Updated on December 28, 2024
by PushtoLearn
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Adjectives That Start with A

Adjectives starting with "A" can describe a variety of emotions, characteristics, or states, ranging from positive traits like "amiable" to negative ones like "apathetic."

List of Positive Adjectives That Start With A

Adjective

Definition

Example

Able

Having the power or skill to do something.

She is an able leader who inspires her team.

Abiding

Continuing without change; enduring.

They share an abiding friendship.

Abundant

Existing in large quantities.

The farm produced an abundant harvest.

Absolute

Total, complete, or perfect.

He has absolute confidence in his abilities.

Accepting

Willing to tolerate or embrace differences.

She is accepting of other cultures and ideas.

Accountable

Responsible for one’s actions.

Each employee is accountable for their work.

Accurate

Free from error; precise.

The report provided accurate details.

Adept

Highly skilled or proficient.

She is adept at managing complex situations.

Admirable

Deserving respect or approval.

His dedication to charity is truly admirable.

Adroit

Clever or skillful in handling situations.

Her adroit handling of the crisis saved the day.

Advanced

Ahead in progress or development.

The city has advanced infrastructure systems.

Advantageous

Providing an advantage; beneficial.

The deal was advantageous for all parties.

Affable

Friendly, easy to talk to.

His affable manner makes him a great host.

Affectionate

Showing fondness or tenderness.

The dog was incredibly affectionate with the children.

Alacritous

Eager, enthusiastic, and ready.

She was alacritous to start her new job.

Allegiant

Loyal or faithful to a cause.

He remained allegiant to his values.

Alluring

Powerfully attractive or charming.

The artist’s work has an alluring quality.

Altruistic

Selflessly concerned for others’ welfare.

His altruistic actions inspired everyone.

Amaranthine

Everlasting or unfading.

Her amaranthine love for art was undeniable.

Amazing

Causing great surprise or wonder.

The sunset was absolutely amazing.

Ambitious

Having a strong desire for success.

She is an ambitious entrepreneur.

Amiable

Having a friendly and pleasant manner.

He has an amiable personality that lights up the room.

Amenable

Open to suggestions or cooperation.

The team was amenable to trying new strategies.

Angelic

Exceedingly kind or virtuous, like an angel.

Her angelic smile warmed everyone’s hearts.

Appealing

Attractive or interesting.

The design is modern and appealing to young buyers.

Appropriate

Suitable or fitting for a situation.

Her outfit was appropriate for the occasion.

Approachable

Easy to talk to or deal with.

The professor is very approachable during office hours.

Ardent

Passionate or enthusiastic.

He is an ardent supporter of renewable energy.

Attractive

Pleasing to the eye or mind.

The hotel has an attractive view of the beach.

August

Inspiring respect and admiration.

The judge’s august presence commanded the courtroom.

Auspicious

Conducive to success; favorable.

The event began on an auspicious note.

Awesome

Extremely impressive or inspiring awe.

The fireworks display was absolutely awesome.

List of Negative Adjectives That Start With A

Adjective

Definition

Example

Abhorrent

Causing disgust or hatred.

His behavior was utterly abhorrent to everyone.

Abject

Extremely bad, unpleasant, or degrading.

They lived in abject poverty.

Abominable

Causing moral revulsion.

The conditions in the factory were abominable.

Abrasive

Harsh or unkind in manner or substance.

His abrasive tone made the discussion difficult.

Abusive

Involving physical or verbal harm.

She left the abusive relationship for her safety.

Abysmal

Extremely bad or appalling.

The team's performance was abysmal this season.

Acerbic

Sharp and forthright in speech or manner.

His acerbic comments hurt everyone in the room.

Acrimonious

Bitter and angry in tone or manner.

The debate turned acrimonious quickly.

Adversarial

Involving conflict or opposition.

Their adversarial relationship hindered progress.

Afraid

Feeling fear or anxiety.

She was afraid to speak up during the meeting.

Aggressive

Ready to attack or confront.

