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

From wise leaders to whimsical tales, adjectives beginning with "W" evoke describe people and emotions.

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."

Illustration of Adjectives That Start with W

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:

  • 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.

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