Words to describe (fast) Movement
bolt
bounce
careen
chase
dart
dash
drive
drop
flee
flick
fly
gallop
glide
hope
hurl
hurtle
hurry
lift
plummet
plunge
propel
race
ram
run
rush
sail
scamper
scramble
scurry
shove
skip
smash
soar
speed
spin
spring
sprint
streak
stride
swat
swerve
swing
swoop
trot
whisk
zip
zoom
Words to describe Slow Movement
unhurried slow, without any worry about taking a long time measured slow, careful, and deliberate stately stately movement is slow and steady leisurely slow and relaxed sedate quiet or slow, and not likely to shock people or attract attention steady slowly and gradually continuing to change, move, or happen deliberate slow and careful lazy a lazy movement or smile is slow and relaxed languid very slow and relaxed
Words to describe the Movement of Time
at a fast speed Quickly:quickly, fast, rapid, hasty, hurried, in a flash/like a flash/quick as a flash, like a shot, frenetic, in the twinkling of an eye, like mad... after only a short time After another event or time:after, following, since, subsequently, ensuing, succeeding, beyond, subsequent, in the course of time, in time... lasting only a short time Able to be changed and lasting only a short time: variable, brief, short-term, temporary, floating, passing, short-lived, transient, fleeting.
Words to describe the Senses
Smell (Olfactory)
acidic
acrid
aromatic
camphoric
fetid flowery
foul
fragrant
fresh
funky
heady
musky
musty
nasty
noxious
pungent
perfumed
piney
rancid
savory
sharp
smelly
stinky
stuffy
sweet
Sound (Aural)
bang
blare
bleat
bray
brogue
caterwaul
chime
chirp
chortle
chuckle
clash
croak
croon
crunch
drone
fizz
grind
groan
gulp
gurgle
hoot
howl
jangle
jingle
knock
ping
plop
prattle
rap
rasp
rattle
roar
rumble
rustle
sizzle
slam
slap
slurp
snarl
strum
tap
thud
thunk
tinkle
trill
twang
warble
whack
whine
whistle
yodel
Words to describe the Senses
Taste (Gustatory)
sweet
acidic
biting
bitter
brackish
briny
dry
flavorful
fruity
full-bodied
gamy
gross
juicy
peppery
rank
rich
sharp
sour
succulent
sugary
sweet
syrupy
tangy
tart
zesty
zingy
Touch (Tactile)
Tough
bristly
burning
cold
cottony
damp
dry
feathery
frosty
furry
fuzzy
gnarled
hairy
hot
knobbed
knotted
leathery
limp
lumpy
oily
puffy
ribbed
rough
rubbery
sandy
sharp
slimy
smooth
sticky
velvety
wet
Some Desert Adjectives
Desert: harsh, dry, arid, sparse, severe, hot Rock: sharp, rough, jagged, angular Grasses: windblown, bent, dry, pale green, brown Sand: coarse, fine, glittering, shifting, rippling, sifting, white, golden Sky: pale, intense, cloudless, azure, purple, crimson Cactus: tall, short, squatty, spiny, prickly, thorny Date palm: tall, bent, leather (leaves), frayed (leaves)
Some City Adjectives
City: active, bustling, noisy, busy, clean, dirty, windy Traffic: loud, congested, snarled Buildings: old, shabby, rundown, crumbling, modern, futuristic, sleek, towering, squat Buildings (walls): brick, stone, marble, glass, steel, graffiti-covered Monuments, statues: stone, copper, carved, ancient, moss-covered, faded, green, bronze Sidewalk: concrete, cement, slick, cracked, tidy, littered, swept Paint: fresh, weathered, peeling Signs: neon, weathered, worn, bright, welcoming, flashing Buses, cars, taxis: belching, crawling, speeding, honking, waiting, screeching People: hurried, bundled, smiling, frowning, eager, rushed
Descriptive Words for People's Bodies
brunette blonde brown-eyed blue-eyed albino rosy heavy thin
fat thick short tall muscular cute attractive masculine feminine
petite tiny large small pierced tattooed scarred painted polished
Asian black African American white Caucasian Indian Spanish Irish German Italian Greek
Descriptive Words for the Appearance Of Things
dirty clean rusty musty musky dangerous hazardous bad good evil
sharp colourful boring weird angled shaved carved painted unusual
unique horrible terrifying scary calming peaceful tranquil
organized disorganized messy harrowing
Other Descriptive Words for Appearance
creepy fluffy patterned chequered circled encircled soft hard
alive dead adequate important innocent dark light
black white blue green orange red yellow purple magenta
vicious violent adorable alert beautiful bright cloudy rainy
snowy icy slippery glowing gleaming glamorous fashionable dowdy tacky steep pale stormy
Nouns to Describe Places
bank
church
cathedral
university
market
tobacco store
newsagent's
grocery
district
area
square
city
town
village
centre
region
environment
suburb
outskirts
seaside
mountain
country
valley
plain
wood
forest
field
meadow
river
stream
waterfall
lake
pond
desert
jungle
forest hill
island
cliff
beach
coastline
vegetation
pollution
detached house
cottage
