Three descriptive words


120+ Words to Describe Yourself [Adjectives For Any Situation]

There are so many descriptive words out there…

And yet sometimes you may still struggle to find the right words to describe yourself.

Hey, we don’t blame you. Choosing the words to describe yourself can be a tricky task.

On the one hand, you want to show your positive traits. On the other hand, you might not want to overdo it with self-praise.

Things get even trickier when you’re applying for college or a job and you need to find the most suitable words to describe yourself.

Honestly, we know the struggle - this is why we wrote this article.

Read on to find out:
  • 95+ Best Words to Describe Yourself 
  • 45 Words to Describe Yourself in a Job Interview
  • 40 Words to Describe Yourself in a Resume
  • 40 Words to Describe Yourself on a College Application
  • Words NOT to Describe Yourself

95+ Best Words to Describe Yourself 

They say actions speak louder than words, but sometimes you can only rely on words to describe yourself.   

For example, before you can prove your professional or academic capabilities, you first have to express yourself through your college application, your interview with recruiters, or your resume. 

Your online personae - from your social media usernames to the adjectives you use to describe yourself on various platforms (e.g. a dating app) - is also defined by your choice of words. 

Considering how important all of the above is, there’s no doubt you’d want to nail the words to describe yourself. 

To help you pick the right words, we’ve compiled a list of the best 100 words to describe yourself in any situation: 

Best Words to Describe Yourself: 
  • Adaptable
  • Adept
  • Adventurous
  • Affectionate
  • Ambitious
  • Artistic
  • Assertive
  • Attentive
  • Authentic
  • Approachable
  • Balanced
  • Bright
  • Broad-minded
  • Candid
  • Cheerful
  • Chill
  • Clever
  • Communicative
  • Compassionate
  • Competitive
  • Charismatic
  • Considerate
  • Constructive
  • Courageous
  • Creative
  • Curious
  • Dependable
  • Determined
  • Direct
  • Dynamic
  • Easygoing
  • Eclectic
  • Emotional
  • Energetic
  • Enthusiastic
  • Extroverted
  • Exuberant 
  • Fearless
  • Flexible
  • Forgiving
  • Friendly
  • Fun
  • Funny
  • Generous
  • Genuine
  • Joyful
  • Happy
  • Helpful
  • Honest
  • Imaginative
  • Independent
  • Romantic
  • Risk-taker
  • Intelligent
  • Intuitive
  • Inventive
  • Inspiring 
  • Knowledgeable
  • Kind
  • Logical
  • Loyal
  • Loving
  • Mature
  • Modest
  • Motivated
  • Open-minded
  • Optimistic
  • Original
  • Outgoing
  • Passionate
  • Patient
  • Perceptive
  • Persistent
  • Pleasant
  • Practical
  • Reliable
  • Respectful
  • Responsible
  • Self-reliant
  • Sensible
  • Sensitive
  • Sincere
  • Sociable
  • Socially conscious 
  • Straightforward
  • Strong
  • Successful
  • Sympathetic
  • Tenacious
  • Thoughtful
  • Tolerant
  • Tough
  • Trustworthy
  • Understanding
  • Upbeat
  • Versatile
  • Vibrant
  • Warmhearted
  • Wise

45 Words to Describe Yourself in a Job Interview

A common job interview question is “what are 3 words to describe yourself?” 

When recruiters ask you to describe yourself, they are looking to find out two things: 

  • Do your personality and skills match the job requirements? 
  • Are you honest in your answers? 

Keep this in mind and it will be much easier to answer this typical interview question successfully.  

Now, if you’re wondering how, exactly, you should answer this question, here’s what we recommend:

  1. Choose adjectives that are relevant to the position you’re applying for (as long as they fit you, of course). 
  2. Back up your answer with examples of how you embody the quality or skill. This will prove that you are answering honestly.

Let’s see how this works through an example. Say you’re applying to be a teacher and you’re asked “what are three words to describe yourself?”   

Here’s how NOT to go about it: 

Wrong Example
  • I am creative, competitive, and tenacious.

