An adjective describes a noun or pronoun. In creative writing it’s important to choose the right adjective to accurately convey meaning and avoid repetition. Use punchy adjectives and avoid vague ones ( like nice, beautiful, lovely, horrible). Below is a list of adjectives I find useful.
Ragged – wind, breath, rage, face, voice
Jagged
Dutiful
Strained – silence, voice
Poisonous – stare, glare, smile, laugh
Strangled – voice, sound
Bitter – tears, taste in the mouth, sounds bitter,
Stifling
Luminous
Raw
Frozen
Hidden (distress, anger, etc.)
Chronic (persisting for a long time) – fear, fatigue, anger, rage, disappointment
Frazzled
Cold
Hot
Light
Dark
Terrible
Bitter
Sweet
Thrilling (affair)
Elegant
Robust – strong and healthy
Sharp
Blunt
Overwrought – in a state of nervous excitement or anxiety. His face, overwrought
Desperate
Wan – pale and giving the impression of illness or exhaustion. (face, smile
Sweet
Sour
Lacklustre – Lacking in vitality, force or conviction. Uninspired – smile, laugh, eyes, gaze
Peremptory – (especially of a person’s manner or actions) insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusquely imperious way. Remark, text, order, comment, tone
Strident – loud and harsh, grating (Tone, voice,)
Piercing
Attentive
Insistent
Looming – apper in a vague form. One that is large and threatening
Stoical – enduring pain and hardship without showing one’s feelings or complaining.
Acute – (of a bad, difficult, or unwelcome situation or phenomenon) present or experienced to a severe or intense degree. Acute rage, fear, nausea
Lurid – 1. very vivid in color, especially so as to create an unpleasantly harsh or unnatural effect.
2. (of a description) presented in vividly shocking or sensational terms, especially giving explicit details of crimes or sexual matters.
Detached
Dismissive
Hollow
Animated
Swiftly
To needle
Brooding
Stark
Crushing
Utterly
Feverish
Lazy
Boldly
Incandescent – white hot
Cursory – Hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.
Aching
Wilting
Blazing
Slovenly
Rot – emotional rot
Fester
Stilted
Sickening
Solemn
Feverish
Slack – loose, not taut
Blank
Intoxicating
Innocuous
Stifling
effervescent – vivacious and enthusiastic
Lurid
Sharp
Blunt
Blazing
