An adjective is a word that describes a noun or pronoun. Adjectives can tell what kind, how many, which one, or how much. For example, this sentence uses the adjective “happy” to describe the noun “people”:
The happy people were dancing in the street.
Here are some more examples of adjectives: big, small, tall, short, young, old, empty, full.
These are called “descriptive adjectives” because they describe people or things.
There are also “limiting adjectives.” These adjectives “limit” or “restrict” the noun or pronoun they modify. For example,
- We saw a few students in the library. (few limits students)
- I have some friends in common with you. (some limits friends)
- Most of the food was eaten. (most limits food)
- All of the candy was gone. (all limits candy)
Some limiting adjectives are: all, any, few, many, most, none, some.
Now that you know what adjectives are, let’s learn how to use them!
Adjectives For People
Adjectives are words that describe or modify another person or thing in a sentence. When it comes to describing people, there are an endless supply of adjectives that can be used, depending on the person’s personality, physical appearance, or accomplishments.
If you’re looking for the perfect adjective to describe someone, here are some of the most popular options, organized by category.

Physical Appearance
When it comes to physical appearance, there are a few adjectives that are commonly used to describe people. If someone is small or thin, they might be described as “petite.” If someone is tall and muscular, they might be described as “imposing” or “intimidating.” If someone is overweight, they might be described as “rotund” or “obese.”
Personality
When it comes to personality, there are a seemingly endless supply of adjectives that can be used. If someone is shy or introverted, they might be described as “reserved” or “timid.” If someone is outgoing or extroverted, they might be described as “gregarious” or “sociable.” If someone is rude or insensitive, they might be described as “brusque” or “crude.”
Accomplishments
There are also a number of adjectives that can be used to describe someone’s accomplishments. If someone is successful or wealthy, they might be described as “ prosperous” or “affluent.” If someone is educated or intelligent, they might be described as “learned” or “erudite.” If someone is talented or skilled, they might be described as “gifted” or “accomplished.”
A
Adaptable | Adventurous | Affable |
Affectionate | Aggressive | Agreeable |
Ambitious | Amiable | Amicable |
Amusing | Anxious | Artistic |
Attentive | Attractive |
B
Bad-Tempered | Bald | Beautiful |
Bossy | Brave | Bright |
Broad-Minded |
C
Calm | Careful | Careless |
Charismatic | Charming | Chatty |
Cheeky | Cheerful | Chubby |
Clean | Clever | Clumsy |
Communicative | Compassionate | Confident |
Conscientious | Considerate | Convivial |
Courageous | Courteous | Crazy |
Creative |
D
Dazzling | Decisive | Dependable |
Determined | Diligent | Diplomatic |
Discreet | Dishonest | Disobedient |
Distracted | Drab | Dynamic |
E
Easygoing | Easy-Going | Efficient |
Elegant | Emotional | Empathetic |
Energetic | Enthusiastic | Extroverted |
Exuberant |
F
Fair-Minded | Faithful | Fancy |
Fearless | Fit | Flabby |
Forceful | Frank | Friendly |
Funny |
G
Generous | Gentle | Giving |
Glamorous | Good | Good-Tempered |
Gorgeous | Gregarious | Grumpy |
H
Handsome | Happy | Hardworking |
Hard-Working | Helpful | Helpless |
Hilarious | Honest | Humble |
Humorous | Hypocritical |
I
Imaginative | Impartial | Impatient |
Independent | Industrious | Intellectual |
Intelligent | Intuitive | Inventive |
J | K | L
Jealous | Joyful | Kind |
Kooky | Laid-Back | Lazy |
Likable | Lively | Loving |
Loyal | Lucky |

M
Magnificent | Mean | Messy |
Modest | Muscular | Mysterious |
N | O
Naughty | Neat | Nervous |
Nice | Non-Judgemental | Obedient |
Observant | Optimistic | Organized |
P
Panicky | Passionate | Patient |
Persistent | Pessimistic | Philosophical |
Pioneering | Placid | Plain |
Plucky | Plump | Polite |
Popular | Powerful | Practical |
Pro-Active | Proud |
Q | R
Quick-Witted | Quiet | Rational |
Reliable | Repulsive | Reserved |
Resourceful | Romantic | Rude |
S
Scared | Scary | Scruffy |
Self-Confident | Self-Disciplined | Selfish |
Sensible | Sensitive | Serious |
Shapely | Shy | Silly |
Sincere | Skinny | Smart |
Sociable | Socialable | Stocky |
Straightforward | Straight-Forward | Stubborn |
Supportive | Sympathetic |

T
Talkative | Thoughtful | Thoughtless |
Tidy | Timid | Tough |
Trustworthy |
U
Unassuming | Understanding | Unfriendly |
Unkempt | Unpleasant | Unsightly |
Untidy | Upbeat | Uptight |
V | W
Versatile | Warmhearted | Warm-Hearted |
Wild | Wise | Witty |
Wonderful | Worried |
Final verdict
If you’re looking for the perfect adjective to describe someone, you might want to consider using one of these adjectives. Each one has a different meaning and can be used to describe someone in a unique way.
Whether you’re looking for a word to describe someone who is kind and caring or someone who is always up for a good time, you’re sure to find the perfect adjective on this list.