Now, there’s nothing technically wrong with these adjectives; however, the answer isn’t the best possible for two main reasons: 

  1. Competitiveness and tenacity are not the most sought-after skills for teachers. 
  2. The claims are not backed up with concrete examples. You could really be creative, or you could be exaggerating. Without backing it up, the recruiter can’t tell which one it is.

Here’s a more interview-friendly way to answer this question: 

Correct Example
  • To begin with, I am creative - in my last school, I came up with an SAT exam preparation technique that raised the graduating class’s success rate by more than 30%. I am helpful, both to my students and colleagues - I often stay after class to clarify any questions students may have and I fill in for other teachers whenever I can. Finally, I am very passionate about my work and my students. I’ve been in the field for over 10 years, and I plan on sticking with it for as long as I can.

Here’s a list of words you can use to describe yourself in a job interview: 

Words to Describe Yourself in a Job Interview 

  • Attentive
  • Artistic
  • Ambitious
  • Analytical
  • Caring
  • Committed
  • Consistent
  • Cooperative
  • Devoted
  • Diplomatic
  • Experienced
  • Extroverted
  • Focused
  • Good listener
  • Hardworking
  • Helpful
  • Insightful
  • Innovative
  • Methodical
  • Meticulous
  • Motivated
  • Objective
  • Observant
  • Organized
  • Persevering 
  • Persuasive
  • Proactive
  • Problem solver
  • Productive
  • Professional
  • Proficient
  • Resourceful
  • Results-oriented
  • Disciplined
  • Team player
  • Thorough
  • Tireless
  • Trustworthy
  • Sociable 
  • Skilled
  • Strategic
  • Systematic

Note

Wondering what other questions might come up in a job interview? Check our list of 35+ interview questions and answers.  

40 Words to Describe Yourself in a Resume

When it comes to your resume, you won’t be directly asked to find three words to describe yourself. That doesn’t mean, however, that you shouldn’t care about the adjectives you choose to describe yourself on your resume. 

On the contrary - before even inviting you at the job interview, it’s your resume that speaks for you. So, your choice of words to describe yourself there is arguably even more important.

Of course, it’s not enough to just insert some adjectives here and there and call it a day. Instead, you need to find the right way to “sell yourself.” In this section, we’ll teach you just how you can do that.

Your resume profile is the first place to add the right words to describe yourself. Be it through a resume summary, or a resume objective, you’ll need to find at least one strong adjective to describe yourself and make a good - and lasting - impression. 

If you ask us, that’s pretty essential, considering that most recruiters spend an average of 7. 4 seconds skimming through a resume. Talk about first impressions mattering, right?

Keep in mind, though - 

Just like with the interview, plugging in some adjectives to describe yourself won’t cut it. 

  • First, you should make sure to choose adjectives relevant to the job. 
  • Second, remember to always back up your claims with examples - or, in this case, achievements. 

Let’s assume that you’re a recent college graduate applying as a Communications Assistant. Your resume objective would look something like this:

Resume Objective Example

Hard-working and passionate college graduate looking to apply up-to-date skills and strategies as a Communications Assistant at the Regional Youth Cooperation Office. 1+ years of practical experience as an intern at the Mayor’s Communications Office.  

Even if you’re a seasoned professional with many achievements to show, you’ll need an adjective to describe yourself. In such a case, your resume summary would look something like this: 

Resume Summary Example

Task-driven professional experienced in data entry, customer service, and reception duties. Able to perform accurate and efficient entry of data into administrative software. 

Get the idea? Here are some more adjectives to choose from: 

Words to Describe Yourself in a Resume

  • Accomplished
  • Accountable
  • Bold
  • Collaborative
  • Competent
  • Confident
  • Conscientious
  • Cooperative
  • Data-driven
  • Detail-oriented
  • Eager
  • Efficient
  • Emotionally intelligent
  • Entrepreneurial
  • Ethical
  • Experienced
  • Expert
  • Flexible
  • Gregarious
  • Motivated
  • Organized
  • People person
  • Persistent
  • Personable
  • Professional
  • Proficient
  • Resourceful
  • Self-assured
  • Self-starter
  • Skilled
  • Skillful
  • Sociable
  • Strategic
  • Team player
  • Thoughtful 
  • Tireless
  • Unconventional

40 Words to Describe Yourself on a College Application

The majority of college applications require that you submit a personal statement.  

