISHLY

Synonym for Richly or Grandly

1 – marked by excess

The lavishly decorated crown marked him as king.

Methodically

1 – In a precise and orderly way.

The scientist methodically recorded the data.

MONUMENTALLY

1 – large, or to an extreme degree

He monumentally failed in his task.

PATENTLY

1 – without doubt

The claims were patently false.

PEACEFULLY

1 – peace or tranquility

he peacefully listened to the sounds of birds singing outside his window.

RIGOROUSLY

1 – strict

He rigorously worked at his craft every day.

ROMANTICALLY

1 – romantic

He was romantically involved with her.

DESCRIPTIVE WORDS FOR WRITING: NOUNS

ABSORPTION

noun

1 – the process of absorbing.

The absorption of the spilled water.

2 – The whole occupation of the mind.

The absorption of my work overtakes every other desire.

AMBITION

1 – strong desire to do or to achieve something which takes hard work.

People trying to improve their skills with this list of descriptive words for writing have a lot of ambition.

2 – determination to achieve success.

life offers many opportunities for those with ambition.

ABUNDANCE

1 – a large quantity of something.

I have an abundance of ambition.

2 – The condition of having a copious quantity of something; bountifulness.

The vineyard has an abundance of grapes.

AFICIONADO

1 – a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime.

“He’s a wine aficionado.”

BASALT

1 – a dark volcanic rock that displays a columnar structure and is made of fine-grained.

The fertile soil was made of decomposed basalt.

BEHEMOTH

1 – something of monstrous size

That’s a behemoth-sized lion.

1 – a person who is socially unconventional in a way regarded as characteristic of creative artists; a bohemian.

BOHO

The town bohos opened an art gallery.

1 – an increase

A boost in the economy.

1 – a room or pantry used for storing wine or hard liquor.

Can you grab the wine out of the buttery?

1 – a beer that has a strong hop taste; or liquor with the sharp taste of plant extracts.

What bitters do you have on tap?

BEAUTIES

1 – a combination of qualities of color, such as shape, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight.

“I was struck by her beauty .”

BOULDER

Synonym for Rock or Stone

1 – a large rock, mostly worn smooth by years of erosion.

The boulder blocked the path.

1 – move quickly.

He buzzed through these descriptive words.

CLOCHÁN

1 – Irish name for a beehive hut.

The ruins of a clochán sat on the other side of the field.

1 – a written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy, that is intended to be enforceable by law.

“both parties must sign employment contracts “

1 – a mass of something that falls or hangs in copious or luxuriant quantities.

“A cascade of pink bougainvillea.”

2 – a large number or amount of something occurring or arriving in rapid succession.

“a cascade of antiwar literature”

CRESTING

1 – an ornamental decoration at the ridge of a roof or top of a wall or screen.

High on the roof was a cresting decoration.

1 – Someone who chips

The chipper was hard at working cutting down the tree.

COMMISSARY

1 – one delegated by a superior to execute a duty or an office

The commissary was tasked with finding a cure.

1 – a series of loops

The coil of pumps was confusing.

2 – everyday troubles

Sometimes we all need to shrug off the coils of the workday.

CONIFER

1 – any of an order (Coniferales) of mostly evergreen trees and shrubs having usually needle-shaped or scalelike leaves like pine, cones, and arillate fruit.

The group of conifer trees took over the forest.

CREATION

1 – to create

Christians believe in the creation story.

COMMITMENT

1 – an agreement or promise / attached to someone or something

I have a commitment to my wife.

1 – a cover carried above by a person of rank / or a cloth suspended

The canopy covered the diners on the patio.

CAIRN

1 – a heap of stones in a heap. Usually a landmark or memorial. Typically on a hilltop or skyline.

The stony cairn marked the way back.

Characteristics

1- Colorful Having many different colors. The sunset was so colorful.

Loyalty is one of his best characteristics

DELICACY

1 – something to eat considered rare and luxurious

What is your favorite delicacy in Italy?

2 – the quality or state of being dainty of someone or something

Spiderwebs have a delicacy.

1 – to flow along

To drift through life is sad.

2 – an underlying meaning or design.

The spy understood the drift of his orders.

1 – dislike food or drink

Many have a distaste for mushrooms.

DEPICTION

1 – representation in images or describing words depicting something or someone.

The depiction of the movie wasn’t congruent with the book.

DEPTH

1 – a deep place or state of being

The depths of our abilities remain unknown until we push for greatness.

