Adjectives That Start with Q | List, Exercise & Examples

List of Positive Adjectives That Start With Q

Adjective	Definition	Example Sentence
Quintessential	Representing the most perfect example.	She’s the quintessential leader, admired by all.
Quick-witted	Clever and sharp in responses.	His quick-witted humor kept the conversation lively.
Qualified	Skilled and competent.	The company hired a highly qualified candidate.
Quaint	Charmingly old-fashioned.	The town has a quaint appeal with its cobblestone streets.
Quiet	Peaceful and calm.	The library is a quiet place for studying.
Quick	Fast and efficient.	She made a quick decision that saved time.
Quality	Of a high standard.	This is a quality product that lasts for years.
Quixotic	Idealistic and impractical.	His quixotic dreams inspire others to aim high.
Quick-thinking	Able to think fast.	Her quick-thinking during the crisis prevented disaster.
Quizzical	Curious or questioning.	He gave her a quizzical look after the remark.
Queenly	Regal and elegant.	She carried herself in a queenly manner.
Quick-moving	Fast-paced.	The quick-moving plot kept the audience engaged.
Quenching	Satisfying.	The cold water was quenching on a hot day.
Quick learning	Fast at learning.	He is a quick learning student who grasps concepts easily.
Quantifiable	Measurable.	The results showed a quantifiable improvement in sales.
Quirky	Unique in a charming way.	Her quirky personality makes her stand out.
Quietude	Calm and serene.	She enjoyed the quietude of the countryside.
Quaking	Thrilling, in a positive sense.	The quaking excitement filled the stadium.
Quick-tempered	Emotionally responsive.	Despite being quick-tempered, he’s kind-hearted.
Quotable	Worthy of being quoted.	Her speech was full of quotable lines.
Quarterly	Occurring every quarter.	The magazine is published on a quarterly basis.
Quintuple	Fivefold.	The company reported a quintuple increase in revenue.

List of Negative Adjectives That Start With Q

Adjective	Definition	Example Sentence
Quarrelsome	Prone to arguments or disputes.	His quarrelsome nature makes teamwork difficult.
Questionable	Doubtful or suspect.	The decision was based on questionable evidence.
Quiescent	Inactive or sluggish.	The project remained quiescent for months.
Quizzical	Indicating mild confusion or skepticism.	He gave her a quizzical glance after her statement.
Quirky	Overly strange or eccentric.	His quirky behavior made others uncomfortable.
Quixotic	Overly idealistic to the point of impracticality.	Her quixotic plans were doomed from the start.
Quick-tempered	Easily angered.	His quick-tempered personality often causes conflicts.
Quaint	Old-fashioned in a negative way.	The hotel was too quaint to be comfortable.
Quaking	Trembling with fear or anxiety.	She was quaking with fear during the storm.
Quaggy	Marshy or boggy.	The quaggy terrain made walking difficult.
Quavering	Shaking or trembling.	He spoke in a quavering voice during the speech.
Qualmish	Feeling uneasy or nauseated.	She felt qualmish after eating the seafood.
Quotidian	Mundane or boring.	His life felt dull and quotidian.
Querulous	Constantly complaining.	Her querulous tone annoyed everyone.
Quackish	Dishonest or lacking skill, especially medically.	The quackish doctor was quickly exposed.
Quasi-	Incomplete or partial.	Their agreement was only quasi-legal.
Quarter-hearted	Lacking full effort or enthusiasm.	He gave a quarter-hearted attempt at fixing the problem.
Queue-jumping	Impatient or unfair in skipping lines.	His queue-jumping behavior upset everyone waiting.
Quarantine	Isolated to prevent spread of disease.	The patient remained in quarantine for weeks.
Quelled	Suppressed or silenced.	The uprising was quickly quelled by the authorities.
Quicksilver	Unpredictable or erratic.	His quicksilver temperament made him hard to work with.
Qualmless	Without concern or conscience.	He made the decision in a qualmless manner.
Quicksand	Treacherous or dangerous.	Their financial situation felt like quicksand.