Personal statements are a way to promote yourself and show why you are the right candidate for a certain program. Unlike motivation letters, where you’re supposed to explain your academic objectives, personal statements allow space for creativity. 

Thus, you can get more expressive and personal with the words to describe yourself in a college application, as opposed to your resume or job interview. As an undergrad candidate, you are supposed to highlight your strengths and show what makes you unique. 

Here are some adjectives you can use for inspiration:

Words to Describe Yourself in a College Application 

  • Artistic
  • Athletic
  • Authentic 
  • Brave
  • Committed
  • Compassionate
  • Courageous
  • Curious
  • Daring
  • Dedicated
  • Diligent
  • Down-to-earth
  • Enthusiastic
  • Extroverted
  • Fearless
  • Generous
  • Genuine
  • Go-getter
  • Idealistic
  • Imaginative 
  • Independent
  • Inspired
  • Loyal
  • Motivated
  • Musical
  • Open-minded
  • Outdoorsy
  • Positive
  • Productive
  • Resilient
  • Respectful
  • Risk-taker
  • Scholarly
  • Self-reliant
  • Sincere
  • Social butterfly
  • Studious
  • Supportive
  • Unique

10 Words NOT to Describe Yourself (Professionally)

As you can imagine, there are also words you should refrain from using to describe yourself - especially in the professional context.  

Not that these adjectives are bad per se - however, they might not arouse the expected reaction when you use them out of context. What do we mean?

Take the following example. Imagine using these words to describe yourself in a job interview: 

“How would I describe myself? Let’s see, I’m amazing, funny, and unique.” 

Now, it’d be more than OK if a colleague - or anyone, for that matter - described you this way. Calling yourself amazing in front of recruiters, however? Might be a bit too much, without really saying anything at all.

Here’s a list of our top 10 words NOT to describe yourself (outside of your friends’ circle):

  1. Amazing 
  2. Awesome 
  3. Dynamic 
  4. Funny
  5. Honest
  6. Humble
  7. Intelligent 
  8. Talented
  9. Visionary
  10. Unique

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap! We hope that by now you’re equipped with many more words to describe yourself. 

Let’s go over some of the main points we covered in the article: 

  • Many situations will require that you find the right words to describe yourself. A resume, job interview, or college application are among the most common. 
  • During a job interview, make sure to use words to describe yourself that are relevant to the job and to back up your claims with examples. 
  • Your resume profile is your chance to make a memorable first impression - scan the job ad to choose adjectives that are relevant to the position and back them up with your achievements. 
  • There are some words you should not use to describe yourself - if it can’t be backed with concrete examples if it sounds generic, or if it’s an adjective that makes more sense being said for you (and not by you), then stay away.  

100 Words & Adjectives to Describe Yourself [Interview Tips]

Whether you’re preparing for the classic interview question “Tell me about yourself” or writing your resume profile, describing yourself can be tricky. You want to be honest, but not brutally so. You want to impress, but without coming off as narcissistic.


Fortunately, as long as you follow a few guidelines when choosing the right words to describe yourself, you can create a great, long-lasting first impression.

 

Read on to learn pick the best words to describe yourself and see lists of: 

  • Positive words to describe yourself in any situation
  • Words to describe yourself in an interview
  • Words to describe yourself on a resume

 

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.

 

Create your resume now

 

 

.

Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume templates here.

 

Looking for other word lists? Check out:

  • Resume Action Words, Power Verbs, and Adjectives
  • Resume Keywords to use
  • Skill Words for Resume
  • Strengths for Resume

 

1. Positive Words to Describe Yourself

 

Describing yourself in a few words to someone who doesn’t know you is tough. It’s worth spending some time figuring out how you can make a great first impression, because once formed, first impressions are hard to shake. 

 

Regardless of the situation, the key to describing yourself is to stay upbeat and positive. Now is not the time for humility. The best words to describe yourself will be those that honestly capture your positive qualities. 

