Adjectives That Start with W
Table of Contents
Adjectives that start with W Exercises and Flashcards
These exercises focus on Adjectives that start with W
List of Positive Adjectives That Start with W
Adjective |
Definition |
Example |
Warm |
Feeling or showing affection and kindness. |
"Her warm smile made everyone feel welcome." |
Warmhearted |
Sympathetic and kind in nature. |
"He is a warmhearted and caring individual." |
Waterproof |
Resistant to water. |
"This waterproof jacket is perfect for rainy days." |
Watertight |
Secure against water leakage. |
"The boat's watertight compartments kept it afloat." |
Welcome |
Gladly received or accepted. |
"Their offer of help was more than welcome." |
Welcoming |
Friendly and inviting. |
"The hotel staff were extremely welcoming." |
Well-adjusted |
Mentally and emotionally stable. |
"She is a well-adjusted young woman." |
Well-advised |
Based on good judgment or counsel. |
"Your decision to invest in stocks was well-advised." |
Well-argued |
Logically and persuasively presented. |
"His essay was well-argued and convincing." |
Well-aware |
Fully informed about something. |
"She was well-aware of the challenges ahead." |
Well-balanced |
Proportioned and stable in nature. |
"The meal was nutritious and well-balanced." |
Well-built |
Sturdily constructed or muscular in physique. |
"He is a well-built athlete." |
Well-considered |
Thought through carefully. |
"Her decision was well-considered and deliberate." |
Well-crafted |
Skillfully and carefully made. |
"The story is a well-crafted piece of literature." |
Well-deserved |
Fully earned or merited. |
"His promotion was well-deserved." |
Well-done |
Executed successfully. |
"That was a well-done presentation." |
Well-earned |
Achieved through hard work or merit. |
"After a long week, she took a well-earned rest." |
Well-established |
Firmly founded or proven. |
"They run a well-established business." |
Well-favored |
Attractive or good-looking. |
"The actor is a well-favored individual." |
Well-liked |
Popular and appreciated by others. |
"She’s a well-liked member of the team." |
Well-made |
Constructed with skill and care. |
"This is a well-made piece of furniture." |
Well-off |
Financially comfortable or wealthy. |
"They come from a well-off family." |
Well-written |
Written in an articulate and engaging way. |
"The article was well-written and informative." |
Whimsical |
Playfully quaint or fanciful. |
"Her whimsical style brought joy to the room." |
Whole |
Complete or entire. |
"The whole community came together to help." |
Wholehearted |
Fully committed or sincere. |
"She gave her wholehearted support to the cause." |
Wholesome |
Promoting health and well-being. |
"The movie had a wholesome message for children." |
Windproof |
Resistant to wind penetration. |
"This windproof coat is great for hiking." |
Winnable |
Possible to win or achieve. |
"The team is in a winnable position this season." |
Wonderful |
Inspiring delight or admiration. |
"They had a wonderful time at the concert." |
Wondersome |
Causing wonder or amazement. |
"The wondersome beauty of the mountains was stunning." |
Wondrous |
Full of wonder or amazement. |
"The aurora borealis is a wondrous sight." |
Worry-free |
Without stress or anxiety. |
"He enjoyed a worry-free vacation." |
Worthy |
Deserving respect or attention. |
"Her achievements make her worthy of recognition." |
List of Negative Adjectives Starting With W
Adjective |
Definition |
Example |
Wacko |
Crazy or eccentric. |
"His wacko ideas often surprised everyone at the meeting." |
Wanky |
Overly flashy or pretentious. |
"The outfit seemed a bit too wanky for a casual event." |
Wanton |
Reckless or malicious. |
"His wanton disregard for the rules caused chaos." |
War-torn |
Severely damaged by war. |
"They fled from a war-torn country in search of peace." |
Warful |
Inclined to conflict or war. |
"The warful atmosphere made peace negotiations difficult." |