His aggressive driving caused an accident.

Agonizing

Causing great physical or mental pain.

The wait for results was agonizing.

Ailing

In poor health or condition.

The ailing economy showed no signs of recovery.

Alienated

Feeling isolated or estranged.

She felt alienated from her friends after the move.

Aloof

Not friendly or forthcoming; distant.

He remained aloof throughout the entire event.

Amoral

Lacking a moral sense; unethical.

The character's amoral decisions shocked the audience.

Annoying

Causing irritation or frustration.

His constant interruptions were incredibly annoying.

Antagonistic

Showing hostility or opposition.

Her antagonistic attitude made teamwork difficult.

Apocalyptic

Relating to doom or catastrophic events.

The weather forecast sounded almost apocalyptic.

Argumentative

Inclined to argue or dispute.

His argumentative nature frustrated everyone.

Arrogant

Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance.

She comes across as arrogant during discussions.

Asinine

Extremely foolish or stupid.

His asinine remark ended the conversation.

Avaricious

Greedy for wealth or material gain.

The avaricious CEO prioritized profits over employees.

Awkward

Causing discomfort or embarrassment.

The conversation ended on an awkward note.

Illustration of Adjectives That Start with A

List of Descriptive Adjectives That Start With A

Adjective

Definition

Example

Abloom

Covered with or showing flowers in bloom.

The garden was abloom with vibrant roses.

Aesthetic

Concerned with beauty or artistic expression.

The room had an aesthetic appeal with its minimal decor.

Aglow

Glowing with light or emotion.

Her face was aglow with happiness.

Airy

Spacious, light, and well-ventilated.

The airy room felt fresh and inviting.

Alabaster

Smooth and white like the mineral alabaster.

Her alabaster skin glowed under the soft light.

Alight

Lit up or illuminated.

The city was alight with festive decorations.

Amber

Yellowish-orange in color, like the resin.

The sunset painted the sky in amber hues.

Ambient

Relating to the surrounding environment.

The ambient music created a relaxing atmosphere.

Amethyst

Purple, like the gemstone.

She wore a dress of deep amethyst color.

Ample

More than enough; abundant.

The hotel offered ample space for all guests.

Appetizing

Appealing to the appetite; delicious-looking.

The chef presented an appetizing plate of food.

Aquamarine

Bluish-green, like the gemstone or sea.

The aquamarine waters sparkled under the sun.

Arctic

Extremely cold, like the Arctic region.

The wind had an arctic chill that bit through their coats.

Aromatic

Having a pleasant or distinctive smell.

The aromatic scent of fresh herbs filled the kitchen.

Aubergine

Dark purple, like the color of an eggplant.

She decorated the room with aubergine cushions.

Azure

Bright blue, like a clear sky.

The azure sky stretched endlessly above the sea.

List of Neutral Adjectives That Start With A

Adjective

Definition

Example

Academic

Related to education or scholarly activities.

She excels in academic subjects like mathematics.

Acceptable

Satisfactory or adequate.

The proposal is acceptable to all parties involved.

Accessible

Easy to approach or reach.

The website is accessible from any device.

Active

Engaged in action or movement.

He has an active lifestyle, enjoying sports every weekend.

Actual

Real, true, or existing in fact.

The actual cost of the project was higher than expected.

Adamant

Firm or unyielding in attitude or opinion.

She was adamant that the event should proceed as planned.

Additional

Added, more than what is usual.

The team required additional resources to finish the project.

Administrative

Relating to the management or organization of something.

The administrative staff is responsible for scheduling meetings.

Alive

Living, in a state of existence.

The flowers in the garden are still alive despite the cold weather.

Alluvial

Relating to or derived from alluvium (soil or sediment).

The alluvial soil in the valley is rich in nutrients.

Ambivalent

Having mixed or contradictory feelings about something.

She felt ambivalent about moving to a new city.

Ancient

Very old; from a long time ago.

The ruins are ancient, dating back thousands of years.

Annual

Happening once a year.