 

Here’s a list of positive words that can be used to describe yourself for any situation:

 

Positive Words to Describe Yourself

 

Positive Words to Describe Yourself

Persistent

Genuine

Patient

Enthusiastic

Disciplined

Straightforward

Passionate

Dynamic

Intelligent

Ambitious

Modest

Tough

Tenacious

Extroverted

Sympathetic

Generous

Romantic

Clever

Considerate

Independent

Resourceful

Courageous 

Witty

Chill

Fearless

Open-minded

Joyful

Practical

Energetic

Easygoing

Sincere

Motivated

Sociable

Adaptable

Truthful 

Funny

Happy

Friendly

Thoughtful

Kind

Reliable

Introverted

Warmhearted

Loyal

Bright

Easygoing

Adventurous

Emotional

Optimistic

Affectionate

Honest

Versatile

Flexible

Loving

Energetic

Sensitive

Exuberant

Gentle

Cheerful

Intuitive

Understanding

Helpful

Hard-working

Determined

Attentive

Self-confident

 

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

Create my resume now

When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

2. Words to Describe Yourself in an Interview 

 

One common interview question goes something like this: “What are 5 words to describe yourself?”. The stakes are higher, but the same rules from above apply (stay positive and be honest). The only difference is now you have to be more specific. 

 

When the hiring manager asks this question, they are trying to assess whether you have the personality and the skills needed to excel on the job. The key to nailing this job interview question is to stay relevant and provide evidence

 

If the adjectives you use to describe yourself are irrelevant to the job, chances are the HR manager won’t be impressed. Likewise, anyone can say they are creative and hardworking. You need to follow up the adjectives with examples of how you demonstrate that quality. 

 

Let’s say a nurse is applying for a job at a hospital and the interviewer asks “What are three good words to describe yourself?” Let’s see an example that misses the mark.

 

WRONG
I’m reliable, cheerful, and … shy.

 

Cue the awkward pause when the HR manager is waiting for a follow-up that never comes. 

 

And of course there’s nothing wrong with being shy, but shyness is irrelevant to the position at hand.

 

Okay, how can we improve the above response?

 

What Are 3 Words to Describe Yourself

 

EXAMPLE
Let’s see. I’m reliable—I was so consistent in updating patient’s charts that I was promoted to a position responsible for training new hires. I’m very cheerful—Studies show that positivity can have a huge effect on patient recovery times, so I smile often and crack jokes whenever the time is right. And I’m energetic—In my last position at a long-term care facility, I was single-handedly caring for up to 15 patients per shift. That required me to move fast while still paying attention to small details.

 

Wow—Now that’s an answer. 

 

Highly relevant, honest, solid work experience and with evidence to back it all up. 

 

 

Here’s a list of professional words to use in case you’re asked “What are the three best words to describe yourself?” in an interview:

 

Words to Describe Yourself in an Interview 

 

Words to Describe Yourself in an Interview

Resourceful

Focused

Reliable

Motivated

Methodical

Proactive

Insightful

Disciplined

Organized

Results-oriented

Energetic

Ambitious

Engaged

Creative

Persuasive

Diligent

Thorough

Analytical

Persistent

Passionate

Dynamic

Dedicated

People-oriented

Team player

Driven

Skillful

Data-driven

Self-starter

Experienced

Calculated

Knowledgeable

Honest

Devoted

Attentive

Meticulous

Professional

Patient

Empathetic

Structured

Read more: How to Answer the "Tell Me About Yourself" Interview Question

3. Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume

 

No matter what type of resume you’re writing, a short resume profile at the top can be a great way to make an elevator pitch that you’re the right candidate for the job. After all, recruiters are pressed for time. According to hiring statistics, corporate job offers receive 250 applications on average.

 

The secret to describing yourself in a resume introduction is to use adjectives relevant to the job and mention achievements that will wow the recruiter. You also want to tailor your resume introduction to the job posting, but don’t copy the job ad word for word! A survey found that 44% of hiring managers automatically reject resumes that appear to duplicate the job posting. 

