Adjectives That Start with R | List, Exercise & Examples

List of Positive Adjectives That Start With R

Adjective	Definition	Example Sentence
Radiant	Emitting light or joy.	She looked radiant in her wedding gown.
Rapt	Completely absorbed or fascinated.	He listened with rapt attention.
Rare	Uncommon and unique.	Her kindness is a rare quality these days.
Rational	Based on reason and logic.	His rational approach helped solve the issue.
Ravishing	Stunningly beautiful.	The sunset over the ocean was ravishing.
Real	Genuine and authentic.	I appreciate her real honesty.
Reasonable	Fair and sensible.	The price for the service was quite reasonable.
Reassuring	Offering comfort or confidence.	Her smile was reassuring during the crisis.
Receptive	Open and willing to accept new ideas.	The team was receptive to his suggestions.
Redeemable	Able to be improved or corrected.	His mistakes are redeemable with effort.
Refined	Elegant and cultured.	She has refined tastes in art and music.
Refreshing	Invigorating and revitalizing.	The cold drink was refreshing on a hot day.
Regal	Royal and majestic.	The castle had a regal appearance.
Relaxed	Free from tension or anxiety.	His relaxed demeanor put everyone at ease.
Reliable	Dependable and trustworthy.	She’s a reliable friend in tough times.
Remarkable	Worthy of attention and admiration.	His performance was truly remarkable.
Resilient	Able to recover quickly from difficulties.	She’s incredibly resilient in the face of challenges.
Respectful	Showing respect and courtesy.	The children were very respectful toward their elders.
Rich	Full of valuable qualities or resources.	The soil in this region is particularly rich.
Robust	Strong and healthy.	The old bridge is still robust despite its age.
Romantic	Filled with love and passion.	The couple had a romantic dinner by candlelight.

List of Negative Adjectives That Start With R

Adjective	Definition	Example Sentence
Rambunctious	Uncontrollably energetic and noisy.	The rambunctious children made it hard to concentrate.
Rancid	Having a foul or unpleasant smell or taste.	The butter had gone rancid and was inedible.
Ratty	Worn out or shabby.	He wore a ratty old sweater to the meeting.
Reckless	Careless and without thought for consequences.	His reckless driving endangered everyone on the road.
Repellant	Causing intense dislike or disgust.	The idea of eating insects was utterly repellant to her.
Repugnant	Extremely distasteful or unacceptable.	His behavior was morally repugnant.
Repulsive	Disgusting or offensive.	The repulsive odor drove everyone out of the room.
Resentful	Feeling or expressing bitterness.	She was resentful about not getting credit for her work.
Ridiculous	Deserving or inviting mockery; absurd.	His suggestion was so ridiculous that no one took it seriously.
Risky	Involving a high chance of danger or failure.	Investing in that startup seemed like a risky decision.
Rotten	Decayed or spoiled.	The fruit was rotten and had to be thrown away.
Rude	Impolite and lacking manners.	His rude remarks offended everyone in the room.
Rumpled	Wrinkled or messy.	He showed up to the interview in a rumpled suit.
Ruthless	Having no compassion or pity.	The dictator was known for his ruthless tactics.

Illustration of Adjectives That Start with R

List of Descriptive Adjectives That Start With R

Adjective	Definition	Example Sentence
Rabid	Extremely passionate or fanatical.	The rabid fans cheered loudly for their team.
Raucous	Loud and disorderly.	The raucous party disturbed the neighbors.
Radioactive	Emitting radiation.	They found radioactive material in the abandoned lab.
Raging	Violent and intense.	The raging storm caused widespread damage.
Rakish	Stylish in a confident and unconventional way.	He had a rakish charm that was hard to ignore.
Rambling	Lengthy and wandering.	Her rambling speech confused the audience.
Ramshackle	Poorly built and likely to collapse.	The ramshackle old house looked unsafe.
Raspy	Having a rough or harsh sound.	His voice was raspy after shouting all day.
Raunchy	Vulgar or sexually explicit.	The comedian’s jokes were too raunchy for some in the audience.
Ravenous	Extremely hungry.	After the hike, they felt ravenous.
Recessed	Set back or sunken.	The shelves were built into a recessed wall.
Refrigerated	Kept cool in a refrigerator.	The refrigerated drinks were refreshing.
Resonant	Deep and full of sound.	His resonant voice filled the auditorium.
Revolting	Disgusting and offensive.	The smell from the garbage was absolutely revolting.
Rickety	Likely to break or collapse.	The rickety ladder wobbled with every step.
Rigid	Inflexible and strict.	The teacher enforced rigid rules in the classroom.
Rigorous	Thorough and exacting.	The program required rigorous training.
Ripe	Fully developed or mature.	The ripe tomatoes were perfect for picking.
Ritzy	Expensively stylish or elegant.	They stayed in a ritzy hotel downtown.
Robotic	Mechanical or lacking emotion.	His movements were stiff and almost robotic.
Roomy	Having a lot of space.	The car’s roomy interior made it comfortable for long trips.
Rosy	Having a pinkish color or an optimistic outlook.	She has a rosy complexion and a cheerful attitude.
Rotund	Round and plump.	The man’s rotund figure made him easily recognizable.
Round	Shaped like a circle or sphere.	The round table fit perfectly in the small room.
Rowdy	Noisy and disruptive.	The rowdy crowd cheered wildly at the concert.
Rustic	Relating to the countryside; simple and charming.	The cabin’s rustic decor added to its charm.
Rubbery	Having a texture like rubber.	The pancakes were overcooked and felt rubbery.
Ruddy	Having a healthy red complexion.	His ruddy cheeks glowed from the cold.
Rugged	Rough and sturdy in appearance.	The rugged terrain made the hike challenging.
Rusty	Covered with rust; outdated in skill.	The old tools were rusty and needed cleaning.

