Adjectives: English Vocabulary List

possessing a quality that is noticeable and different

"He has a distinctive voice."

"The distinctive smell of garlic and onions cooking in butter filled the kitchen and made everyone's mouth water with anticipation of the delicious meal."

having or consisting of two aspects, parts, functions, etc.

"She has dual citizenship."

"She has dual citizenship in Canada and France so she can live and work in both countries without any restrictions."

significantly better or greater than what is typical or expected

"His talent is exceptional."

"She has exceptional talent as a musician and she started playing the piano at the age of only three years old."

much more than the desirable or required amount

"The baggage is excess."

"The excess baggage fee was very expensive so she had to leave some of her clothes behind at the hotel."

expressed very clearly, leaving no doubt or confusion

"The movie has explicit scenes."

"The movie contained explicit violence and strong language so parents were advised not to bring young children to see it."

inseparable essential part or quality of someone or something that is in their nature

"The risk is inherent."

"The inherent risk of skydiving is that the parachute might fail but most jumps are safe when proper equipment is used."

not enough in degree or amount

"The funds are insufficient."

"The insufficient funds in his account meant he could not pay for the car repairs."

related or belonging separately to each of the things or people mentioned

"Go to your respective seats."

"After the meeting everyone returned to their respective offices and continued working on their individual projects without further discussion."

happening at irregular intervals or spread far apart over various locations

"The papers are scattered."

"The papers were scattered all over the floor after the wind blew them off the desk and she had to pick them up one by one."

occurring regularly one after another

"The serial events were alarming."

"The serial killer murdered seven people before the police finally caught him and he was sentenced to life in prison."

emphasizing the intensity or pureness of a particular quality or emotion

"It is sheer luck."

"The sheer size of the mountain was overwhelming and we realized that climbing to the top would take much longer than we had planned."

made or designed for a specific function

"He has specialized knowledge."

"The specialized medical equipment can only be operated by trained professionals because it is very complex and dangerous to use incorrectly."

having similarities that justify making a comparison

"The prices are comparable."

"The quality of this product is comparable to much more expensive brands but it costs half the price and lasts just as long."

connected with or similar to something that has just been stated

"Draw the corresponding shape."

"Draw a line from each word to its corresponding definition and check your answers with the answer key at the back of the book."

(of a person) feeling anxious or worried

"The child is troubled."

"The troubled teenager needed counseling to deal with his anger issues and his parents hoped that therapy would help him improve."

never having existed or happened before

"The event is unprecedented."

"The unprecedented heat wave broke records that had stood for over a hundred years and caused widespread drought and crop failures across the entire region."

about to come to pass

"The event is upcoming."

"The upcoming election will determine who becomes the next mayor and both candidates are campaigning hard to win votes from citizens."

not clear or specific, lacking in detail or precision

"His answer is vague."

"The instructions were vague and confusing so nobody knew what to do and the project was delayed for several days."

including or consisting of many different types

"The menu is varied."

"The menu offers varied options including vegetarian vegan and gluten free dishes so everyone can find something they like to eat."

able to be physically harmed or wounded

"The child is vulnerable."

"The vulnerable child was easy to bully because he was smaller than the other kids and he did not have many friends."

deserving of time, effort, or attention due to inherent value or importance

"This task is worthwhile."

"The worthwhile investment in solar panels saved the family thousands of dollars on their electricity bills over the next ten years."

having the highest standard or quality

"The service is topnotch."

"The hotel provided topnotch service with friendly staff clean rooms and delicious food so we would definitely stay there again."

connected with a decline in moral standards

"The society was decadent."

"Some critics argue that the excessive materialism and superficiality of modern culture reflect a decadent society."

(of a person) not very attractive

"She is homely."

"The homely girl never worried about her appearance because she knew that her kind heart and sharp mind were much more important than her face."

significantly better or greater than what is typical or expected

"Her talent is exceptional."

"The exceptional student graduated at the top of her class and received scholarship offers from several prestigious universities."

limited to a particular person, group, or purpose

"This is an exclusive club."

"The exclusive club only accepted members who were invited by current members and the waiting list was several years long for those who hoped to join."

relating to or suitable for a whole group or class of things rather than a specific one

"The product is generic."

"The pharmacist offered a generic version of the medication which costs much less than the brand name but works exactly the same way."

not meeting the expected level of quality, skill, or ability

"The food was inadequate."

"His performance in the exam was inadequate, failing to meet the required standard."

considered a necessary and important part of something

"It is integral to success."

"Creativity and critical thinking are integral components of a well-rounded education in the modern world."

having a position or stage between two extremes, often serving as a transition or middle ground

"This is an intermediate level."

"The intermediate level class is for students who already know the basics and want to improve their grammar and vocabulary skills."

not as great or important as something or someone else

"It is a lesser evil."

"The lesser known museum is actually more interesting than the famous one and it has fewer crowds and cheaper admission prices."

related to or practicing magic

"The evening was magical."

"The children believed that the forest was magical because the trees glowed at night and they had never seen anything like it before."

(physics) possessing the attribute of attracting metal objects such as iron or steel

"The field is magnetic."

"The magnetic field around the earth protects us from harmful solar radiation and makes compasses point toward the north pole."

used to emphasize that something is nothing more than what is explicitly stated

"It's a mere scratch."

"She was disappointed to find that the beautiful antique vase was only a mere imitation."

not considered usual or normal

"The smell is peculiar."

"The peculiar smell coming from the basement turned out to be a family of skunks that had made a nest under the old wooden stairs."

(of a person) careful in choosing

"She is selective."

"The university is very selective and only accepts students with the highest grades and test scores from around the world."

existing without any others of the same type

"This is my sole car."

"He was the sole survivor of the shipwreck, a testament to his incredible resilience."

completely bare or extreme, without any embellishment or disguise

"The contrast is stark."

"The stark contrast between the rich neighborhood and the poor one was obvious and the city government promised to address the inequality."

having the highest position or rank

"He has supreme power."

"The monarch held supreme authority over all matters of state and governance within the kingdom."

(of an illness) having no cure and gradually leading to death

"The patient is terminal."

"The patient is terminal and has only a few months left to live."

in a manner that is well-timed

"Thank you for your timely help."

"Thank you for your timely help because I would not have finished the project without your assistance and support."

exceptionally grand in physical dimensions

"The support was tremendous."

"The tremendous support from the community helped the family rebuild their home after the devastating fire destroyed everything they owned."

hidden or not immediately obvious, often suggesting a deeper meaning

"The cause is underlying."

"The underlying cause of the problem was poor communication between the departments and the manager scheduled a meeting to improve teamwork."

comfortable and cozy in a way that gives a sense of being at home

"The house is homely."

"She loved the homely atmosphere of her grandmother's kitchen, filled with the scent of baking."

(of a person) capable of effectively and skillfully performing a wide range of tasks or activities

"He is a versatile actor."

"This versatile kitchen appliance can chop blend mix and even cook food so it replaces five different tools you would need."