Adjectives That Start with P | List, Exercise & Examples

List of P Words to Describe Someone

Adjective	Definition	Example Sentence
Pale	Lacking color or vitality.	After the illness, she looked pale and tired.
Paltry	Insignificant or small in amount.	His paltry contribution did little to help.
Pampered	Treated with excessive care or indulgence.	The pampered child was used to getting everything he wanted.
Panicked	Overcome with fear or anxiety.	She felt panicked before the big presentation.
Panicky	Easily frightened or anxious.	His panicky reaction made the situation worse.
Paranormal	Beyond normal scientific explanation.	She claimed to have paranormal abilities.
Parched	Extremely dry or thirsty.	He was parched after running in the heat.
Pardonable	Forgivable or excusable.	His mistake was pardonable given the circumstances.
Parental	Relating to or characteristic of a parent.	Her parental instincts kicked in immediately.
Particular	Fussy or hard to please.	He’s very particular about how his coffee is made.
Partisan	Strongly supportive of a specific cause or group.	Her partisan views made debates challenging.
Passionate	Having strong feelings or enthusiasm.	She’s passionate about environmental conservation.
Passive	Accepting without resistance or reaction.	He took a passive approach to the conflict.
Pastoral	Relating to rural life or the countryside.	The town had a pastoral charm.
Paternal	Relating to a father.	His paternal advice was always helpful.
Paternalistic	Managing others in a fatherly but controlling way.	The boss’s paternalistic style irritated his team.
Pathetic	Deserving pity or scorn.	His attempt to fix the sink was pathetic.
Pathological	Extreme or abnormal in behavior.	Her pathological fear of germs affected her daily life.
Patient	Able to remain calm during difficulties.	The teacher was extremely patient with her students.
Patriotic	Having or expressing love for one’s country.	The crowd’s patriotic cheers filled the stadium.
Patronizing	Treating others with a sense of superiority.	His patronizing tone irritated everyone in the room.
Peaceful	Free from conflict or disturbance.	She enjoys living in a peaceful neighborhood.
Peculiar	Strange or unusual.	There was something peculiar about his behavior.
Pedantic	Overly concerned with minor details or rules.	His pedantic explanations bored the audience.
Peeved	Annoyed or irritated.	She felt peeved when her calls went unanswered.
Pensive	Deep in thought.	He looked pensive as he considered his options.
Perceptive	Quick to notice or understand things.	Her perceptive observations helped solve the mystery.
Perfect	Without flaws or defects.	The weather was perfect for a picnic.
Perfumed	Having a pleasant fragrance.	The garden was perfumed with the scent of roses.
Perky	Cheerful and lively.	She was in a perky mood despite the rain.
Perplexed	Confused or puzzled.	He looked perplexed after hearing the question.
Perplexing	Causing confusion or difficulty.	The puzzle was perplexing and took hours to solve.
Persevering	Continuing despite difficulties.	Her persevering spirit helped her overcome challenges.
Persistent	Determined and not giving up.	His persistent efforts led to success.
Personable	Pleasant and friendly in manner.	The salesperson was very personable and approachable.
Personal	Relating to an individual.	She shared a personal story about her journey.
Persuasive	Skilled at convincing others.	His persuasive speech won the audience over.
Pertinent	Relevant to the matter at hand.	Her comments were pertinent to the discussion.
Perturbed	Anxious or unsettled.	She looked perturbed by the sudden change in plans.
Pervasive	Spreading widely throughout an area or group.	The pervasive smell of coffee filled the café.
Perverse	Contrary to what is expected or desired.	His perverse attitude made the situation worse.
Pesky	Annoying or troublesome.	The pesky flies kept buzzing around the table.
Pessimistic	Expecting the worst to happen.	His pessimistic outlook frustrated his teammates.
Petite	Small and dainty.	She was a petite woman with a strong presence.
Petty	Concerned with trivial matters.	Their argument over such a petty issue was unnecessary.
Petulant	Childishly sulky or bad-tempered.	His petulant complaints annoyed everyone.
Philanthropic	Generous and charitable.	The organization is known for its philanthropic work.
Philosophical	Calm and wise, especially in difficult situations.	He remained philosophical despite the setback.