terrace of houses
semi-detached house
skyscraper
bungalow
cabin
Adjectives to Describe Places
unspoilt
plain
quiet
clean
dirty
ancient
modern
industrial
mountainous
low-lying
flat
tropical
overcrowded
cosmopolitan
picturesque
agricultural
fertile
rough
barren
bleak
busy
temperate
narrow
polluted
contaminated
humid
dry
lively
monotonous
varied
cultural
traditional
developed
developing
urban
rural
foreign
local
outdoor
Descriptive Words for Disposition / Personality
happy moody sad tired angry grumpy
sick ill mean cruel intelligent dumb
stupefied shocked angered excited aroused displaced
adaptive changing in order to deal with new situations addictive someone who has an addictive personality becomes addicted to things very easily babyish like a baby born used for saying that someone had a particular condition, personal quality, name, or social status at the time when they were born classy someone who is classy has the natural ability to choose the best thing or behave in a suitable way in every situation clingy wanting to be with another person all the time in a way that is annoying constitutionally in a way that is related to your general character flawed a flawed person has some faults in their character flexible able to make changes or deal with a situation that is changing great used about someone who is nice and a pleasure to be with have used for saying what the qualities of someone’s character are inbred existing or developing as a result of inbreeding incarnate in human form: used for emphasizing that someone is very similar to what has just been mentioned inclined tending to behave in a particular way or to be interested in a particular thing innate an innate quality or ability is one that you have always had larger-than-life someone who is larger-than-life has a very strong or lively personality that impresses people very much
native native abilities or qualities are those that you have had since birth natural existing in someone from an early age natural-born showing a particular ability or tendency from an early age needy someone who is needy has emotional problems that make it difficult for them to form good relationships out-and-out showing all the qualities of a particular type of person that you do not approve of outward used about the feelings or qualities that someone seems to have but may not really have overweening used for describing a bad quality that someone has which makes them very unpleasant perfect used for emphasizing how much someone has of a particular quality personally used for emphasizing that you do not dislike someone, just something that they do or the group they belong to predisposed likely to think, feel, or behave in a particular way prone likely to do something or be affected by something, especially something bad reactive reacting to things that happen, rather than making things happen yourself sad used about people’s behaviour or appearance self-aware understanding what your own true thoughts, feelings, and abilities are self-confessed admitting to being a particular bad type of person or to having a particular negative quality snivelling often complaining or crying, in a way that is annoying sporty a sporty person likes playing sport and plays regularly temperamental relating to temperament temperate not extreme in behaviour or language
territorial territorial animals or people do not like other animals or people entering an area that they believe belongs to them thick-skinned not easily upset or offended by what other people say about you tidy a tidy person always puts their things away in the correct place Walter Mitty someone who imagines that unusual or exciting things happen to them, but whose life is in fact very ordinary wayward a wayward child or someone with wayward behaviour is difficult to control and does unexpected things a leopard can’t change its spots used for saying that someone will never change their behaviour or character a man of something a man with a particular quality or ability as a person used for talking about someone in relation to their character rather than their professional position at heart used for saying what someone’s basic character is be a bundle of something used for emphasizing that someone has a lot of a particular quality be a good/bad etc judge of something to be someone whose opinions about something are usually right, wrong, intelligent etc be made of sterner stuff to be stronger in your character than people expect be nothing if not used for emphasizing that someone or something has a lot of a particular quality deep down if you have a particular quality deep down, you have that quality, although you try to keep it hidden from other people given to something having the tendency to do something in someone’s DNA if a quality or characteristic is in someone’s DNA, it is an important part of their nature or identity in your own right as a result of your own ability, achievements, qualifications etc and not because of anyone else not be one to do something to not be the type of person who would do a particular thing
