Necessary Adjectives: English Vocabulary List

noticeable and easily understood

"The answer is obvious."

"The answer was so obvious that everyone felt embarrassed for not having figured it out much earlier than they actually did."

unusual in a way that stands out as different from the expected or typical

"His behavior is odd."

"It was odd that he did not show up for the meeting because he is usually very punctual and reliable about such things."

exercising authority, influence, or control in a way that significantly affects outcomes or decisions

"The leader is powerful."

"The influential politician wielded powerful sway over the legislative process, shaping new laws."

occurring or existing before what is being mentioned

"I had a previous appointment."

"I had a previous appointment so I could not attend the meeting that was scheduled for today."

having the most importance or influence

"His primary goal is health."

"The primary goal of the new policy is to reduce pollution and protect the environment for future generations to enjoy."

happening infrequently or uncommon in occurrence

"This coin is rare."

"The rare blood type is found in less than one percent of the population so blood banks often struggle to find donors who can help patients."

involving or related to the physical activity of sex

"The joke was not sexual."

"The movie contained sexual content so it was not appropriate for children under seventeen years old."

having a surface that is even and free from roughness or irregularities

"The surface is smooth."

"The smooth surface of the lake reflected the mountains perfectly creating a mirror like image that was breathtakingly beautiful to see."

located in the direction of the south

"The coast is southern."

"The southern part of the state is warmer than the north so many retirees move there to live."

communicated orally rather than in written form

"Spanish is a spoken language here."

"Spanish is the most spoken language in this neighborhood after English because many immigrants live there."

up to now or the time stated

"She is still sleeping."

"She is still waiting for the bus at the stop because it has not arrived despite being twenty minutes late."

appropriate for a certain situation or purpose

"This dress is suitable."

"This dress is suitable for a wedding because it is elegant and not too casual or revealing."

having a low chance of happening or being true

"That is unlikely."

"It is unlikely that she will arrive on time because her flight was delayed by several hours this morning."

feeling disturbed or distressed due to a negative event

"She is upset."

"She was upset about the argument with her best friend and cried alone in her room for hours."

previously owned or utilized by someone else

"This is a used car."

"This is a used car so it has some scratches but it runs perfectly well for its age."

worth a large amount of money

"This painting is valuable."

"The old painting turned out to be extremely valuable and the family sold it for millions of dollars at an auction."

a movie or book that usually involves the lives and adventures of cowboys and settlers in American West

"The Western was old-fashioned."

"The classic Western film features a lone cowboy riding through the desert and confronting outlaws in a dusty town."

presented in writing rather than in speech or by visual means

"This is a written agreement."

"The written agreement was signed by both parties and filed away for safekeeping in the office."

related to or involving only one certain thing

"Please be more specific."

"Please be more specific about the problem so I can help you find a solution."

approved, authorized, or carried out by a recognized authority

"This is an official document."

"The official document must be signed by a witness and then notarized to be considered valid."

no longer used, supported, etc. by the general public, typically belonging to an earlier period in history

"Her dress is old-fashioned."

"Her old fashioned dress looked like something from the nineteen fifties with a full skirt and lace collar."

(of a place or space) located outside in a natural or open-air setting, without a roof or walls

"We love outdoor activities."

"The outdoor concert was canceled because of the heavy rain and strong winds that arrived suddenly."

possessing great strength or force

"The engine is powerful."

"The powerful storm caused widespread damage, leaving many without electricity for several days."

occurring earliest in time or development

"This is primary school."

"The company's primary objective is to increase market share by introducing innovative new products."

happening infrequently or uncommon in occurrence

"The coin is rare."

"It is rare to see a wild wolf in this region because they were hunted almost to extinction many years ago."

measured or judged in comparison to something else

"It is a relative success."

"The success of the project was relative to the limited resources available at the time."

having an uneven or jagged texture

"The rock is rough."

"The rough surface of the old wooden table needed to be sanded down before they could apply a new coat of paint on top."

relating to or based on the principles and methods of science

"We need a scientific approach."

"The scientific study proved that exercise is good for both physical and mental health in many ways."

having less importance or value when compared to something else

"This is a secondary concern."

"While the color is nice, its durability is a secondary consideration for this particular purchase."

having a point or edge that can pierce or cut something

"The knife is sharp."

"The sharp knife cut through the tomato easily without squashing it so she could make perfect slices for her sandwich at lunch."

having or making little or no sound

"The room is silent."

"The silent forest was peaceful and calm with no sound except for the wind blowing through the trees."

having a surface that is even and free from roughness or irregularities

"The sauce is smooth."

"The sauce is smooth and has no lumps or chunks of anything in it at all."

commonly recognized, done, used, etc.

"The size is standard."

"The standard size for a shipping container is twenty feet long and eight feet wide all over the world."

lacking motion

"The cat is still."

"The statue remained perfectly still, its intricate details untouched by the passing of time."

very good, pleasant, or impressive

"You did a super job."

"You did a super job on the project so I am giving you a bonus this month."

indicating something that is at its greatest degree possible

"It's a total mess."

"The unexpected storm caused total devastation to the coastal town, leaving many homeless."

having a low chance of happening or being true

"It is unlikely to rain."

"It is unlikely to snow in April because the weather is already getting warm and sunny."

feeling disturbed or distressed due to a negative event

"She is upset."

"She was upset about the argument with her best friend and cried alone in her room for hours."

positioned in the direction of the west

"Go to the western side."

"The explorers charted a course towards the western territories, seeking new lands and resources."

relatively hard and resistant to being changed into a different shape by force

"The bed is firm."

"The firm mattress helped his back pain disappear completely after only a few weeks of sleeping well."

having a position or state equally distant from two extremes

"I am in the middle seat."

"I am in the middle seat on the airplane which is uncomfortable because I have no window or aisle access."

caring and attentive to the needs, feelings, or well-being of others

"He is thoughtful."

"He bought her a thoughtful gift that showed he had been paying attention to her interests and hobbies throughout their time together as friends."