List of Neutral Adjectives That Start With R

Adjective	Definition	Example Sentence
Radical	Relating to fundamental change or extreme views.	The scientist proposed a radical new theory.
Rampant	Widespread and unchecked.	Rumors about the incident were running rampant.
Random	Without specific order or purpose.	The selection process was completely random.
Rapid	Happening quickly.	The company experienced rapid growth last year.
Raw	Unprocessed or in a natural state.	The chef used raw ingredients for the dish.
Realistic	Practical and based on facts.	His goals were ambitious yet realistic.
Rebellious	Resisting authority or control.	The teenager had a rebellious streak.
Recalcitrant	Resisting authority or discipline.	The recalcitrant student refused to follow the rules.
Reclusive	Preferring to be alone; avoiding social contact.	The author lived a reclusive life in the countryside.
Recondite	Difficult to understand; obscure.	The professor’s lecture was filled with recondite concepts.
Redundant	Unnecessarily repetitive.	The instructions were redundant and confusing.
Reflective	Deeply thoughtful.	She had a reflective moment after the meeting.
Refried	Cooked again, often for a different purpose.	The refried beans were delicious with tacos.
Refundable	Able to be returned for money.	The ticket is refundable if canceled within 24 hours.
Regional	Relating to a specific area.	The cuisine has a distinct regional flavor.
Religious	Relating to faith or worship.	She comes from a deeply religious family.
Relentless	Persistent and unyielding.	His relentless efforts paid off in the end.
Relevant	Closely connected to the topic.	The information was highly relevant to the project.
Reluctant	Unwilling or hesitant.	He was reluctant to accept the offer.
Reprehensible	Deserving of criticism or blame.	His actions were morally reprehensible.
Reserved	Restrained in speech or behavior.	She is polite but somewhat reserved.
Restless	Unable to relax or stay still.	The child grew restless during the long trip.
Retired	No longer working, often due to age.	He is a retired teacher who now travels.
Revolutionary	Bringing about significant change.	The invention was revolutionary in its field.
Rhetorical	Relating to the art of persuasive speaking.	He posed a rhetorical question during his speech.
Rough	Having an uneven or coarse surface.	The rough texture of the fabric irritated her skin.
Routine	Performed as part of a regular procedure.	The workers followed their daily routine.
Rudimentary	Basic or undeveloped.	His understanding of the topic was still rudimentary.

Featured Adjectives Grouped by Topics

Personality Traits: Resilient, Respectful, Reserved, Rigid.
Appearance: Radiant, Robust, Ravishing, Rotund.
Behavioral Characteristics: Rebellious, Reckless, Responsible, Ruthless.
Emotion-Related: Restless, Resentful, Romantic, Ravenous.

Everyday Use of Adjectives Starting With R

“She’s a reliable colleague who always meets deadlines.”
“The view from the mountaintop was absolutely remarkable.”
“The children grew restless after sitting in class all day.”

Common Mistakes

Relevant vs. Irrelevant

Mistake: “This information is irrelevant to the discussion.”
Correction: “This information is relevant to the discussion.”

Ravenous vs. Famished

Mistake: “I’m famished, but I could wait a little longer.”
Correction: “I’m ravenous; I need food now!”

Resilient vs. Resistant

Mistake: “She’s resistant to stress.”
Correction: “She’s resilient under pressure.”

FAQ

What are some positive adjectives starting with R?

Positive adjectives include resilient, remarkable, radiant, respectful, and reliable.

Can "rebellious" be used positively?

Yes, rebellious can describe someone who challenges norms in a creative or revolutionary way.

What’s the difference between “robust” and “resilient”?

Robust refers to physical strength or durability, while resilient emphasizes recovering from difficulties.

Is “rustic” always a positive adjective?

No, rustic can be positive when describing charm but negative if implying primitiveness.

How can I use “revolutionary” in a sentence?

Example: “His revolutionary ideas transformed the tech industry.”