Adjective	Definition	Example Sentence
Phobic	Having an extreme fear of something.	She’s phobic about public speaking.
Phony	Not genuine or fake.	His phony smile didn’t fool anyone.
Photographic	Having a sharp and detailed memory.	She has a photographic memory for faces.
Physical	Relating to the body rather than the mind.	He’s in great physical condition.
Pigheaded	Stubborn and unwilling to change opinions.	His pigheaded refusal to listen frustrated everyone.
Pitch-perfect	Accurate in tone or performance.	Her pitch-perfect singing impressed the judges.
Pitiful	Deserving of pity or compassion.	The dog’s pitiful condition broke their hearts.
Pitiless	Showing no compassion or mercy.	The pitiless dictator showed no remorse.
Placid	Calm and not easily upset.	The placid lake reflected the surrounding trees.
Plain	Simple and without decoration.	She wore a plain dress for the event.
Plaintive	Expressing sorrow or melancholy.	His plaintive cry echoed through the night.
Playful	Full of fun and high spirits.	The playful kitten chased its tail.
Pleading	Showing an urgent request or appeal.	His pleading eyes begged for forgiveness.
Pleasant	Giving enjoyment or satisfaction.	She had a pleasant conversation with her neighbor.
Pleased	Feeling satisfied or happy.	He was pleased with his exam results.
Pleasing	Attractive or satisfying.	The artwork was very pleasing to the eye.
Pliable	Flexible or easily influenced.	The material was soft and pliable.
Plucky	Showing courage and determination.	The plucky child stood up to the bully.
Plump	Slightly overweight or rounded.	The plump cat lounged on the couch.
Pluralistic	Accepting of multiple views or groups.	The country embraced its pluralistic culture.
Poignant	Evoking a sense of sadness or regret.	The film’s poignant ending brought tears to her eyes.
Polite	Showing good manners and respect.	The waiter was very polite and attentive.
Political	Relating to government or public affairs.	He’s deeply involved in political activism.
Pompous	Arrogant and self-important.	His pompous speech annoyed the audience.
Ponderous	Slow and clumsy due to great weight.	The elephant moved in a ponderous manner.
Poor	Lacking in wealth or resources.	The family lived in a poor neighborhood.
Poorer	Comparatively lacking wealth.	They are much poorer than their neighbors.
Poorest	Having the least wealth of all.	He grew up in one of the poorest areas of the city.
Popular	Liked or admired by many people.	She’s one of the most popular students in her class.
Portly	Having a stout or round body.	The portly gentleman greeted everyone warmly.
Posh	Elegant and luxurious.	They stayed in a posh hotel during their vacation.
Positive	Having a good or optimistic attitude.	She always maintains a positive outlook on life.
Possessive	Wanting to control or own something entirely.	He became possessive of his personal belongings.
Powerful	Having great strength or influence.	The powerful speech moved the entire audience.
Powerless	Lacking strength or influence.	She felt powerless to change the situation.
Practical	Focused on realistic and useful solutions.	His practical approach solved the problem quickly.
Pragmatic	Dealing with things sensibly and realistically.	She took a pragmatic approach to the issue.
Praiseworthy	Deserving of approval and admiration.	His dedication to the project was praiseworthy.
Precious	Highly valued or cherished.	The locket was her most precious possession.
Predictable	Easy to foresee or anticipate.	The plot of the movie was rather predictable.
Predisposed	Inclined to something in advance.	He’s predisposed to anxiety due to family history.
Pregnant	Carrying a developing baby.	She announced that she was pregnant.
Prejudiced	Having preconceived opinions without reason.	His prejudiced views caused tension in the group.
Prejudicial	Harmful or detrimental to someone’s rights.	The decision had a prejudicial impact on the defendant.
Premature	Occurring before the proper time.	The baby was born premature but healthy.
Prenatal	Relating to the time before birth.	She received excellent prenatal care during her pregnancy.
Preoccupied	Deeply absorbed in thought.	He was too preoccupied to notice her arrival.
Prepared	Ready and equipped for something.	She was fully prepared for the job interview.
Preposterous	Completely absurd or ridiculous.	His suggestion was utterly preposterous.
Present	Existing or occurring now.	She was very focused on the present moment.