Illustration of Adjectives That Start with Q

List of Q Words to Describe Someone

Adjective	Definition	Example Sentence
Quiet	Calm and introspective.	She’s a quiet person who enjoys solitude.
Quirky	Having a unique personality.	His quirky sense of humor always makes people smile.
Quizzical	Curious or confused.	He gave her a quizzical look after the remark.
Quick-witted	Fast-thinking and sharp.	Her quick-witted responses often surprise others.
Quixotic	Overly idealistic.	His quixotic dreams inspire but often fail.
Qualified	Well-suited for something.	She is highly qualified for the teaching position.
Quaint	Charming in a vintage way.	The little bookstore has a quaint charm.
Quick-tempered	Easily angered.	His quick-tempered reactions can cause conflicts.
Quarrelsome	Prone to arguments.	She’s known to be quite quarrelsome at work.
Queenly	Elegant and regal.	Her queenly demeanor commanded respect.
Quietude	Serene and peaceful.	He enjoys the quietude of the countryside.
Questioning	Constantly curious.	His questioning nature led him to uncover the truth.
Quick-thinking	Sharp and fast in decision-making.	Her quick-thinking saved the team from disaster.
Quotable	Worth quoting.	His speech was filled with quotable phrases.
Quiescent	Inactive or peaceful.	The baby remained quiescent in her crib.
Quick	Fast at completing tasks.	He’s quick at solving math problems.
Quick-minded	Sharp and alert.	Her quick-minded solutions impressed the team.

List of Character Traits Adjectives That Start With Q

Adjective	Definition	Example Sentence
Quaint	Charming in an old-fashioned way.	Her home had a quaint and cozy feel.
Quick-witted	Mentally sharp and clever.	His quick-witted humor always lightened the mood.
Quixotic	Extremely idealistic and impractical.	His quixotic vision often led to grand but unrealistic plans.
Quiet	Calm and reserved in nature.	She’s a quiet observer, rarely drawing attention to herself.
Questioning	Curious and eager to learn.	His questioning mind led him to explore new theories.
Quarrelsome	Prone to arguments and conflicts.	Her quarrelsome behavior often caused tensions in the group.
Quirky	Unusual in an exciting or intriguing way.	His quirky personality made him a favorite among his peers.
Qualified	Well-prepared and competent in a field.	She’s highly qualified to lead the team.
Quintessential	Embodying the most typical characteristics.	He’s the quintessential example of a dedicated teacher.
Queenly	Regal, elegant, and dignified.	Her queenly demeanor inspired admiration.
Quick-thinking	Fast and effective at making decisions.	Her quick-thinking helped avert a crisis.
Quizzical	Mildly amused or confused.	He gave her a quizzical look after her odd comment.
Quick-tempered	Easily angered or irritated.	His quick-tempered nature made him difficult to work with.
Quiescent	Peaceful and inactive.	The normally active town was quiescent after the festival.
Quietude	Calm and serene demeanor.	He found comfort in the quietude of the mountains.
Quick-moving	Agile and fast in action.	The quick-moving athlete dodged all the tackles.
Quavering	Nervous or shaky.	She gave her speech in a quavering voice.
Quicksilver	Highly changeable and unpredictable.	His quicksilver moods were hard to anticipate.
Quizzing	Testing or interrogative.	Her quizzing tone made him feel uneasy.