Warlike |
Aggressive, ready for battle. |
"The general’s warlike demeanor intimidated his enemies." |
Warrantless |
Without justification or legal authority. |
"The warrantless search was deemed unlawful by the court." |
Washed-out |
Pale, faded, or lacking vitality. |
"Her washed-out complexion indicated she was unwell." |
Washed-up |
No longer effective or successful. |
"The washed-up actor struggled to find new roles." |
Wasted |
Severely intoxicated or in a deteriorated condition. |
"After the party, he appeared completely wasted." |
Wasteful |
Using resources inefficiently or unnecessarily. |
"Leaving the lights on all night is extremely wasteful." |
Waterlogged |
Saturated with water, unable to function properly. |
"The waterlogged soil made planting nearly impossible." |
Wavering |
Indecisive or fluctuating. |
"Her wavering voice betrayed her nervousness." |
Waxen |
Pale and lifeless, resembling wax. |
"The patient’s waxen complexion alarmed the doctors." |
Waxy |
Having a smooth, shiny appearance like wax. |
"The fruit had a waxy coating that made it look artificial." |
Wayward |
Difficult to control, willful. |
"The wayward teenager often skipped school." |
Weak |
Lacking strength or power. |
"He felt too weak to get out of bed after the flu." |
Weakened |
Made less strong or effective. |
"The storm weakened the structure of the old bridge." |
Wearisome |
Tiresome or boring. |
"The long lecture became wearisome after an hour." |
Weasel-like |
Sly or deceitful, like a weasel. |
"His weasel-like behavior made him untrustworthy." |
Weaselly |
Dishonest or sneaky. |
"She gave a weaselly excuse for missing the meeting." |
Weird |
Strange or unusual. |
"There was a weird noise coming from the attic." |
Whimpering |
Making soft, fearful cries. |
"The dog was whimpering under the bed during the storm." |
Whiny |
Complaining in a high-pitched voice. |
"The child’s whiny tone grated on everyone’s nerves." |
Winless |
Without any victories. |
"The team remained winless throughout the season." |
Withering |
Intending to make someone feel humiliated. |
"She shot him a withering glance during the argument." |
Wonky |
Unsteady or unreliable. |
"The wonky table wobbled every time someone touched it." |
Worrying |
Causing anxiety or concern. |
"The worrying rise in crime alarmed the residents." |
Worse |
Of poorer quality than before. |
"The situation grew worse after the storm hit." |
Worthless |
Lacking value or importance. |
"The broken clock was now completely worthless." |
Wounded |
Physically or emotionally injured. |
"The soldier returned home wounded from battle." |
Wrong |
Not correct or morally acceptable. |
"It’s wrong to lie to your friends." |
Wronged |
Treated unfairly or unjustly. |
"She felt deeply wronged by their accusations." |
Wrongful |
Involving unfair or illegal actions. |
"He sued the company for wrongful termination." |
List of W Words to Describe Someone
Adjective |
Definition |
Example |
Waifish |
Thin and delicate, often in a frail way. |
"The waifish model walked gracefully down the runway." |
Waiflike |
Similar to a waif; fragile and delicate. |
"Her waiflike appearance made her look ethereal." |
Waify |
Having a frail, thin appearance. |
"The actress was known for her waify beauty." |
Wan |
Pale, suggesting poor health. |
"Her wan complexion made everyone worry about her health." |
Warted |
Covered with warts or bumps. |
"The warted surface of the toad fascinated the biologist." |
Wasp-waisted |
Having an extremely narrow waist. |
"The dress accentuated her wasp-waisted figure." |
Waspish |
Easily annoyed or irritable. |
"His waspish remarks hurt everyone at the meeting." |
Wayfaring |
Traveling, especially on foot. |
"The wayfaring stranger sought shelter for the night." |
Weak |
Lacking physical strength. |
"He felt weak after the intense workout." |
Weakened |
Reduced in strength or effectiveness. |