 

Here’s a list of positive words to describe yourself on a resume:

 

Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume

 

Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume

Thorough

Skilled

Systematic

Passionate

Resourceful

Strategic

Meticulous

Artistic

Unconventional

Attentive

Experienced

Conscientious

Tireless

Personable

Detail-oriented

Patient

Team player

Methodical

Expert

Persevering

Innovative

Ambitious

Unique

Extroverted

Proficient

Cooperative

Caring

Data-driven

Accomplished

Creative

Gregarious

Professional

People-person

Problem solver

Skillful

Sociable

Read more: "What's Your Greatest Weakness" Interview Question: How to Answer

 

 

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

 

Create my cover letter now

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

That’s a wrap! Do you have any questions regarding these words to describe yourself? How do you describe yourself in interviews or on a resume? I’d love to hear from you. Let’s chat in the comment section!

Means of communication of sentences in the text

Sentences in speech should be connected by a common theme - this helps to express thoughts logically and clearly. In Russian, there are special techniques for this - means of communication. In this article, we will tell you what are the ways and means of connecting sentences in the text, and show with examples how they help to make speech beautiful and coherent.

Ways of linking sentences in text

In order for a set of sentences to be called a text, they must be linked to each other. Three types of connection are used for this:

Let's discuss them and see how they work.

Sequential , or chain link is a way of linking sentences in the text, in which each next sentence is connected to the previous one.

To make it easier to understand, let's take a look at the diagram below. On it, we depicted how the structure of sentences in the text looks like, connected in a consistent way.

Example of text with a chain link between sentences:

Dawn has already dawned over the mountaintops in the east. Its rays were soft, yellow-pink and soothing. They affectionately touched the crowns of trees and peered through their branches.

Parallel connection is a way of connecting sentences in the text, in which all the following sentences are connected with the first one, develop and specify it.

The diagram will help you understand the features of this type of connection. Let's take a look at her.

Example of text with a parallel link between sentences:

There was no exact task at the craft lesson, but we all already knew what we wanted to make. Vanya and the other guys made a birdhouse each. I spent the whole lesson burning patterns on the board.

Mixed link is a way of linking sentences in a text that combines serial and parallel link.

An example of a text with a mixed relationship between sentences:

A few minutes later I waited for my own: everything around came to life. Swifts sang somewhere high above my head. A red squirrel with a fluffy tail carefully descended to the ground, grabbed an acorn and tried to gnaw it. It was not easy: his strong shell still did not want to give in.

In this example, the second and third sentences refine the first. This means that there is a parallel connection between them. At the same time, the fourth sentence is connected only with the third - there is a chain connection between them. It turns out that in this paragraph the sentences are connected in two ways: parallel and chain. Hence, the connection in this text is mixed.

Test Yourself

Write a short text of 3-4 sentences for each of the communication methods we have studied in this section.

Demo lesson in Russian

Take the test at the introductory lesson and find out what topics separate you from the "five" in Russian.

Means of communication of sentences in the text

As we mentioned at the beginning, in Russian the means of communication connect sentences in the text with a common idea. They allow ideas to flow smoothly from one to another and complement each other. In total, there are three types of such means: lexical, morphological and syntactic.

Each of these three types includes several means of communication in the proposal. In fact, there are more than we will consider today. You will meet the rest in 7th grade.

Lexical means of communication of sentences

Lexical means of communication of sentences in Russian include:

Consider each of these means of communication with examples.

  1. Lexical repetition is the repetition of the same word in sentences.

    There was a quiet park in that city, which is why I remember it. And next to the park there are rows of cozy cafes.

  2. Antonyms are words that refer to the same part of speech, sound and spell differently, and also have opposite meanings.

    Light flickered for the last time in a discharged flashlight. And then darkness came.

  3. Synonyms are words that refer to the same part of speech, sound and are spelled differently, but are close in meaning.

    On the way home, I met the neighbor's children. The guys ran barefoot across the grass, trying to catch up with the floating dandelion seeds.

  4. Words with the same root are words that have the same roots and refer to the same or different parts of speech.

    It was noticeable that my sister yearned for the city. She saw a special charm in the city streets.

  5. Descriptive phrases are phrases that do not directly name an object, but only describe its properties.

    At least once in your life you should read something from Shakespeare! The plays of the great British playwright know how to touch a nerve.