List of Compliments Adjectives That Start With Q

Adjective	Definition	Example Sentence
Quick-witted	Exceptionally clever and fast-thinking.	Her quick-witted responses always entertain the crowd.
Quintessential	The perfect example of something great.	He’s the quintessential gentleman, always polite and kind.
Quality	Demonstrating high standards.	This is a quality piece of craftsmanship.
Queenly	Regal, elegant, and dignified.	She carries herself with a queenly elegance.
Quiet	Possessing a peaceful nature.	Her quiet demeanor is calming to those around her.
Quirky	Uniquely charming and fun.	His quirky sense of humor makes him delightful to be around.
Quick-thinking	Fast at solving problems.	Her quick-thinking saved the project.
Qualified	Highly capable and competent.	He’s a qualified expert in his field.
Quick	Efficient and prompt.	She’s quick to respond to any request.
Quizzical	Charmingly curious or amusing.	His quizzical smile made everyone laugh.
Quick learner	Able to grasp new ideas rapidly.	She’s a quick learner who adapts easily.
Quaint	Charming in a unique way.	The quaint little shop is loved by everyone.
Quick-footed	Agile and fast in action.	The quick-footed player evaded his opponent easily.
Quintuple	Five times as good or impressive.	Their efforts led to a quintuple increase in success.
Quenching	Satisfying or fulfilling.	The refreshing drink was truly quenching.
Quick-reflexed	Reacting fast to situations.	The quick-reflexed driver avoided the accident.
Quiet-minded	Thoughtful and introspective.	He is a quiet-minded leader who listens carefully.
Queenly presence	Carrying oneself with grace and dignity.	Her queenly presence commanded attention in the room.
Quotable	Memorable and worth repeating.	His speech was full of quotable lines.
Quality-conscious	Attentive to excellence.	She’s very quality-conscious in her work.
Quick to help	Always ready to offer assistance.	He’s always quick to help his friends in need.
Quaint spirit	Having an old-world charm.	Her quaint spirit made her seem like she belonged to another era.
Quick on your feet	Fast in response and adaptable.	He’s quick on his feet in high-pressure situations.

List of Descriptive Words Starting With Q

Adjective	Definition	Example Sentence
Quick	Fast or speedy.	She took a quick glance at the clock.
Quaint	Attractively old-fashioned.	The cottage had a quaint charm.
Quiet	Peaceful and silent.	The forest was quiet and serene.
Quizzical	Indicating puzzlement or curiosity.	He gave her a quizzical look after the question.
Qualified	Competent and skilled.	She’s a qualified candidate for the job.
Quick-moving	Fast and agile.	The quick-moving animal escaped easily.
Quivering	Trembling or shaking.	Her hands were quivering with excitement.
Quintessential	Representing the most perfect example.	He’s the quintessential team player.
Quasi	Seemingly, but not actually.	His explanation was quasi-scientific.
Quarterly	Occurring every three months.	The magazine is published on a quarterly basis.
Quicksilver	Unpredictable or changeable.	Her quicksilver personality kept everyone guessing.
Quenchable	Able to be satisfied.	His thirst was easily quenchable with water.
Quotidian	Everyday or mundane.	The task felt repetitive and quotidian.
Questionable	Doubtful or suspect.	His actions were morally questionable.
Quietude	A state of calmness and peace.	She enjoyed the quietude of the library.
Quintuple	Fivefold.	They achieved a quintuple increase in sales.
Queueing	Waiting in a line.	People were queueing patiently for the tickets.
Quantitative	Related to measuring or numbers.	The study focused on quantitative analysis.
Quenching	Refreshing and satisfying.	The lemonade was incredibly quenching on a hot day.
Quick-tempered	Easily angered or irritated.	His quick-tempered nature often led to arguments.

Featured Adjectives Grouped by Topics

Personality Traits: Quick-witted, Quirky, Quiet
Descriptive Characteristics: Quaint, Quiescent, Quirky
Positive Qualities: Quintessential, Quick, Optimistic
Negative Traits: Quarrelsome, Questionable, Queasy

Everyday Use of Adjectives Starting With Q

"She has a quick response time in critical situations."
"The quaint little bookstore was a hidden gem."
"His quirky fashion sense makes him stand out in a crowd."

Common Mistakes

Quixotic vs. Optimistic:

Mistake: "He’s optimistic about unrealistic goals."
Correction: "He’s quixotic about unrealistic goals."

Quiet vs. Quite:

Mistake: "She’s quite shy in public."
Correction: "She’s quiet and shy in public."

Quarrelsome vs. Argumentative:

Mistake: "He’s very argumentative with everyone."
Correction: "He’s very quarrelsome with everyone."

FAQ

What are some positive adjectives that start with Q?

Positive adjectives include quick-witted, quaint, quintessential, and quiet.

Are there any negative adjectives starting with Q?

Yes, examples include quarrelsome, questionable, and queasy.

What are some Q adjectives to describe a person?

Adjectives like quirky, quick, and quiet can describe a person’s traits.

What is the difference between “quirky” and “quirk”?

Quirky is an adjective describing someone with unique traits, while quirk is a noun referring to a peculiar habit or feature.

How can I use “quintessential” in a sentence?

“He’s the quintessential example of a dedicated leader.”