ENGAGEMENT

1 – an arrangement, or state of being engaged

Social engagement took most of my day.

EDIFICE

1 – a massive structure

The social edifice holds together certain rules.

ENVIRONS

plural noun

1 – city districts / or surroundings in your space or vicinity

The crystal environs of the waterfalls.

EXHIBITION

1 – a public showcase

The art exhibition was a success.

EMINENCE

1 – a high position of superiority, Commanding or in a profession.

His eminence in the film made him a legend.

ELEGANCE

1 – refined taste, dignified gracefulness

The novel had an air of elegance and wit.

EXASPERATION

1 – a state of exasperated or exasperating someone/feeling irritation

He was exasperated after working all day.

EXPRESSION

1 – the act of representing a medium

I don’t understand the expression that artists are trying to achieve.

FOCAL POINT

1 – point of attention.

The focal point of this blog post is describing words that help others master descriptive writing.

FAUX PAS

1 – an embarrassing mistake or error.

Interpreting someone is considered a social faux pas.

FACADE

1 – the front of the building

The store’s facade was highly decorated.

1 – a false, or fake appearance

His friends saw through his thinly veiled facade.

GUFFAW

A love this descriptive word.

1 – a boisterous and loud burst of laughter.

The joke caused a guffaw in the room.

GUSTO

1 – enthusiastic and filled with joy.

GRIM

1 – a gloomy or somber outlook

He had a grim disposition on life.

The grim tale left me afraid.

GRANDEUR

1 – the quality or current state

The grandeur of ancient Rome inspired our world.

1 – grand

Many of the best places to visit in Europe are grand in design, scope, and scale.

GUST

1 – strong wind

The gust of wind caused the bike to tip over.

1 – an outburst of feeling

He had a gust of energy that came with the good news.

HAUNCH

1 – either side of an arch.

The dog loves to have his back haunches scratched.

HOST

1 – a great number

A host of ants took over the picnic.

INDICATION

1 – something to indicate

He gave the indication that he was going to travel this summer.

INSTANCE

1 – a stage or exception

In this instance, we all need to be quiet.

2 – example

For instance, pasta tastes better in Italy.

1 – inside limits or inner constitution

Travelers loved the lavish interior of the modern-day art gallery.

KARST

1 – limestone land or limestone plateau

The karst lands were filled with sinkholes and caverns.

LICHEN

1 – a plant organism made up of alge

Working the lichen spotted lake held a natural charm rarely found.

1 – machine for interlacing

Working the loom is hard and painful.

LOAM

1 – soil made of silt, sand, and clay.

The loam ground was hard to walk.

LAUNDERETTE

1 – a self-service laundry

The launderette was packed with others.

MARVEL

1 – causing wonder and astonishment

Abu Simbel, in Egypt, is a marvel to behold.

MYRIAD

1 – a great number of

This myriad list of descriptive words is very helpful – like our list of descriptive words for personality -.

MIDDAY

1 – middle of the day

The midday meal made him want a nap.

MONOLITH

1 – a single massive stone in a column or obelisk

Monoliths pepper the old landscape.

MENHIR

1 – a single massive stone in a column or obelisk from prehistoric origin.

The Menhir’s of Stonehenge tower over all who stand before it.

METROPOLITAN

1 – one who lives in a metropolis

The metropolitan knew the city backward and forwards.

OPULENCE

1 – wealth and Abundance

The opulence of the Blue Mosque makes it one of the best things to do in Turkey.

OUTSIZE

1 – of an unusual size

The outsize bed wouldn’t fit.

PIGPEN

1 – a dirty slovenly place

Clean up this pigpen of a room.

PIZZAZZ

1 – the quality of excitement or attractive

He was charming and had a large amount of pizzazz.

PLEA

1 – an earnest entreaty

They plead for another helping of mashed potatoes.

PERCH

1 – a bar something is hung on

The bird sat on the perch.

1 – a medical instrument for exploring

The doctor used a probe to discover what was wrong.

PARIAH

1 – a person despised or rejected

The thief was treated as a pariah.

PURSUITS

1 – chasing after

Our pursuits define our lives.

PARADOX

1 – contradictory phases or conclusions.

Life is full of many a paradox.

1 – state of fear

Don’t panic about your writing. Just learn more descriptive words that will improve your writing.

SCRUTINY

1 – a close inspection; under a microscope

His paper was under a lot of scrutiny.