"The bridge was weakened by the storm." |
Wealthy |
Having a lot of money or possessions. |
"The wealthy businessman donated generously to charities." |
Weaponless |
Without weapons. |
"The knight stood weaponless before the king." |
Weary |
Feeling tired or worn out. |
"After the long journey, she looked weary." |
Weasel-faced |
Having a sly or deceitful appearance. |
"The character was portrayed as a weasel-faced villain." |
Weasel-like |
Sly or deceitful in character. |
"His weasel-like behavior made him untrustworthy." |
Weaselish |
Resembling a weasel; sneaky or cunning. |
"His weaselish grin unsettled the room." |
Weaselly |
Deceitful or dishonest. |
"The witness gave a weaselly answer under oath." |
Wedded |
Joined together in marriage. |
"The wedded couple shared a beautiful ceremony." |
Wee |
Very small; tiny. |
"The child held a wee kitten in her hands." |
Well-born |
Of noble or aristocratic lineage. |
"She came from a well-born family of scholars." |
Well-bred |
Polite and well-mannered, from a good family. |
"He was admired for his well-bred demeanor." |
Well-connected |
Having influential social or professional connections. |
"The politician was well-connected in business circles." |
Well-dressed |
Wearing stylish or neat clothing. |
"The well-dressed guest impressed everyone at the party." |
Well-educated |
Having a good level of education. |
"The well-educated candidate was perfect for the job." |
Well-endowed |
Having ample resources, talents, or attributes. |
"The school is well-endowed with modern facilities." |
Well-fed |
Appearing healthy and nourished. |
"The well-fed dog wagged its tail happily." |
Well-groomed |
Neat and tidy in appearance. |
"The well-groomed man turned heads at the event." |
Well-known |
Famous or widely recognized. |
"The well-known author spoke at the book fair." |
Well-read |
Knowledgeable due to extensive reading. |
"She was well-read in classical literature." |
Well-rounded |
Having a variety of skills or abilities. |
"He’s a well-rounded individual with interests in art and science." |
Well-to-do |
Wealthy or prosperous. |
"The well-to-do family donated to many charities." |
Well-traveled |
Having visited many places. |
"Her well-traveled background gave her a unique perspective." |
Well-versed |
Knowledgeable and skilled in a particular area. |
"He’s well-versed in ancient history." |
Welsh |
From or related to Wales. |
"The Welsh singer captivated the audience." |
Wet-suited |
Dressed in a wetsuit for water activities. |
"The wet-suited divers explored the coral reef." |
Whiskered |
Having facial hair like a beard or mustache. |
"The whiskered man looked distinguished." |
White-collar |
Related to office work or professional employment. |
"He took a white-collar job after graduating." |
Wide-awake |
Fully alert and attentive. |
"The wide-awake child resisted bedtime." |
Wide-bodied |
Having a broad or wide structure. |
"The wide-bodied airplane could carry hundreds of passengers." |
Wide-eyed |
Innocent or amazed. |
"The wide-eyed child marveled at the fireworks." |
Widowed |
Having lost a spouse through death. |
"The widowed woman found solace in her family." |
Wild-eyed |
Appearing crazy or frantic. |
"The wild-eyed scientist explained his latest invention." |
Willowy |
Tall, slim, and graceful. |
"The ballerina’s willowy figure made her movements enchanting." |
Wisplike |
Thin and delicate in appearance. |
"The wisplike strands of hair framed her face." |
Wizardly |
Having the qualities of a wizard; magical. |
"The magician performed with wizardly skill." |
Wizened |
Shriveled or wrinkled with age. |
"The wizened old man shared stories of his youth." |
Woebegone |
Appearing sad or distressed. |
"Her woebegone expression hinted at her troubles." |
Wonderstruck |
Amazed or in awe. |
"The wonderstruck tourists gazed at the northern lights." |
Woolly-minded |
Having unclear or confused thoughts. |
"His woolly-minded explanation left everyone puzzled." |