Check yourself

Read the sentences and determine which lexical means of communication are found in them.

  1. Oh, how I miss the village! Village vegetables and fruits are the healthiest!

  2. If you walk past the estate without turning, you will come to an apple orchard. In the garden you will find a lonely arbor - the treasures are hidden there.

  3. In the evening a lot of people gathered on the square. People sang, sold fresh pastries and warmed each other with smiles.

  4. Noise abruptly stops. There was complete silence in the room.

  5. The sun was merciless today. The bright luminary burned with its rays so much that we did not want to go out into the street.

Morphological means of connecting sentences

Among the morphological means of connecting sentences in the text, the following can be distinguished:

  • personal pronouns,

  • possessive pronouns,

  • demonstratives,

  • adverbs.

Now let's see how exactly they connect sentences.

  1. Personal pronouns are pronouns that point to an object without naming it.

    The dog at the station looked like a stray. As I approached, she waved her tail amiably.

  2. Possessive pronouns are pronouns that indicate who or what an object belongs to.

    Maria entered the room when the storm subsided. Her silky hair, as always, was braided into a tight braid.

  3. Demonstrative pronouns are such pronouns that point to an object, its attribute, quantity, and thus distinguish it from other objects.

    As we walked through the city, I smelled freshly baked bread in a shop. This smell was most dear to my soul.

  4. Adverbs are an independent invariable part of speech that denotes a sign of an action or a sign of a sign.

    Looping between the houses, I soon came to the square. It was early in the morning, so it was still deserted there.

Check yourself

Read the sentences and determine which morphological means of communication are found in them.

  1. I went up to the oak tree and touched it with my hand. Its thick bark was cold and fragrant.

  2. After school, I went to the football field. The rest of the guys from the school team also came there.

  3. I looked at the flowers in the greenhouse. Surprisingly, they managed to bloom overnight.

  4. I asked a fellow traveler where he was going. He answered with silence.

Syntactic means of connecting sentences

Syntactic means of connecting sentences in the text include, for example, introductory words and constructions . These are words or combinations of words that have no meaning in themselves, but at the same time enhance the emotional assessment, express the confidence or doubt of the speaker.

First of all, it was worth leaving early if you wanted to catch the train. Secondly, I advise you to carefully look at the schedule next time.

Test Yourself

Now that the theory is over, let's consolidate the new material. Below you will find pairs of sentences that are linked together by one of the means of communication. Read them and decide which ones.

  1. An hour later, the darkness of the night receded. There was a pink light on the horizon.

  2. Go to Nikolaevo in the summer if you want to take a break from the hustle and bustle. Those lands have always been famous for their hospitality.

  3. Sometimes I miss school. School days were truly carefree.

  4. While walking, I came across a lake. Its cold surface in the light of the moon seemed crystal.

  5. At noon we reached the mountain pass. Our guide was already waiting for us there.

If you want to explore this topic in more depth, we recommend that you consider additional classes. In the lessons at the Skysmart online Russian language school, you will learn how to identify the types of connection between sentences and use them skillfully when writing your own texts. And if you have gaps in your knowledge of the Russian language, the teacher will help you find and close them. Explore the learning platform and take a proficiency test during an introductory lesson - it's free.

Russian cheat sheets for parents

All Russian language rules at hand

Adjectives to describe places

Summer is coming and the moment is approaching when you will forget about work for a week or two and go on vacation. Traveling and vacations are, of course, emotions. And emotions are best conveyed by adjectives.

In this article, I will introduce you to descriptive vocabulary that can (and should) be used to describe different places. All words are presented with transcription, which is not just here, but so that you pay attention to it and immediately memorize the word with the correct stress and pronunciation. In addition, when learning new adjectives, try to connect them with the knowledge that you already have: synonyms and antonyms, with those words (verbs and nouns) from which they originated. I will also talk about this.

Let's go beyond the usual elementary good, bad and beautiful and look at more "advanced" descriptive vocabulary that will help make your speech rich and colorful. By the way, this article will be useful not only for those who want to improve their level and communicate more freely, but also for everyone who is preparing for the oral and written parts of the international IELTS, TOEFL, FCE, CAE exams.