TUMULT

1 – riot or commotion

Tumult uprisings are a big part of history.

2 – loud noise

a tumult of noise kept me from sleeping.

TILING

1 – tiles

The tiling walls were stunning.

DESCRIPTIVE WORDS FOR WRITING: LIST OF PREPOSITIONS WITH DEFINITION

AMID

preposition

1 – surrounded by; in the middle of

He walked amid the rolling hills and lush landscape.

2 – in an atmosphere or against a background of.

Mid accusations of cheating the student were suspended.

DESCRIPTIVE WORDS FOR WRITING: DESCRIPTIVE PHRASES

Here are a lot of describing words that I’ve picked up from various books, and blog posts. I fell in love with this word list. And are great for adding detail.

Pro tip: The describing words are all around you. Listen to how people use descriptive language in your favorite movies, tv shows, and podcast. Try to find describing words in the things you read. The lesson you are looking for and the right words are all around you! You just have to look for the lesson to find the best describing word.

ARID STEPPE

1 – one of the vast treeless tracts in Europe and Asia.

The arid steppe of Mongolia is famous around the world.

ATLANTIC SWELLS

1- Waves crashing on the coast.

The Atlantic swells crashed against the crenelated coast.

BROODING SUMMITS

1 – sad terrain, a phrase to describe mountain ranges.

The brooding summits, covered in clouds, look like a storm is coming.

BEHIND THE TIMES

1 – not aware of or using the latest ideas or techniques; out of date.

When it came to tech, he was behind the times.

CRYSTALLINE LAKES

1 – a good description to describe a still lake. Or a phrase lake on a nice day.

The crystalline lake boasted the perfect space to camp.

CRUMBLING CASTLES

1 – a castle falling apart.

Ireland’s peppered with crumbling castles.

CRESTING MOUNTAINS

1 – descriptive of a scenic mountain range.

The cresting mountains of New Zealand are unforgettable.

EVER- DEEPENING

1 – getting deeper

The ever-deepening snow made the terrain impassable.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The historical significance of Rome echoes even until today.

INFINITE HILLS

The infinite hills of New Zealand lure thousands of visitors a year. This is one of my favorite descriptive phrases.

ICY ROLLERS

1 – cold waves

The icy rollers of the Atlantic Ocean beat along the coast.

INDELIBLY WILD

The indelibly wild forest of Peru.

LUNAR-SCAPED

1 – landscape similar to that on the moon

The Lunar-scaped beaches on Milos, put it high on many travelers’ lists of Greek Islands to visit.

LONG-FORGOTTEN

The long-forgotten castle has centuries of neglect.

MOSS-CLAD

A great descriptive word for the forest!

1 – covered by moss

The moss-clad rocks sat along the stream.

MODERN HIGH-RISE SKYSCRAPERS

The hundreds of workers wasted their lives in modern high-rise skyscrapers.

Descriptive Words for Food

Aromatic

1 – having a pleasing smell

Crispy

1 – having a brittle texture and a dry, brittle sound when broken

Crunchy

1 – having a brittle texture and a crisp, crackling sound when broken

Savory

1 – having a strong, satisfying flavor

Sweet

1 – having a pleasing, sugary flavor

Sour

1 -having a sour, acidic taste

Salty

1 – having a salty, savory flavor

Bland

1 – not having a strong or distinctive flavor

Spicy

1 – having a hot, pungent flavor

Flavorful

1 – having a lot of flavors

Delicious

1 – something that tastes extremely good

Nutritious

1- providing the body with essential nutrients

Appetizing

1 – making someone want to eat something

Scrumptious

1 – extremely delicious and appetizing

Nectar

1 – a sweet liquid produced by flowers and used as a drink or in cooking

Salivating

1 – producing an excessive flow of saliva

Gustatory

1 – of or relating to the sense of taste

Appetizing

1 – arousing or tempting the appetite

Delicious

1 – having an extremely pleasing taste

Exquisite

1 – delightfully beautiful or elegant

Sumptuous

1 – extremely luxurious and expensive

Scintillating

1 – brilliantly sparkling

Exotic

1 – strikingly unusual or different

Refreshing

1 – restoring or invigorating

Wholesome

1 – promoting good health

Vibrant

1 – energetically alive and vigorous

Crisp

1 – pleasantly firm and fresh

Juicy

1 -full of juice

Flavorful

1 – having a strong, distinctive taste

Mouth-watering

1- so delicious as to make the mouth water

Tender

1 – easily broken or chewed and having a delicate, pleasing texture

Descriptive Words for Trees

Words to describe trees is one of the most requested updates for this post. So I have updated the list with a bunch of tree descriptive words. I hope you enjoy it!

