An extensive list of words to describe someone (Or yourself)

Whether you are looking for beautiful words to write a love letter, or something more professional, we've got you covered with plenty of positive words to describe someone. (or negative words if that's your thing!) Scroll to bottom of page for more detail!

Adjectives to describe yourself

Welcome to our List of Words to Describe Someone! This list will help you find the perfect adjective to label someone, whether that’s a character in a story, a famous historical figure, a friend, a family member, or yourself. Scroll through our list to find the perfect adjective for your purposes.

How to Use Our List of Words to Describe Someone

1. Choose a starting letter. If you are looking for an adjective that starts with a particular letter -- such as if you’re looking for an alliterative adjective -- click the letter you’re looking for. We'll automatically take you to the relevant section of our list.
2. Choose if you’d like a positive or negative adjective. If you know you want to describe someone favorably, you can choose to look at positive words to describe someone only; on the flip side, you can click the ‘negative’ button to find only negative descriptors. If you’re not sure quite what you’re looking for, choose ‘combined’ to see all the adjectives we have listed.
3. Look at all your options. The adjectives featured on this page are only the tip of the iceberg. This words to describe home page does not include all of the results, only the most common. Click the green button at the bottom of each square to see a more comprehensive list of words.

Words to Describe Someone You Love

Whether you're writing a romantic love letter to your wife or just trying to tell your family members you appreciate them, it can be hard to describe someone you love. Sometimes, it may feel like all the positive adjectives in the world aren't enough to get your feelings across. One tip about how to describe someone you love is to make sure you use specific, unique language. Though adjectives like 'special' and 'good' have their uses, being specific when describing your loved one can help make your compliments feel more genuine. For instance, instead of praising your husband as a 'good' person, you might complement his generosity or kind nature. Or, if you want to tell your wife she's beautiful, try to identify the specific features of her physical appearance or personality which make her so beautiful to you. These specific compliments are sure to have a powerful impact.

When to Use Adjectives vs. When Not To

Writing isn't always made stronger by the addition of adjectives. Depending on the topic and tone of your writing, adjectives might actually bog your writing down. So how do you know when to use them? Here are a few tips.

Use fewer adjectives in complex writing.

For some forms of writing, like highly technical papers, adjectives can distract from your main point. If a reader is already struggling to understand a difficult concept, adding extra words is unnecessarily distracting, even if they’re intended to make your writing stronger. Instead, be concise. Focus on making your arguments clear.

Use fewer adjectives in shorter pieces.

If you’re working within a word limit, be careful not to spend too much space on adjectives. At the end of the day, adjectives don’t mean anything if you don’t have space for the meat of your piece.

Use more adjectives when crafting imagery.

Adjectives are best used when creating imagery in your writing. Whether describing the face of your novel’s main character or sharing an anecdote in a personal essay, adjectives can help bring definition to a vague setting or character.

Use more adjectives when describing unexpected features.

A common mistake made with adjectives is to use them to describe common features. For instance, someone might describe a character as walking on “green grass under a blue sky.” This is a clear visual, but ultimately, it isn’t very unique. Even without the adjectives, a reader would assume that the grass is green and the sky is blue. Instead, the writer might try describing damp grass or a cloud-filled sky. These adjectives offer new information to the reader, strengthening the story's imagery. When evaluating your own use of adjectives, consider what they offer the reader. If they don’t add any unique insight, consider trimming them.

Distinguishing Between Different Adjectives

Even when you've decided it will benefit your paper to add more adjectives, remember that all adjectives are not created equal. Writers commonly search the thesaurus for flowery, unique words in the hopes of making their writing stand out, and instead, accidentally choose a word with implications they haven't considered. It's important to remember that all words, even synonyms, have slightly different tones and implications. For instance, though 'dog' and 'canine' mean the same thing, they tend to be used in different contexts and can't necessarily be substituted for each other in all situations. How often have you heard someone say, "My canine is my best friend?" Make sure you review the definition of a new word and consider its standard usage before your add it to your writing.

Feedback for Our List of Words to Describe Someone

What do you think about our List of Words to Describe Someone? Was this tool useful for you, or are there features you’d like to see added? We’d love to hear from you! Reach out using the ‘Contact Us’ page linked below to share your suggestions.

The best words to describe this list: Comprehensive. Manageable. Fun. Easy.
Click the "Positive" button and only see positive words!