Adjective	Definition	Example Sentence
Prestigious	Having a high reputation or status.	She was accepted into a prestigious university.
Presumptive	Based on probability or assumption.	His presumptive remarks caused confusion.
Presumptuous	Overstepping bounds; too bold.	It was presumptuous of him to assume he’d get the job.
Pretentious	Attempting to impress by pretending greater importance.	Her pretentious attitude annoyed everyone.
Pretty	Attractive in a delicate way.	She has a pretty smile that lights up the room.
Prickly	Easily irritated or touchy.	He’s a bit prickly when it comes to criticism.
Prim	Formal and proper, often excessively so.	She’s very prim in her manners and dress.
Primitive	Relating to an early stage of development.	Their tools were quite primitive but effective.
Princely	Generous or luxurious.	They lived in a princely mansion by the sea.
Prissy	Overly fussy or prim.	His prissy attitude annoyed his adventurous friends.
Private	Not open to others; reserved.	He’s a very private person and rarely shares his thoughts.
Privileged	Having special advantages or rights.	She felt privileged to attend such a prestigious event.
Proactive	Taking initiative to act before problems occur.	Being proactive at work can lead to great success.
Problematic	Difficult to deal with or solve.	His behavior became increasingly problematic.
Productive	Producing a lot or achieving results.	She had a very productive day at the office.
Profane	Showing disrespect for sacred things.	His profane language shocked the audience.
Professional	Exhibiting competence and skill.	She handled the situation in a very professional manner.
Proficient	Skilled and competent in a particular area.	He’s proficient in multiple languages.
Progressive	Favoring change or reform.	The school has adopted a progressive teaching approach.
Prohibitive	Excessively high or restrictive.	The cost of living in the city is prohibitive.
Prolific	Producing a large amount of something.	The prolific writer published three books this year.
Prominent	Important or well-known.	He holds a prominent position in the company.
Prompt	Quick to act or respond.	She gave a prompt reply to the inquiry.
Proper	Correct or appropriate in behavior.	He always uses proper table manners.
Protective	Showing a strong desire to keep someone safe.	She’s very protective of her younger brother.
Proud	Feeling deep satisfaction over achievements.	He was proud of his daughter’s accomplishments.
Provocative	Causing strong reactions or emotions.	Her provocative comments sparked a lively debate.
Provoking	Intentionally causing annoyance or anger.	His provoking remarks irritated everyone.
Prudent	Acting with care and thought for the future.	It’s always prudent to save money for emergencies.
Prying	Intrusive or overly curious.	She resented his prying questions about her personal life.
Psychiatric	Relating to mental illness or its treatment.	He’s undergoing psychiatric evaluation.
Psychological	Relating to the mind or mental processes.	The movie delves into psychological complexities.
Psychotic	Affected by a severe mental disorder.	His psychotic behavior frightened everyone around him.
Puffy	Swollen or inflated.	Her eyes were puffy from crying all night.
Punctual	Always on time.	She’s very punctual and never arrives late.
Pungent	Having a strong or sharp taste or smell.	The cheese had a pungent aroma.
Pure	Not mixed with anything else; clean or genuine.	The air in the mountains felt fresh and pure.
Purposeful	Having a clear aim or goal.	He walked with a purposeful stride toward the stage.
Pushy	Aggressively assertive.	The pushy salesperson made me uncomfortable.
Putrid	Decayed and emitting a foul smell.	The putrid smell of garbage filled the alley.
Puzzled	Confused or unsure.	She looked puzzled by the unexpected question.
Puzzling	Difficult to understand or explain.	The instructions were puzzling and unclear.
Pygmy	Exceptionally small in size.	The pygmy species of the animal is rarely seen.
Pyrotechnic	Relating to fireworks or brilliant displays.	The concert ended with a stunning pyrotechnic show.