Woozy |
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded. |
"She felt woozy after the rollercoaster ride." |
Worriable |
Easily prone to worrying. |
"His worriable nature often led to sleepless nights." |
Worried |
Feeling anxious or concerned. |
"She looked worried about the upcoming exam." |
Wounded |
Physically or emotionally hurt. |
"The wounded soldier was carried to safety." |
Wretched |
In a very bad or miserable condition. |
"The wretched living conditions needed immediate attention." |
List of Character Traits That Start With W
Adjective |
Definition |
Example |
Waggish |
Playfully humorous or mischievous. |
"His waggish remarks kept everyone entertained." |
Warmhearted |
Kind and affectionate. |
"She’s a warmhearted person who always helps others." |
Watchful |
Alert and observant. |
"The watchful guard ensured no one trespassed." |
Weak-willed |
Lacking determination or resolve. |
"He’s too weak-willed to resist temptation." |
Weepy |
Prone to crying easily. |
"The weepy child cried at the slightest upset." |
Well-behaved |
Acting appropriately and politely. |
"The well-behaved dog sat quietly during the visit." |
Well-intentioned |
Having good intentions. |
"Her well-intentioned advice didn’t land well." |
Well-spoken |
Articulate and eloquent in speech. |
"The well-spoken leader inspired confidence in the crowd." |
Well-tempered |
Even-tempered and calm. |
"He remained well-tempered despite the chaos around him." |
Whimmy |
Acting whimsically or unpredictably. |
"Her whimmy nature made her an exciting travel companion." |
Whip-smart |
Extremely intelligent and quick-witted. |
"The whip-smart student aced every test effortlessly." |
Wild |
Untamed or unrestrained. |
"The wild child ran barefoot through the fields." |
Willful |
Determined to do as one wants. |
"Her willful defiance made her a tough negotiator." |
Wily |
Crafty and clever, often in a deceptive way. |
"The wily fox outsmarted the hunters." |
Winsome |
Attractive or charming in a sweet way. |
"Her winsome smile brightened the room." |
Wise |
Showing good judgment and deep understanding. |
"The wise elder offered valuable guidance to the youth." |
Wishful |
Full of hope or longing. |
"He cast a wishful glance at the luxurious car." |
Wishy-washy |
Indecisive or lacking conviction. |
"Her wishy-washy response frustrated the team." |
Wistful |
Longing or yearning with a touch of sadness. |
"He felt wistful when reminiscing about his childhood." |
Wolfish |
Fierce or predatory in nature. |
"His wolfish grin hinted at mischief." |
Wolflike |
Resembling a wolf in appearance or behavior. |
"The wolflike leader commanded respect with his demeanor." |
Worldly |
Experienced and knowledgeable about life. |
"Her worldly perspective made her a fascinating storyteller." |
Wrathful |
Full of intense anger. |
"The wrathful god was feared by all." |
Wry |
Dryly humorous or slightly sarcastic. |
"His wry humor often caught people off guard." |
Funny Adjectives Starting With W
Word |
Definition |
Example |
Wacky |
Amusingly strange or peculiar. |
"Her wacky sense of humor always makes us laugh." |
Waggish |
Playfully humorous. |
"He had a waggish grin during the prank." |
Waiflike |
Thin and delicate, like a lost child. |
"The waiflike figure wandered through the crowd." |
Waspish |
Easily irritated or snappish. |
"Her waspish tone ended the discussion abruptly." |
Wiggly |
Moving with quick, jerky motions. |
"The wiggly puppy couldn’t sit still." |
Wobbly |
Unsteady or shaky. |
"The wobbly chair needs fixing." |
Whacky |
Eccentric and odd in a funny way. |
"His whacky outfit turned heads at the party." |
Wiggly-waggly |
Extremely wobbly or jiggly. |
"The jello was wiggly-waggly on the plate." |
Whimsical |
Playfully imaginative. |
"The whimsical garden was filled with odd statues." |
Wiry |
Lean but tough and sinewy. |
"His wiry frame belied his incredible strength." |
Woozy |