not have a bad/jealous etc bone in your body used for emphasizing that someone is not bad/jealous etc in any way on the outside used for talking about the way that someone or something seems to people, when this does not show what they are really like say this/that for someone used for admitting that someone who you do not approve of has a good quality do/is/can etc someone ever used for emphasizing that someone does something or has a particular quality someone’s bark is worse than their bite used for saying that someone is not as unpleasant or rude as they seem to be when they talk to you the complete... someone who has all the qualities needed for a particular activity through and through used for saying that someone has all the qualities of a particular type of person too clever/nice/generous etc for your own good so clever/nice/generous etc that it is a disadvantage instead of an advantage to the core used for emphasizing that an aspect of someone’s character is very strong and will not change to your fingertips if you are a particular type of person to your fingertips, you are a perfect example of that type of person, in every detail true to form/type used for saying that someone is doing exactly what you expected because this is what they usually do your old self the way that you normally were in the past, before something happened
Words to Describe Speech brokenly if someone says something brokenly, there are spaces between their words, especially because they are upset or angry colloquial used in informal conversation rather than in writing or formal language definite very clear about what you say so that everyone understands you flat said directly and definitely flatly in a firm and definite way intended to end discussion of a subject fluent spoken well and without difficulty gibbering unable to speak in a sensible way, especially because you are frightened or shocked halting with a lot of pauses between words or movements, often because of a lack of confidence imperative an imperative voice or way of speaking is confident and determined and shows that you expect to be obeyed mild used about someone’s behaviour or way of speaking oral spoken but not written plummy a plummy voice or way of speaking is considered to be typical of an English person of a high social class. This word shows that you dislike people who speak like this. shouty tending to shout a lot shrill shrill words are repeated often and in a very firm way stilted stilted movements or words are not relaxed and natural voluble voluble speech is quick and continuous well-spoken someone who is well spoken has an intelligent and pleasant way of speaking
Words to Describe Speech
adenoidal (adj): if someone’s voice is adenoidal, some of the sound seems to come through their nose appealing (adj): an appealing look/voice shows that you want help, approval, or agreement breathy (adj): with loud breathing noises brittle (adj): if you speak in a brittle voice, you sound as if you are about to cry croaky (adj): if someone’s voice sounds croaky, they speak in a low, rough voice that sounds as if they
have a sore throat dead (adj): if someone’s eyes or voice are dead, they feel or show no emotion disembodied (adj): a disembodied voice comes from someone who you cannot see flat (adj): spoken in a voice that does not go up and down; this word is often used for describing the
speech of people from a particular region fruity (adj): a fruity voice or laugh is deep and strong in a pleasant way grating (adj): a grating voice, laugh, or sound is unpleasant and annoying gravelly (adj): a gravelly voice sounds low and rough gruff (adj): this voice has a rough, low sound guttural (adj): a guttural sound is deep and made at the back of your throat high-pitched (adj): true to its name, a high-pitched voice or sound is very high hoarse (adj): someone who is hoarse, or has a hoarse voice, speaks in a low, rough voice, usually
because their throat is sore honeyed (adj): honeyed words or a honeyed voice sound very nice, but you cannot trust the person
who is speaking husky (adj): a husky voice is deep and sounds hoarse (as if you have a sore throat), often in an
