Updated on December 29, 2024
by PushtoLearn
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Adjectives That Start with G

Adjectives that start with “G” offer a lot of options, from the glittering to the gritty, the gargantuan to the graceful. Whether you’re describing a generous personality, a glossy surface, or a gory scene, these “G” adjectives can help you capture the perfect tone.

List of Positive Adjectives That Start With G

Adjective

Definition

Example

Gainful

Producing a profit or benefit.

She found gainful employment after graduation.

Gamesome

Playful or full of fun.

The kids were gamesome and excited during recess.

Garnished

Decorated or enhanced for beauty.

The dish was beautifully garnished with fresh herbs.

Gifted

Having exceptional talent or ability.

The gifted musician played flawlessly.

Gilded

Covered in gold or appearing luxurious.

The gilded frame added elegance to the painting.

Glamorous

Stylish and full of charm.

The actress wore a glamorous gown on the red carpet.

Glitzy

Sparkling and eye-catching.

The city’s glitzy nightlife attracts tourists.

Glorious

Magnificent or splendid.

The sunrise was a glorious sight to behold.

Gobsmacked

Astounded or amazed.

She was gobsmacked by the surprise party.

Golden

Precious, excellent, or prosperous.

They reminisced about their golden childhood days.

Goodhearted

Kind and generous in nature.

He is a goodhearted person who always helps others.

Gorgeous

Extremely beautiful or attractive.

The bride looked absolutely gorgeous on her wedding day.

Graceful

Elegant and smooth in movement or behavior.

The dancer performed with graceful precision.

Gratifying

Giving pleasure or satisfaction.

Helping others is a deeply gratifying experience.

Groomed

Neat and well-cared-for in appearance.

He arrived at the interview looking impeccably groomed.

Groovy

Cool, trendy, or fashionable.

The band played some groovy tunes at the party.

Groundbreaking

Innovative and pioneering.

The scientist made a groundbreaking discovery in genetics.

Grounded

Sensible and emotionally stable.

Despite her fame, she remains humble and grounded.

Guaranteed

Certain or assured.

The company offers guaranteed satisfaction for its services.

Gumptious

Ambitious and energetic.

His gumptious attitude helped him achieve his goals.

List of Negative Adjectives That Start With G

Adjective

Definition

Example

Galling

Annoying or humiliating.

The unfair treatment was galling to witness.

Garish

Excessively bright and flashy.

The room was decorated in garish colors that hurt my eyes.

Garrulous

Excessively talkative, especially about trivial matters.

His garrulous nature made the conversation exhausting.

Gauche

Lacking social grace or tact.

His gauche behavior embarrassed everyone at the table.

Gaudy

Overly showy and tasteless.

The outfit was too gaudy for a formal event.

Gawky

Awkward and clumsy in movement.

The gawky teenager tripped over his own feet.

Ghastly

Shockingly horrible or terrifying.

The crime scene was a ghastly sight.

Gloomy

Dark or depressing in atmosphere.

The weather was gloomy, making everyone feel down.

Gluttonous

Excessively greedy, especially with food.

His gluttonous appetite shocked everyone at the dinner table.

Godforsaken

Remote, desolate, or neglected.

They lived in a godforsaken town with no modern amenities.

Gossipy

Fond of spreading rumors.

The gossipy neighbors always seemed to know everyone’s business.

Grandiloquent

Using pompous or extravagant language.

His grandiloquent speech was difficult to take seriously.

Grandiose

Overly ambitious and unrealistic in scale.

The plan was too grandiose to ever succeed.

Grating

Harsh and irritating, often referring to sound.

Her grating voice made it hard to enjoy the meeting.

Gratuitous

Unnecessary or uncalled for.

The film contained gratuitous violence that added nothing to the story.

Grave

Serious and likely to cause concern.

His tone was grave as he delivered the bad news.

Greedy

Excessively desirous of wealth or possessions.

The greedy landlord raised the rent unfairly.

Groggy

Dazed or weakened, often from lack of sleep.

She felt groggy after the long flight.

Gross

Disgusting or highly offensive.

The food left a gross aftertaste in my mouth.

Grotesque

Distorted and unnatural in appearance.

The statue had a grotesque expression that frightened the children.

Grueling

Extremely demanding and exhausting.

The marathon was a grueling test of endurance.

Gruesome

Causing horror or disgust.

The film’s gruesome scenes made it hard to watch.

Gruff

Rough or harsh in manner or speech.

The old man’s gruff response discouraged further questions.

Gutless

Lacking courage or resolve.

His gutless behavior in the face of danger disappointed his friends.

Gut-wrenching

Extremely distressing or emotionally painful.

The documentary was a gut-wrenching account of the tragedy.

Illustration of Adjectives That Start with G

List of Personality Adjectives That Start With G

Adjective

Definition

Example

Gallant

Brave and chivalrous.

The knight was gallant in defending the villagers.

Geeky

Enthusiastically focused on niche interests.

He’s a bit geeky, always talking about coding and video games.

Genial

Friendly and cheerful.

His genial personality made him well-liked by everyone.

Genteel

Polite and refined in manners.

She maintained a genteel demeanor throughout the event.