Dizzy or slightly out of it. |
"She felt woozy after spinning in circles." |
Wormy |
Resembling or filled with worms. |
"The old apple was wormy and unappetizing." |
Whirly |
Moving in circles. |
"The whirly toy spun rapidly on the floor." |
Windblown |
Appearing disheveled by the wind. |
"Her hair was windblown after the boat ride." |
Woolly |
Fuzzy and fluffy like wool. |
"The sheep’s woolly coat kept it warm." |
Whopperish |
Exaggerated or blown out of proportion. |
"That’s a whopperish tale if I’ve ever heard one." |
Wheezily |
Breathing with a funny wheezing sound. |
"He spoke wheezily after the long climb." |
Wrinkly |
Covered in wrinkles. |
"The wrinkly shirt needed ironing." |
Waggly |
Moving from side to side. |
"The puppy’s waggly tail showed its excitement." |
Woolgathering |
Daydreaming absentmindedly. |
"She spent the afternoon woolgathering by the lake." |
Wonkish |
Obsessed with details, often in a comical way. |
"His wonkish attention to trivia amused everyone." |
Whiffy |
Having a funny or unpleasant smell. |
"The cheese had a particularly whiffy aroma." |
Wonky |
Off-kilter or slightly unstable. |
"The wonky bookshelf leaned to one side." |
Whimpery |
Full of soft, pitiful sounds. |
"The whimpery kitten wanted attention." |
Whacky-doodle |
Completely offbeat or eccentric. |
"Her whacky-doodle antics kept the group entertained." |
Whizzy |
Fast and full of energy. |
"The whizzy car sped past on the track." |
Whippy |
Flexible or springy. |
"The whippy branch bent under the weight of the bird." |
Whoopee-worthy |
Deserving of celebration or joy. |
"His promotion was definitely whoopee-worthy." |
Warped |
Twisted or bent in an odd way. |
"The warped wood wouldn’t fit the frame." |
Waggly-tailed |
Excitedly wagging a tail. |
"The waggly-tailed dog greeted everyone happily." |
Wild-eyed |
Looking frantic or crazy. |
"The wild-eyed scientist explained his discovery." |
Whiney |
Complaining in an annoying way. |
"The child became whiney when it was time to leave." |
Wigged-out |
Freaked out or startled. |
"She got completely wigged-out watching the horror movie." |
Wiggly-jiggly |
Moving in a silly, unpredictable way. |
"The gelatin was wiggly-jiggly on the plate." |
Wonkerific |
Delightfully weird. |
"That wonkerific gadget caught everyone’s attention." |
Whippersnapperish |
Impudent or sassy in a youthful way. |
"The whippersnapperish intern challenged the manager." |
Wobblesome |
Likely to wobble amusingly. |
"The wobblesome stool almost toppled over." |
Wacky-doodle |
Utterly nonsensical or absurd. |
"His wacky-doodle explanation left us laughing." |
Windy-pops |
A funny way to describe gassy. |
"Grandpa blamed his windy-pops on the beans." |
Wumpish |
Feeling sluggish or out of sorts. |
"After the long flight, I felt wumpish and tired." |
Whooshy |
Making a rushing or swooshing sound. |
"The whooshy wind howled through the trees." |
Whirligiggy |
Spinning in an amusing, dizzy way. |
"The whirligiggy toy was a hit at the fair." |
Wobble-tastic |
Hilariously unsteady. |
"Her wobble-tastic dance moves had everyone laughing." |
Whatchamacallit-ish |
Describing something vague or undefined. |
"That whatchamacallit-ish device looks complicated." |
Wingy |
Flappy or prone to flapping. |
"The wingy bird darted around the feeder." |
Wiggle-bottomed |
Wiggling one’s rear end in a playful way. |
"The toddler danced around, wiggle-bottomed and happy." |
Warpy |
Slightly twisted or bent, in a funny sense. |
"The warpy picture frame didn’t sit flat." |
Wiggly-woo |
Moving whimsically or comically. |
"The worm made a wiggly-woo motion in the dirt." |
Wacky-tabacky |
Humorously eccentric or zany. |
"That outfit is pure wacky-tabacky fashion." |
Wiffle-waffle |
Indecisive or prone to silly behavior. |
"He kept wiffle-waffling about where to eat dinner." |
Common Mistakes
1. Confusing “Wise” with “Witty”
Mistake: Using "wise" to describe someone who tells clever jokes.
