Updated on January 14, 2025
by PushtoLearn
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Adjectives That Start with N

Adjectives that start with "N" are notably nuanced, offering ways to describe people, objects, and ideas with precision. Whether you're highlighting a noble quality, noting a neutral feature, or describing a notorious behavior, this collection of "N" adjectives will help you express yourself effectively.

Adjectives that start with N Exercises and Flashcards

These exercises focus on Adjectives that start with N

List of Positive Adjectives That Start With N

Adjective

Definition

Example Sentence

Nacreous

Having a pearly or iridescent quality.

The shell had a nacreous glow under the sunlight.

Nail-biting

Exciting or suspenseful.

The movie’s nail-biting finale kept everyone on edge.

Nationwide

Extending across the entire nation.

The campaign was a nationwide success.

Native

Belonging to a particular place by birth.

She is a native speaker of French.

Natural

Existing in or caused by nature.

Her natural beauty captivated everyone.

Neat

Tidy and well-organized.

He kept his workspace neat and orderly.

Necessary

Absolutely needed or required.

It's necessary to wear a helmet for safety.

Neighborly

Friendly and kind to neighbors.

Their neighborly behavior created a sense of community.

Neoteric

Modern or new.

The designer’s neoteric style impressed the judges.

Never-ending

Continuing without stopping.

Their never-ending enthusiasm inspired everyone.

New

Recently made or discovered.

He’s excited about his new job.

Newsworthy

Worth reporting in the news.

The invention was considered newsworthy.

Nice

Pleasant and kind.

She is always so nice to everyone she meets.

Nifty

Particularly effective or skillful.

That’s a nifty gadget for organizing cables.

Nimble

Quick and light in movement or thought.

The nimble dancer captivated the audience.

Noble

Showing high moral principles.

His noble gesture of charity won widespread praise.

Noetic

Relating to intellectual or mental activity.

The philosopher is known for his noetic insights.

Noiseless

Completely silent.

The electric car was nearly noiseless on the road.

Nonviolent

Without the use of physical force.

They advocated for nonviolent protests.

Nonjudgmental

Avoiding moral judgment of others.

Her nonjudgmental approach made people feel comfortable sharing their stories.

Normal

Conforming to a standard or usual pattern.

The weather has been surprisingly normal for this time of year.

Notable

Worthy of attention or importance.

His achievements were notable in the field of science.

Noticeable

Easily seen or detected.

There was a noticeable improvement in her performance.

Nourished

Provided with the necessary food and care.

The plants looked healthy and well nourished.

Nourishing

Providing sustenance or nutrients.

She cooked a nourishing meal for her family.

Novel

New and original.

The scientist proposed a novel solution to the problem.

Nuanced

Characterized by subtle distinctions.

Her analysis was deep and nuanced.

Nurturing

Providing care and encouragement.

Her nurturing demeanor helped the child gain confidence.

Nutritious

Full of nutrients and beneficial for health.

A bowl of oats is both delicious and nutritious.

Nutritive

Relating to the provision of nourishment.

This food has high nutritive value.

Illustration of Adjectives That Start with N

List of Character Traits Starting with N

Trait

Definition

Example Sentence

Naïve

Innocent and lacking worldly experience.

His naïve trust in strangers got him into trouble.

Narcissistic

Excessively self-centered and egotistical.

Her narcissistic behavior alienated her friends.

Narrow-minded

Intolerant of differing opinions or beliefs.

His narrow-minded views made discussions difficult.

Nasty

Unpleasant, spiteful, or mean.

She was known for her nasty attitude towards her coworkers.

Nationalistic

Strongly identifying with one's nation, sometimes excessively.

His speech had a clear nationalistic tone.

Natural

Authentic, unpretentious, or effortless.

She had a natural talent for singing.

Neat

Tidy and well-organized.

His neat handwriting was easy to read.

Needy

Requiring emotional or financial support.

He was too needy in relationships, which caused issues.

Nefarious

Wicked or criminal in nature.

The villain’s nefarious plan was finally uncovered.

Negative

Pessimistic or focusing on the bad aspects of things.

His negative outlook made it hard to stay optimistic.

Neglectful

Failing to give proper attention or care.

The neglectful landlord ignored the tenant’s complaints.

Negligent

Careless or failing to take proper precautions.

His negligent driving caused the accident.

Neighborly

Friendly and helpful to neighbors.

Their neighborly kindness made the new family feel welcome.

Nerdy

Intellectually focused, often to the exclusion of other interests.

He embraced his nerdy love of comic books.

Nervous

Easily agitated or anxious.