tall
sturdy
leafy
green
towering
massive
rough
scaly
majestic
stately
proud
strong
impressive
big
large
massive
towering
gigantic
enormous
massive
towering
gigantic
enormous
grand
beautiful
lovely
peaceful
calm
serene

Descriptive Words in Spanish

ágil – agile
bello – beautiful
brillante – brilliant
cálido – warm
claro – clear
colorido – colorful
cortés – courteous
curioso – curious
dulce – sweet
enérgico – energetic
fresco – fresh
gentil – gentle
inteligente – intelligent
joven – young
ligero – light
lindo – pretty
maduro – mature
maravilloso – marvelous
nervioso – nervous
optimista – optimistic
pacífico – peaceful
perezoso – lazy
romántico – romantic
sensible – sensible
serio – serious
simpático – likable
triste – sad
vibrante – vibrant

LIST OF DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES

Here are some words to describe the positive qualities of people’s personalities. And using words like this to showcase a personality can connect those feeling with your readers.

affectionate – readily feeling or showing fondness or tenderness.

Agile – able to move quickly and easily.

Altruistic – showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish.

amiable – having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner.

bright – giving out or reflecting much light; shining. – A very common descriptive phrase.

Bonza – excellent; first-rate.

charming – very pleasant or attractive.

Conscientious – wishing to do one’s work or duty well and thoroughly

imaginative – having or showing creativity or inventiveness.

List of Common Adjectives

These are great for common adjectives that can be used for anything from a descriptive phrase, descriptive writing, or a cover letter.

able

admirable

agreeable

amazing

appetizing

beautiful

brave

bright

behavior

colorful

compassionate

compelling

convincing

courageous

creative

crisp

delicious

dependable

devoted

diplomatic

discreet

distinguished

dynamic

eager

efficient

enchanting

energetic

enthusiastic

excellent

exciting

faithful

fashionable

fascinating

feisty

feminine

flattering

flexible

forgiving

friendly

frosty

fulfilling

generous

glamorous

glittering

gorgeous

happy

healthy

helpful

honest

humble

ideal

impeccable

incredible

independent

influential

inspiring

intelligent

intense

inviting

jolly

joyful

kind

kooky

ladylike

lavish

likable

lively

lovely

luxurious

majestic

masculine

mellow

mesmerizing

mighty

modest

nice

nuanced

observant

WORD LIST OF ATTRIBUTIVE ADJECTIVES

What are attributive adjectives?

These are words to can be placed inside a sentence that can modify a person or a thing. These different adjective are only used before nouns.

Example Sentence: The tender steak made my mouth water.

Elder

Little

Live

Main

Mere

Tender

Beautiful

Gorgeous

Heart-stopping

Too-yummy-to-be-believed

Genuine

Nasty

Eye-to-eye

Face-to-face vicious

Horrible

adjective for thick vines

coiling, twisting, writhing
verdant
luxuriant
robust
thick
overgrown
viscous
slippery
tight
constricting
oppressive
claustrophobic

WORD LIST OF MULTIPLE ADJECTIVES

What are multiple adjectives?

Sometimes called paired adjectives. This is using more than one word to describe a noun.

Almost an adjective can be multiple adjectives if it can be paired together with other describing words to describe a noun. The key is to put them in the right order.

But here are some common ones.

Example Sentence: The thick, dense college application seemed daunting.

Smart, energetic

Big, Thick

Small, round

Short, Fast

Pretty Little

WHAT ARE COORDINATE ADJECTIVES

Similar to paired adjectives, Coordinate adjectives

are two – or maybe even more – adjectives that describe the same noun. They are separated by a common.

LIST OF POSITIVE ADJECTIVES

Positive words are a great way to make your readers feel something about a character, place, or object. Positive words of descriptive are powerful.

Example: He was brave enough to use a new word to showcase his skill in front of the class.

Animated

Artful

Assertive

Adept

Adventurous

Affable

Affectionate

Brave

Bright

Brilliant

Broadminded

Balanced

Beautiful

Believer

Determined

Diligent

Diplomatic

Dynamic

Energetic

Frank

Humorous

Knowledgeable

Self-confident

Sensible

Thoughtful

Warmhearted