Correction: "Wise" refers to having good judgment or experience, while "witty" means being clever and humorous.
Example:
-
Incorrect: "He’s so wise; his jokes are hilarious."
-
Correct: "He’s so witty; his jokes are hilarious."
2. Overusing “Wild” in Negative Contexts
Mistake: Assuming “wild” always implies chaos or recklessness.
Correction: “Wild” can have positive meanings, such as adventurous or exciting.
Example:
-
Incorrect: "Her wild personality makes her difficult to work with."
-
Correct: "Her wild ideas bring fresh perspectives to our team."
3. Misinterpreting “Warm” vs. “Warmhearted”
Mistake: Using "warm" to mean highly compassionate when "warmhearted" would be more accurate.
Correction: "Warm" refers to general friendliness, while "warmhearted" emphasizes kindness and generosity.
Example:
-
Incorrect: "She’s always warm to those in need."
-
Correct: "She’s always warmhearted to those in need."
4. Using “Wonky” in Formal Writing
Mistake: Incorporating informal or slang terms like "wonky" in professional contexts.
Correction: Replace “wonky” with more formal synonyms, such as “unstable” or “unsteady.”
Example:
-
Incorrect: "The project’s timeline feels a bit wonky."
-
Correct: "The project’s timeline feels somewhat unstable."
5. Misusing “Wrathful” vs. “Angry”
Mistake: Using "wrathful" to describe mild irritation.
Correction: "Wrathful" refers to extreme anger, not simple annoyance.
Example:
-
Incorrect: "She was wrathful when I forgot the meeting."
-
Correct: "She was angry when I forgot the meeting."
6. Misapplying “Witty” to Situations Lacking Humor
Mistake: Describing a logical or clever action as “witty.”
Correction: "Witty" implies humor, so use "clever" or "ingenious" for non-humorous contexts.
Example:
-
Incorrect: "His solution to the puzzle was quite witty."
-
Correct: "His solution to the puzzle was quite clever."
7. Confusing “Withdrawn” with “Introverted”
Mistake: Using “withdrawn” to describe someone who is naturally quiet.
Correction: “Withdrawn” indicates a temporary state of emotional withdrawal, while “introverted” describes a personality trait.
Example:
-
Incorrect: "He’s very withdrawn and prefers reading to socializing."
-
Correct: "He’s very introverted and prefers reading to socializing."
8. Misunderstanding “Worthless” vs. “Priceless”
Mistake: Assuming “worthless” and “priceless” have similar meanings.
Correction: “Worthless” means without value, while “priceless” means extremely valuable.
Example:
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Incorrect: "That antique vase is worthless to collectors."
-
Correct: "That antique vase is priceless to collectors."
9. Misusing “Watchful” as Synonymous with “Paranoid”
Mistake: Interpreting “watchful” as overly cautious or suspicious.
Correction: "Watchful" means attentive or alert, while "paranoid" implies irrational fear.
Example:
-
Incorrect: "The watchful guard seemed overly suspicious."
-
Correct: "The watchful guard noticed every detail."
10. Using “Wretched” Instead of “Tired”
Mistake: Exaggerating with “wretched” when someone is simply tired.
Correction: “Wretched” implies deep misery, not just fatigue.
Example:
-
Incorrect: "After the hike, I felt completely wretched."
-
Correct: "After the hike, I felt completely tired."
FAQ
What’s the difference between “warm” and “warmhearted”?
“Warm” describes a friendly or kind nature, while “warmhearted” emphasizes compassion and generosity.
Can “wild” be positive?
Yes, “wild” can describe exciting or adventurous traits positively.
Is “witty” only about humor?
Not necessarily. While it often involves humor, “witty” also means being clever and quick.
What’s a good W adjective to describe a leader?
“Wise” or “willing” are excellent choices for leaders.
Can “withdrawn” be a temporary trait?
Yes, someone may become “withdrawn” temporarily due to specific circumstances.