She felt nervous before her big presentation.

Nervy

Bold and confident, sometimes to the point of rudeness.

His nervy remarks shocked the audience.

Neurotic

Overly anxious or obsessive.

His neurotic tendencies made him worry about everything.

Nice

Pleasant and kind.

She is always so nice to everyone.

Nimble

Quick and agile in movement or thought.

The gymnast was incredibly nimble during her routine.

Nonchalant

Calm and unconcerned.

He remained nonchalant despite the chaos around him.

Nondescript

Lacking distinctive or interesting qualities.

The building was rather nondescript, blending in with its surroundings.

Nosy

Showing too much curiosity about other people’s affairs.

Her nosy questions annoyed everyone at the party.

N Words to Describe Someone

Word

Definition

Example Sentence

Naïve

Innocent and unaffected.

Her naïve nature often left her vulnerable to manipulation.

Naked

Not wearing clothes.

The baby ran around the house naked after bath time.

Nameless

Without a name or identity.

He was a nameless hero who saved many lives.

Narcissistic

Self-centered and egotistical.

His narcissistic behavior alienated everyone.

Narcoleptic

Having a sleep disorder called narcolepsy.

The narcoleptic man often fell asleep unexpectedly.

Narrow-bodied

Lean and thin.

The model had a narrow-bodied frame.

Narrow-minded

Intolerant or prejudiced.

Her narrow-minded views stifled any productive discussion.

Nasty

Unpleasant and spiteful.

He gave a nasty reply when asked for help.

Nationalistic

Strongly identifying with one's nation.

His nationalistic rhetoric resonated with the crowd.

Native

Originating from a particular place.

She is a native speaker of Spanish.

Natural

Authentic and unprocessed.

He has a natural talent for playing the piano.

Naughty

Mischievous and rule-breaking.

The naughty child hid his sister’s shoes.

Nauseated

Feeling sick.

She felt nauseated after the rough boat ride.

Neanderthal

Uncivilized or uncouth.

His neanderthal behavior embarrassed everyone at dinner.

Neat

Tidy and organized.

Her neat handwriting was easy to read.

Needy

Requiring emotional or financial support.

The needy child clung to his mother.

Nefarious

Wicked and evil.

The villain’s nefarious plan was finally revealed.

Negative

Unfavorable and pessimistic.

His negative attitude brought the team down.

Neglectful

Failing to give proper care.

The neglectful owner left the dog outside in the rain.

Neighborly

Friendly and helpful to neighbors.

Their neighborly actions brought the community together.

Nervous

Easily agitated or anxious.

She felt nervous before her big performance.

Nervy

Bold and confident, sometimes to the point of rudeness.

His nervy remarks shocked everyone.

Neurotic

Overly anxious or obsessive.

His neurotic tendencies often led to overthinking.

Nice

Pleasant and kind.

She’s always so nice to her coworkers.

Nimble

Quick and agile in movement or thought.

The nimble athlete dodged every obstacle.

Nonchalant

Calm and unconcerned.

He remained nonchalant even under pressure.

Notorious

Famous for something bad.

The pirate was notorious for his daring raids.

Nostalgic

Sentimental and wistful.

She felt nostalgic looking at old photos.

Notable

Remarkable and noteworthy.

Her notable contributions were recognized in the awards ceremony.

Numb

Lacking feeling or sensitivity.

His hands felt numb after working in the cold.

1. Personal Traits

  • Positive: Noble, Nurturing, Neighborly.

  • Negative: Naive, Narcissistic, Neglectful.

2. Physical Descriptions

  • Nimble, Neat, Notable.

3. Emotional States

  • Nonchalant, Nervous, Nostalgic.

Common Mistakes

  1. Confusing "naive" with "noble"

    • Mistake: "He’s too noble to trust strangers."

    • Correction: "He’s too naive to trust strangers."

  2. Overusing "notorious" in neutral contexts

    • Tip: Reserve "notorious" for negative or infamous situations.

FAQ

What is the difference between "noble" and "noble-minded"?

"Noble" refers to high moral qualities, while "noble-minded" emphasizes a person's honorable and principled nature.

Can "naive" have a positive connotation?

Yes, in some contexts, "naive" can imply innocence or purity.

Is "notorious" always negative?

Usually, "notorious" has a negative connotation, but it can occasionally mean famous or well-known without negative judgment.

How can I use "nurturing" in a sentence?

Example: "The teacher's nurturing approach helped the students gain confidence."

What’s a synonym for "nimble"?

Agile, quick, or dexterous are good synonyms for "nimble."

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