List of Negative Words That Start With P

Adjective	Definition	Example Sentence
Painful	Causing physical or emotional pain.	The breakup was a painful experience.
Painstaking	Requiring a lot of effort and attention to detail.	The artist’s painstaking work took months to complete.
Paltry	Insignificant or small in amount.	His paltry contribution didn’t help much.
Panicked	Overcome with fear or anxiety.	She felt panicked when she lost her phone.
Panicky	Easily frightened or anxious.	His panicky behavior made the situation worse.
Paradoxical	Seemingly contradictory or inconsistent.	Her calmness during the crisis was paradoxical.
Parasitic	Relying on others without giving anything in return.	His parasitic habits annoyed his roommates.
Parched	Extremely dry or thirsty.	The soil was parched after weeks of drought.
Patronizing	Acting superior or condescending.	His patronizing tone irritated everyone in the room.
Peculiar	Strange or unusual.	There’s something peculiar about that house.
Peeved	Annoyed or irritated.	She was peeved by his constant interruptions.
Peevish	Easily annoyed or bad-tempered.	His peevish attitude made working with him difficult.
Pensive	Deep in thought, often in a sad way.	He had a pensive look after hearing the bad news.
Permissible	Allowed by rules but often reluctantly.	His actions were barely permissible under the law.
Permissive	Allowing too much freedom or leniency.	The teacher’s permissive attitude led to chaos in the classroom.
Perplexed	Confused or puzzled.	She looked perplexed by the strange instructions.
Perplexing	Difficult to understand or solve.	The perplexing problem took hours to resolve.
Perturbed	Anxious or unsettled.	He felt perturbed by the sudden changes.
Perturbing	Causing worry or distress.	The news was deeply perturbing.
Pervasive	Spreading widely and often negatively.	The pervasive smell of smoke filled the building.
Perverse	Deliberately behaving in an unacceptable way.	His perverse refusal to cooperate frustrated everyone.
Pesky	Annoying or troublesome.	The pesky flies wouldn’t leave the picnic alone.
Petty	Concerned with trivial matters.	Their argument was over a petty misunderstanding.
Petulant	Childishly sulky or bad-tempered.	His petulant outbursts annoyed everyone.
Phony	Fake or insincere.	She could see through his phony charm.
Pigheaded	Stubborn and inflexible.	His pigheaded refusal to compromise caused delays.
Pitch-dark	Completely dark.	The cave was pitch-dark and silent.
Pitiful	Deserving of pity or contempt.	The dog’s pitiful state made everyone sad.
Pointless	Having no purpose or value.	The meeting was long and pointless.
Poisonous	Harmful or toxic.	Some mushrooms are poisonous and should not be eaten.
Polluted	Contaminated with harmful substances.	The river was heavily polluted with waste.
Pompous	Arrogant and self-important.	His pompous speech annoyed the crowd.
Poor	Lacking in wealth, quality, or strength.	The team’s performance was poor this season.
Possessive	Showing an excessive desire to own or control.	Her possessive nature strained their friendship.
Powerless	Lacking strength or ability.	She felt powerless to stop the injustice.
Preferential	Giving special treatment to certain people.	The company’s preferential policies caused resentment.
Prejudiced	Having an unfair or biased opinion.	He was prejudiced against people from other cultures.
Prejudicial	Harmful to someone’s rights or reputation.	The media coverage was prejudicial to the defendant.
Pressing	Requiring immediate attention.	The issue was pressing and couldn’t be delayed.
Pressurized	Feeling pressured or stressed.	She felt pressurized to meet everyone’s expectations.
Presumptive	Based on assumption rather than certainty.	The presumptive diagnosis was later confirmed.
Presumptuous	Overstepping bounds; too confident.	His presumptuous behavior offended many.
Pretentious	Pretending to be more important than is true.	His pretentious manner alienated his colleagues.
Pricey	Expensive or costing a lot.	The hotel was a bit too pricey for their budget.
Prickly	Easily irritated or touchy.	He’s a bit prickly when asked personal questions.
Primitive	Relating to early or undeveloped stages.	Their tools were rather primitive but effective.
Privileged	Having special advantages not enjoyed by others.	He grew up in a privileged household.
Profane	Showing disrespect toward sacred things.	His profane language offended many.
Prohibitive	Excessively high or restrictive.	The prohibitive cost of housing deterred buyers.
Proud	Having excessive self-esteem.	His proud attitude made him seem unapproachable.
Provocative	Intending to provoke or incite.	Her provocative remarks stirred controversy.
Provoking	Causing annoyance or irritation.	His constant interruptions were provoking.
Prudent	Acting cautiously and wisely.	His overly prudent decisions delayed progress.
Prying	Intrusive or overly curious.	She disliked his prying questions about her personal life.
Psychotic	Affected by a severe mental disorder.	His psychotic behavior alarmed his colleagues.
Pugnacious	Eager to argue or fight.	His pugnacious attitude often led to conflicts.
Pungent	Having a strong or sharp smell or taste.	The pungent odor of garlic filled the kitchen.
Punishable	Deserving of punishment.	The offense was deemed punishable by law.
Punished	Suffering consequences for wrongdoing.	He was punished for his reckless behavior.
Puny	Weak or small in size.	The kitten looked puny compared to the others.
Purposeless	Lacking a clear goal or purpose.	The discussion seemed purposeless and unproductive.
Putrid	Decayed and emitting a foul smell.	The putrid stench from the garbage was unbearable.
Puzzling	Difficult to understand or explain.	The mystery was puzzling even to the experts.