attractive way low (adj): a low voice is quiet and difficult to hear; also used for describing a deep voice that has a
long wavelength matter-of-fact (adj): usually used if the person speaking knows what they are talking about (or
absolutely think they know what they are talking about) modulated (adj): a modulated voice is controlled and pleasant to listen to monotonous (adj): this kind of voice is boring and unpleasant due to the fact that it does not change
in loudness or become higher/lower nasal (adj): someone with a nasal voice sounds as if they are speaking through their nose orotund (adj): an orotund voice is loud and clear penetrating (adj): a penetrating voice is so high or loud that it makes you slightly uncomfortable plummy (adj): a plummy voice or way of speaking is considered to be typical of an English person of a
high social class; this word shows that you dislike people who speak like this quietly (adj): in a soft, quiet voice raucous (adj): a raucous voice or noise is loud and sounds rough ringing (adj): a ringing voice is very loud and clear rough (adj): a rough voice is not soft and is unpleasant to listen to shrill (adj): a shrill voice is very loud, high, and unpleasant silvery (adj): this voice is clear, light, and pleasant singsong (adj): if you speak in a singsong voice, your voice rises and falls in a musical way slurred small (adj): a small voice is quiet smoky (adj): a smoky voice is sexually attractive in a slightly mysterious way softly spoken (adj): someone who is softly spoken has a quiet, gentle voice soft-spoken (adj): speaking or said in a quiet, gentle voice sotto voce (adj, adv): in a very quiet voice stentorian (adj): a stentorian voice sounds very loud and severe strangled (adj): a strangled sound is one that someone stops before they finish making it strident (adj): this voice is loud and unpleasant taut (adj): used about something such as a voice that shows someone is nervous or angry thick (adj): if your voice is thick with an emotion, it sounds less clear than usual because of the
emotion thickly (adv): with a low voice that comes mostly from your throat thin (adj): a thin voice or sound is high and unpleasant to listen to
throaty (adj): a throaty sound is low and seems to come from deep in your throat tight (adj): shows that you are nervous or annoyed toneless (adj): does not express any emotion tremulous (adj): if your voice is tremulous, it is not steady; for example, because you are afraid or
excited wheezy (adj): a wheezy noise sounds as if it is made by someone who has difficulty breathing wobbly (adj): if your voice is wobbly, it goes up and down, usually because you are frightened, not
confident, or are going to cry booming (adj): very loud and attention-getting quavering (adv): if your voice quavers, it is not steady because you are feeling nervous or afraid a voice like a foghorn: very loud voice in an undertone: using a quiet voice so that someone cannot hear you someone’s dulcet tones: the sound of someone’s voice as they speak
Connectives
USAGE CONNECTIVE WORDS
addition of ideas
and, also, besides, further, furthermore, too, moreover, in addition, then, of
equal importance, equally important, another, as well as, plus
time
next, afterward, finally, later, last, lastly, at last, now, subsequently, then, when, soon, thereafter, after a short time, the next week (month, day, etc.), a minute later, in the meantime, meanwhile, on the following day, at length, ultimately, presently
order or sequence
first, second, (etc.), finally, hence, next, then, from here on, to begin with, last of all, after, before, as soon as, in the end, gradually
space and place
above, behind, below, beyond, here, there, to the right (left), nearby, opposite, on the other side, in the background, directly ahead, along the wall, as you turn right, at the top, across the hall, at this point, adjacent to
to signal an example
for example, to illustrate, for instance, to be specific, such as, moreover, furthermore, just as important, similarly, in the same way
results as a result, hence, so, accordingly, as a consequence, consequently, thus, since, therefore, for this reason, because of this
purpose to this end, for this purpose, with this in mind, for this reason(s)
comparison like, in the same manner (way), as so, similarly
contrast connectives
but, in contrast, conversely, however, still, nevertheless, nonetheless, yet, and yet, on the other hand, on the contrary, or, in spite of this, actually, in fact, whereas, nevertheless, notwithstanding, although
to summarize or report
in summary, to sum up, to repeat, briefly, in short, finally, on the whole, therefore, as I have said, in conclusion, as you can see, ergo