The company holds an annual meeting for all employees.

Anonymous

Without a known identity.

The donation was made by an anonymous benefactor.

Applicable

Relevant or appropriate in a situation.

The guidelines are applicable to all employees.

Astronomical

Relating to astronomy or vast in scope.

The astronomical cost of the mission surprised everyone.

Audio

Relating to sound or hearing.

The audio system in the car provides high-quality sound.

Auricular

Relating to the ear or hearing.

He had an auricular problem that affected his hearing.

Automatic

Working by itself with minimal human control.

The doors are automatic and open when you approach.

Available

Able to be used or obtained.

The report is available for download on the website.

Average

Typical or usual, representing a mean.

The average score for the class was 85%.

Avuncular

Relating to an uncle, or resembling one in kindness.

His avuncular nature made him the perfect mentor.

Aware

Conscious or knowledgeable of something.

She was aware of the challenges ahead.

1. Personality Traits

  • Amiable: Friendly and pleasant in nature.
    Example: "Her amiable smile brightened the room."

  • Arrogant: Displaying a sense of superiority.
    Example: "His arrogant attitude made collaboration difficult."

2. Physical Characteristics

  • Angular: Having sharp corners or outlines.
    Example: "The modern furniture has a very angular design."

  • Athletic: Physically strong and active.
    Example: "Her athletic form made her a natural at sports."

3. Emotional States

  • Apathetic: Lacking interest or enthusiasm.
    Example: "He was apathetic about the project, which worried his team."

  • Admirable: Worthy of respect or admiration.
    Example: "Her admirable dedication inspired everyone."

4. Situational Contexts

  • Available: Ready to be used or obtained.
    Example: "The document is available online for free."

  • Awkward: Uncomfortable or difficult to manage.
    Example: "The meeting ended in an awkward silence."

Everyday Use of Adjectives Starting With A

  1. Amazing: "The view from the mountaintop was amazing."

  2. Annoying: "His loud chewing was annoying everyone at the table."

  3. Amiable: "He was an amiable neighbor who always greeted us warmly."

  4. Aligned: "Make sure the tiles are perfectly aligned before setting them."

  5. Athletic: "Her athletic prowess earned her a spot on the national team."

Common Mistakes

1. Confusing “Amiable” and “Affable”

  • Mistake: "She’s very affable to work with."

  • Correction: "She’s very amiable to work with."

  • Tip: Use “amiable” for friendly disposition and “affable” for approachable behavior.

2. Misusing “Arrogant” for Confidence

  • Mistake: "He’s arrogant in his skills."

  • Correction: "He’s confident in his skills."

  • Tip: “Arrogant” carries a negative connotation, unlike “confident.”

3. Overusing “Amazing” in Formal Writing

  • Mistake: "The results were amazing."

  • Correction: "The results were impressive."

  • Tip: Opt for more formal alternatives like “remarkable” in professional settings.

4. Using “Available” for Unavailability

  • Mistake: "This seat is available for someone else."

  • Correction: "This seat is unavailable for someone else."

  • Tip: Ensure clarity by confirming availability.

5. Mixing “Agile” and “Athletic”

  • Mistake: "The athlete was agile during the sprint."

  • Correction: "The athlete was athletic during the sprint."

  • Tip: Use “agile” for flexibility and “athletic” for overall physical ability.

FAQ

What is the difference between “Amazing” and “Awesome”?

Both express admiration, but “amazing” emphasizes surprise, while “awesome” highlights something inspiring awe.

Can “Apathetic” be used in professional contexts?

Yes, but it should describe attitudes, e.g., “His apathetic response to feedback was concerning.”

Are “Amiable” and “Friendly” interchangeable?

They are similar, but “amiable” is slightly more formal.

What’s the difference between “Aligned” and “Apparent”?

“Aligned” refers to proper positioning, while “apparent” means clearly visible or understood.

Can “Affable” describe non-human subjects?

No, “affable” specifically applies to people or their mannerisms.

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