Gentle

Kind and soft-spoken.

He is a gentle person who always speaks with care.

Gentlemanly

Having the qualities of a gentleman; courteous.

He showed gentlemanly behavior by holding the door for her.

Genuine

Sincere and authentic.

Her genuine kindness made her stand out.

Giddy

Lighthearted and excitable.

She was giddy with excitement about the trip.

Giving

Generous and willing to help others.

He has a giving nature and always supports charities.

Glad

Happy and pleased.

She was glad to hear the good news.

Gleeful

Full of joy and delight.

The children were gleeful when they saw the presents.

Glum

Sullen and downcast.

He seemed glum after hearing the disappointing news.

Goofy

Silly and playful.

His goofy jokes always lighten the mood.

Gracious

Courteous, kind, and pleasant.

She was gracious in both victory and defeat.

Grateful

Feeling or showing appreciation.

He was grateful for the support from his family.

Gregarious

Sociable and enjoying the company of others.

Her gregarious nature makes her the life of the party.

Guarded

Cautious and reserved in sharing thoughts or feelings.

He was guarded about his personal life during the interview.

Guileless

Honest and innocent, without deceit.

The child’s guileless smile melted everyone’s hearts.

Gullible

Easily deceived or tricked.

He’s so gullible that he believed the prank immediately.

Gutsy

Bold and courageous.

Her gutsy decision to start her own business paid off.

List of Descriptive Adjectives That Start With G

Adjective

Definition

Example

Gamy

Having a strong flavor or smell, often associated with meat.

The stew had a gamy aroma that not everyone appreciated.

Gaping

Wide open or large.

There was a gaping hole in the wall after the storm.

Gargantuan

Extremely large or enormous.

They served a gargantuan portion of dessert.

Gaunt

Thin and haggard, often due to hunger or illness.

The refugees appeared gaunt after their long journey.

Gauzy

Thin, light, and semi-transparent.

She wore a gauzy scarf over her shoulders.

Gelatinous

Having a jelly-like consistency.

The dessert had a gelatinous texture.

Gelid

Icy or extremely cold.

The gelid wind made walking outside unbearable.

Generous

Ample or abundant in size or quantity.

The chef gave a generous serving of pasta.

Geriatric

Relating to old age or elderly people.

The hospital has a specialized geriatric care unit.

Gigantic

Very large or enormous.

The gigantic skyscraper dominated the skyline.

Glaring

Harshly bright or highly conspicuous.

The glaring sunlight made it hard to see.

Gleaming

Shining brightly and cleanly.

The floor was gleaming after being polished.

Glistening

Shiny and sparkling with reflected light.

The dew was glistening on the grass in the morning sun.

Glittering

Sparkling or shining with many small flashes of light.

The city lights were glittering in the distance.

Glossy

Smooth and shiny.

The magazine was printed on glossy paper.

Gnarled

Twisted and rough, often referring to trees or hands.

The old tree had gnarled branches reaching upward.

Gory

Involving or showing bloodshed and violence.

The horror movie was filled with gory scenes.

Grand

Impressive in scale, style, or appearance.

The palace had a grand staircase in the foyer.

Graphic

Vivid and detailed, often unpleasantly so.

The book included graphic descriptions of war.

Greasy

Covered with or resembling grease.

His hands were greasy after fixing the car.

Gritty

Rough in texture or unrefined in style.

The film had a gritty realism that captivated viewers.

Griseous

Having a grey or mottled appearance.

The sky turned a griseous shade before the storm.

Gushing

Pouring out or flowing abundantly.

The water was gushing from the broken pipe.

Gustatory

Relating to the sense of taste.

The chef created a gustatory masterpiece.

Guttural

Harsh and throaty in sound.

He let out a deep, guttural growl.

Personality Traits

  • Gallant: Brave and chivalrous.

  • Gracious: Courteous and kind.

Visual Descriptions

  • Golden: Having a glowing or metallic quality.

  • Glistening: Sparkling or shiny.

Behavioral Descriptions

  • Gregarious: Sociable and outgoing.

  • Greedy: Excessively desirous of material wealth.

Everyday Use of Adjectives Starting With G

Adjective

Example Sentence

Generous

"The generous gift brought tears to her eyes."

Grim

"The grim weather dampened everyone’s mood."

Genuine

"His genuine concern for others is admirable."

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing “Gentle” with “Generous”:
    Mistake: "He’s very gentle with his money."
    Correction: "He’s very generous with his money."

  • Using “Gaudy” to describe people:
    Mistake: "She’s a very gaudy person."
    Correction: "Her outfit is gaudy."

FAQ

What’s the difference between “Genuine” and “Generous”?

Genuine refers to being sincere or authentic, while generous means giving or sharing freely.

Can “Glaring” be positive?

No, glaring typically has a negative connotation, describing something overly obvious or harsh.

Is “Golden” always literal?

No, golden can describe qualities like excellence or value metaphorically, e.g., "a golden opportunity."

What’s a synonym for “Glamorous”?

Chic, stylish, or dazzling.

Can “Grim” describe people?

Yes, grim can describe someone stern or serious in demeanor.

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