Illustration of Adjectives That Start with P

List of Positive Words That Start With the Letter P

Adjective	Definition	Example Sentence
Paisley	Patterned with curved, colorful designs.	She wore a beautiful paisley scarf.
Palatable	Pleasant to taste or acceptable.	The dish was both palatable and satisfying.
Pampered	Treated with great care and indulgence.	The cat lived a pampered life.
Pardonable	Forgivable or excusable.	His mistake was pardonable given the circumstances.
Party	Full of fun and celebration.	The atmosphere was party-like and lively.
Passionate	Filled with strong emotion or enthusiasm.	She’s passionate about helping others.
Pastel	Soft and light in color.	The room was painted in pastel shades.
Patchwork	Made up of different pieces or parts.	The quilt had a beautiful patchwork design.
Patented	Officially recognized or unique.	They introduced a patented technology.
Patient	Able to remain calm during difficulties.	She’s very patient with her students.
Patriotic	Showing love and devotion to one’s country.	The parade had a patriotic spirit.
Patterned	Decorated with repeated designs.	She wore a patterned dress to the party.
Payable	Able to be paid or settled.	The bill is payable by the end of the month.
Peaceful	Free from disturbance or conflict.	They enjoyed a peaceful day in the countryside.
Perfect	Without any flaws or defects.	The day was absolutely perfect for a hike.
Perfumed	Scented with a pleasant fragrance.	The air was perfumed with the smell of flowers.
Perky	Cheerful and lively.	She was feeling perky after her morning coffee.
Permanent	Lasting forever or for a long time.	They made a permanent mark on the community.
Persevering	Continuing despite difficulties.	Her persevering attitude led to success.
Persistent	Determined and not giving up.	His persistent efforts finally paid off.
Personal	Relating to an individual.	She shared a personal anecdote during her speech.
Petite	Small and delicate.	She looked elegant in her petite frame.
Picturesque	Visually charming or attractive.	The village was picturesque and serene.
Pink	A pale red color associated with sweetness.	She chose a pink dress for the occasion.
Pitch-perfect	Exactly right in tone or performance.	Her pitch-perfect delivery wowed the judges.
Pithy	Concise and meaningful.	His pithy remarks captured everyone’s attention.
Planned	Thought out or arranged in advance.	The project was well planned and executed.
Plausible	Seemingly reasonable or believable.	She provided a plausible explanation for her actions.
Playful	Full of fun and high spirits.	The puppy was playful and energetic.
Pleasant	Giving a sense of satisfaction or enjoyment.	She had a pleasant conversation with her friend.
Pleased	Feeling happy or satisfied.	He was pleased with his performance.
Pleasing	Attractive or agreeable.	The garden was visually pleasing.
Pleasurable	Giving pleasure or satisfaction.	The massage was a pleasurable experience.
Plentiful	Available in large amounts.	The harvest this year was plentiful.
Plenty	A large or sufficient amount.	They had plenty of food for the party.
Plucky	Showing courage and determination.	The plucky young girl stood up to the bully.
Plush	Luxurious and comfortable.	They stayed in a plush hotel.
Poetic	Having qualities of poetry; beautiful and artistic.	The sunset had a poetic beauty to it.
Poignant	Deeply affecting or moving.	The movie had a poignant ending.
Polished	Refined and elegant.	Her speech was polished and professional.
Polite	Showing good manners and respect.	He was very polite to the guests.
Polka-dotted	Decorated with dots.	She wore a polka-dotted skirt to the party.
Popular	Liked or admired by many.	She’s one of the most popular students in school.
Posh	Elegant and luxurious.	They dined at a posh restaurant.
