Work & Professions
40 Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume
A widely cited 2018 eye-tracking study by the job board Ladders put the first pass over a CV at about…
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.
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One half teaches you to use adjectives well. The other hands you the words.
199 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 guides709 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.
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Nature & Environment
92 lists
Emotions & Feelings
74 lists
Work & Professions
69 lists
Objects & Everyday Things
69 lists
Personality & Character
68 lists
People & Relationships
66 lists
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49 lists
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42 lists
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34 lists
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21 lists
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Writing with Adjectives
152 Adjectives That Start With D
D is the letter of disapproval. 37 of the 152 adjectives below begin with dis-, and most of those are…
Personality & Character
60 Adjectives for Integrity
Integrity is hard to describe because most of the words for it describe only part of it. Honest covers what…
Education & Learning
88 Adjectives for Students
Most words used about students are used badly. Bright praises a fixed quality the student did nothing to earn; hard-working…
People & Relationships
80 Words to Describe Motherhood
Writing about motherhood fails in one of two directions. Either every sentence reaches for selfless and unconditional until the words…
Events & Celebrations
74 Adjectives for Christmas
Christmas writing has a vocabulary problem: festive, magical and cosy do about ninety percent of the work, and by the…
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Editors’ picks
Animals & Creatures
Describing Bunnies: A Guide to Adjectives for Rabbits
Rabbits, with their soft fur and endearing hops, often inspire words of affection and vivid descriptions. Understanding how to use…
Education & Learning
Effective Adjectives for Academic Study: A Comprehensive Guide
Adjectives are essential for adding detail, precision, and vividness to our language. In the context of academic study, using the…
Animals & Creatures
Describing Wildlife: Mastering Adjectives for Nature Writing
Describing wildlife effectively requires a rich vocabulary, and adjectives play a crucial role in bringing animals and their habitats to…
Food & Drinks
Describing Deliciousness: A Guide to Adjectives for Mangoes
Mangoes, with their vibrant colors and sweet, tangy flavor, are a beloved fruit worldwide. But how do we truly capture…
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Grammar essentials
01
Descriptive Adjectives: Painting Vivid Settings with Words
Writing with Adjectives · 18 min
02
Elevate Your Writing: Powerful Adjectives to Replace “Said”
Writing with Adjectives · 19 min
03
Descriptive Adjectives: Enhancing Speech and Writing
Writing with Adjectives · 15 min
04
The Dangling Modifier, and Why Your Sentence Sounds Absurd
Writing with Adjectives · 3 min
05
Comprise, Compose, Consist: The One That Takes No “Of”
Writing with Adjectives · 2 min
06
143 Adjectives That Start With T
Writing with Adjectives · 4 min
07
Describing the Void: Mastering Adjectives for Silence
Writing with Adjectives · 12 min
08
Descriptive Adjectives: Highlighting Notable Achievements
Writing with Adjectives · 14 min
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Plain-English grammar guides and curated adjective lists. Free to read, checked against Merriam-Webster, Chicago and AP before publication.
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