Positive and neutral adjectives

Breathtaking ['breθˌteɪkɪŋ] - literally: breathtaking. It is formed from the words breath (breath) and take (take). It can also be translated as amazing, amazing, delightful.

A breathtaking view
A breathtaking scenery

Busy ['bɪzɪ] – lively, fussy.

Busy squares of London

Charming ['ʧɑːmɪŋ] – very pleasant, charming

Charming narrow streets

Compact [ˌkəm'pækt] compact, small. Pretty much the same as small. More synonyms for the adjective small in this article.

Compact historical center

Contemporary [kən'tempərərɪ] – modern, new, modernist. A more popular synonym is modern ['mɔd(ə)n] - modern, fashionable.

Contemporary buildings
Modern architecture

Cosmopolitan [ˌkɔzmə'pɔlɪt(ə)n] – multinational.

New York is a cosmopolitan city. New York is a cosmopolitan city.

Delightful [dɪ'laɪtful] - delightful, charming. The adjective comes from the word delight (pleasure, enjoyment) with the suffix -ful, which means fullness. Read more about the -ful suffix in this article.

A delightful mountain village

Enchanting [en'ʧɑːntɪŋ] – bewitching, bewitching. The meaning is very close to the word charming.

An enchanting view of the lake

Exciting [ɪk'saɪtɪŋ] - exciting, amazing. The word is a derivative of the verb to excite (to delight, greatly interest, excite).

An exciting view from the top of the mountain - amazing view from the top of the mountain

Exquisite [ɪk'skwɪzɪt, ek-] – refined, sophisticated.

Exquisite restaurants and shops

Famous ['feɪməs] - famous, famous. The adjective comes from the noun fame (glory).

We saw famous fountains and squares. We saw the famous fountains and squares.

Fascinating ['fæsɪneɪtɪŋ] - very interesting, amazing. The basis is the verb to fascinate ['fæsɪneɪt] (to delight, delight, enchant). Fascinating is the same as "very interesting", so the very amplifier is not used with this adjective, otherwise the meaning will be "very very interesting". Read more about adjectives that you can't say very in Gradable/ Non gradable Adjectives. And if you decide to use the adjective fascinating, then please pronounce it correctly - with the stress on the first syllable. Transcription at your service.

The architecture of the town is fascinating. – The architecture of the city is amazing.

Gorgeous ['gɔːʤəs] - magnificent, beautiful, excellent.

A gorgeous castle

Historic [hɪs'tɔrɪk] - historical, memorable. Do not confuse with historical. A very detailed explanation of the difference between adjectives with -ic and -ical suffixes in this material.

Rome is full of historic places. Rome is full of historical places.

Huge [hjuːʤ] – big, gigantic, enormous, huge.

Angkor Wat is a huge temple. Angkor Wat is a huge temple.

Industrial [ɪn'dʌstrɪəl] - industrial, industrial.

We drove through the industrial area of ​​the city. We drove through the industrial part of the city.

Invigorating [ɪn'vɪg(ə)reɪtɪŋ] – inspiring, inspiring, energizing. This adjective comes from the verb to invigorate (to inspire, inspire). Pay attention to the accent!

The atmosphere of Barcelona is very invigorating. – The atmosphere of Barcelona is very inspiring.

Lively ['laɪvlɪ] - lively, picturesque, lively. Do not confuse lively with the words alive and living (alive, in the sense not dead - about beings).

The city center is lively even early in the morning. The city center is busy even in the early morning.

Mysterious [mɪ'stɪərɪəs] - mysterious, mysterious, Comes from the word mystery - mystery, riddle.

The mysterious old churches and caves - mysterious old churches and caves

Picturesque [ˌpɪkʧ(ə)'resk] – picturesque.

And picturesque valley is a picturesque valley.

Rural ['ruər(ə)l] – rustic, rural.

The rural Tuscany impressed us a lot. – The countryside of Tuscany impressed us very much.

Thrilling [θrɪlɪŋ] - exciting, exciting. From the verb to thrill, from which, by the way, the name of the popular film genre: thriller.