Positive	Optimistic and confident.	She always has a positive outlook on life.
Possible	Able to be done or achieved.	With hard work, anything is possible.
Powerful	Having great strength or influence.	The president gave a powerful speech.
Pragmatic	Practical and realistic.	She took a pragmatic approach to solving the problem.
Praiseworthy	Deserving of praise or approval.	His efforts were praiseworthy and appreciated.
Precious	Highly valued or cherished.	Her precious necklace was a family heirloom.
Precise	Marked by exactness and accuracy.	The instructions were precise and easy to follow.
Preferable	More desirable or suitable.	A healthy diet is preferable to fast food.
Premium	Of the highest quality.	They stayed in a premium suite at the hotel.
Present	Existing or occurring now.	She was fully present during the meeting.
Presentable	Neat and suitable in appearance.	He made sure to look presentable for the interview.
Prestigious	Having a high reputation and status.	She graduated from a prestigious university.
Pretty	Attractive in a delicate way.	She wore a pretty floral dress to the event.
Priceless	Too valuable to be measured in monetary terms.	The artwork was absolutely priceless.
Pristine	In its original condition; unspoiled.	The beach was pristine and untouched.
Private	Personal and not public.	He kept his thoughts private.
Prize	Something valuable and worthy of striving for.	The winner received a prize for their hard work.
Prized	Highly valued or esteemed.	Her prized possession was a rare book.
Professional	Competent and skilled in a particular field.	The lawyer handled the case in a very professional manner.
Proficient	Skilled and competent.	He’s proficient in Spanish and French.
Profitable	Yielding financial gain.	Their business proved to be highly profitable.
Profound	Having deep insight or understanding.	The speech left a profound impact on the audience.
Promising	Showing signs of future success.	She has a promising career ahead of her.
Proportionate	Corresponding in size or amount.	The punishment was proportionate to the crime.
Protective	Showing care and concern for safety.	He’s very protective of his family.
Proud	Feeling deep satisfaction over achievements.	She felt proud of her accomplishments.
Pure	Not mixed or contaminated; clean.	The water in the stream was crystal pure.
Purified	Cleansed of impurities.	The purified air felt refreshing.
Purple	A royal color often associated with luxury.	The flowers bloomed in vibrant purple shades.
Purposeful	Having a clear aim or goal.	He walked with a purposeful stride.

Featured Adjectives Grouped by Topics

1. Personality Traits

Positive: Passionate, Perceptive, Polite.
Negative: Pretentious, Paranoid, Pompous.

2. Appearance

Pristine, Plain, Prominent.

3. Emotional States

Positive: Peaceful, Playful, Positive.
Negative: Petty, Pessimistic, Petulant.

Common Mistakes

Confusing “peaceful” with “passive”

Mistake: "She has a passive personality" (when referring to calmness).
Correction: "She has a peaceful personality."

Overusing “perfect”

Tip: Use more specific alternatives like "flawless" or "excellent" for greater precision.

FAQ

What is the difference between "persistent" and "perseverant"?

Both mean determined, but "perseverant" implies continuing in the face of difficulty.

Can “playful” describe an adult?

Yes, it can describe someone who is lighthearted or has a sense of humor.

Is “pompous” always negative?

Yes, “pompous” typically refers to arrogance or self-importance.

How can “polished” be used to describe a person?

It suggests someone refined and well-mannered.

Is “powerful” more commonly used for physical or abstract strength?

Both! It can refer to physical strength or influence, such as a “powerful leader.”