The thrilling view of Niagara falls

Tiny ['taɪnɪ] – small, tiny. Let me remind you that there are more synonyms for the adjectives little and small in this article.

The hotel room was tiny. – The hotel room was tiny.

Trendy ['trendɪ] - fashionable, stylish. Of course, the source word is trend (direction, trend in fashion, art).

Trendy streets of Tokyo - stylish streets of Tokyo

Urban ['ɜːb(ə)n] – urban, opposition to rural.

I prefer holidays in urban areas. I prefer to spend my holidays in the city.

Vast [vɑːst] - huge, vast, huge, boundless, boundless, endless.

The vast desert - endless desert

Vibrant ['vaɪbrənt] - lively, energetic, full of life. It comes from the verb to vibrate [vaɪ'breɪt] - to vibrate. The adjective vibrant describes places that are always in motion.

Ibiza is a vibrant place. Ibiza is a place full of life.

Negative adjectives

Boring ['bɔːrɪŋ] – boring, uninteresting.

Holiday in a small village can be boring. A vacation in a small village can be boring.

Bustling ['bʌslɪŋ] bustling, noisy, restless. It comes from the word bustle - commotion, vanity or make noise, fuss. A better known synonym for noisy.

The main streets of megacities are always bustling. The main streets of big cities are always very noisy.
It was noisy even at night. It was noisy even at night.

Desert ['dezət] - deserted, abandoned, deserted, uninhabited. The adjective is derived from the word desert ['dezət] (desert).

Some people like deserted beaches. Some people like deserted beaches.

Dull [dʌl] - boring, gloomy, dull.

They say London is a very dull place in winter. London is said to be a very dull place in winter.

Enervating ['e̱nə(r)veɪtɪŋ] – tiresome, hilarious.

The group tours can be enervating. – Group tours can be very tiring.

Hectic ['hektɪk] - fussy, too noisy.

Compared to my hometown, Moscow is too hectic. – Compared to my hometown, Moscow is very noisy.

Plain [pleɪn] - plain, ordinary.

Berlin turned out to be a plain city. Berlin turned out to be an ordinary city.

Overcrowded [ˌəuvə'kraudɪd] - overcrowded, full of people. The prefix over- (over-, re-) and the adjective crowded (from the word crowd - crowd). The blog has a whole lesson dedicated to the prefix over.

I disliked the central square as it was overcrowded. – I did not like the central square, it was overcrowded with people.

Sprawling ['sprɔːlɪŋ] - randomly built up, huge. From the verb to sprawl [sprɔːl] - stretch, stretch, spread in all directions. Some cities do just that.

Istanbul is a sprawling city. Istanbul is a huge city.

Polluted [pə'luːtɪd] - polluted. Together with the adjective, memorize the verb to pollute (to pollute) and the noun pollution (pollution).

Beijing was even more polluted than I imagined. Beijing was even dirtier than I imagined.

Packed [pækt] - overcrowded, overcrowded, crowded. The adjective is close in meaning to crowded and overcrowded.

The museums were packed with tourists. The museums were overflowing with tourists.

Pricey ['praɪsɪ] - expensive, the same as expensive.

Staying in the center of Copenhagen can be quite pricey. – Staying in a hotel in the center of Copenhagen can be quite expensive.

Old-fashioned [ˌəuld'fæʃ(ə)nd] - old, old-fashioned.

The hotels on the island were old-fashioned and uncomfortable. The hotels on the island were old-fashioned and uncomfortable.

Touristy ['tuərɪstɪ] - crowded with tourists.

We wanted to go somewhere not touristy. We wanted to go somewhere where there are no tourists.

Yes, there are a lot of words, but it is absolutely necessary to memorize everything at once. Highlight those that you already knew, but did not use in speech. Surely you have come across these on the list. From the words that are new to you, choose 5-10 and try to use them instead of the adjectives you are used to. When this portion of new vocabulary comes into your life, take a few more. This way you will always have the right words to express your thoughts in English and stop using the same simple adjectives good, bad and interesting.

Memory exercise: write down in a column the names of countries, cities, places you have visited or want to visit. Next to each, write down the adjective associated with it that best describes the place.


Learn more