Adjective Stravaganza

Stop overusing words. Here’s 11 synonyms to enrich your vocabulary!

Image: Sincerely Media

The English language is vibrant and generous when it comes to describing things. Its adjectives can be precise, poetic, naive, gentle, nasty, humorous, and so much more. Yet, for whatever reason, speakers show a tendency to boil down their lexicon into a very narrow choice of words.

We have assembled a short list of common adjectives and some of the words that can be used to replace them. Depending on the situation, some will be more suitable than others, but all of them will serve to expand your vocabulary in interesting ways!

Image: Andrew Schultz

One of the most overused adjectives in the English language is "nice". We use it for everything: Maybe you had a nice conversation, you live in a nice neighborhood, or you have a nice puppy.

Of course, a puppy can be nice. But it could also be charming, cute, precious, or even adorable. Your neighborhood could be pretty or lovely. Your conversation, captivating or absorbing. You get the idea.

Image: Jason Blackeye

A sunset is beautiful, yes. But a sunset can also very well be golden, gorgeous, spectacular, dramatic, red, magnificent, glowing, burning, dazzling, wonderful, fiery, even breathtaking or glorious. An event so exquisite deserves more than the ubiquitous "beautiful," don't you think?

Image: Drew Coffman

A very useful little word to describe things that are on the positive side of things, but not much further down the line. Not great, but definitely not bad.

Many things in life are, simply put, just good: A decent cup of coffee, a satisfactory day at work, an adequate microwave meal. These are all things that, if done right, are just good, and that's why we tend to over-utilize this humble adjective. However, many words could serve to replace it. Some we've just used here, but you can certainly think of some more.

Image: Alexander Mils

The word "expensive" is thrown around quite a lot, and has been for a while. For this very reason, the English language has more than a few synonyms worth its salt to express the same concept.

A pricey item can also be described as exorbitant, extravagant, fancy, lavish, upscale, posh, or steep. Contrary to what they describe, using any of these adjectives is 100% free.

Image: April Pethybridge

Another omnipresent descriptor that deserves a rest. And for good reason: the world is, in fact, a big place with plenty of big things worthy of conversation.

However, besides big, things can be called plenty of other things: huge, enormous, substantial, immense, gigantic, spacious, monumental, or even gargantuan if you are looking for the ultimate in matters of size.

Image: Daniel K Cheung

When talking about scale, it's all about nuance. Almost as ubiquitous as its big brother, "small" is another versatile word that, despite its usefulness, loses meaning without context.

Think of words like little, tiny, minuscule, compact, diminutive, microscopic, undersized, and minute. Every one of them offers some nuance and variation, while still expressing the core idea of smallness.

Image: Michal Parzuchowski

A great many things in life are difficult and there is no shame in admitting to it. What is a shame is using the same word over and over again when we have such a rich vocabulary to express every nuance of the human experience.

Things can be difficult, but also challenging, demanding, complex, arduous, complicated, tricky, formidable, onerous, laborious, tough, or just hard.

Image: Pablo Arroyo

As many things in life are difficult, many others are outright easy. Whenever you find a straightforward solution to a problem, life gets a little simpler. Other words in the "easy" ballpark are uncomplicated, painless, smooth, undemanding, and breezy. You should try to incorporate them into your lexicon—it's effortless.

Image: Etienne Girardet

One of those words that can be used to convey many different meanings, "hot" signifies high temperature, but it is also used to express urgency, high demand, beauty, and intensity.

Many synonyms can also be used to describe the spectrum of expressions that "hot" is used for. From the intense "sizzling" to the extreme "scorching" or "boiling", to "blistering" or even "burning", all these are waiting on the sidelines to replace the overused "hot."

Image: Spencer Backman

Another much-used adjective, the direct opposite of the one just mentioned, is "cold". Many things can be cold, from drinks to relationships to places to food and quite a few more. Yet, the word has a few relatives that are seldom used.

"Chilly" suggests a mild and discomforting cold, "frigid" conveys an intense cold, "icy" emphasizes the presence of ice, and "frosty" describes a coldness that is frost-covered. Also, "biting" implies a sharp wind, "freezing" means a temperature at freezing point, and "numb" conveys a lack of sensation.

Image: insung yoon

In a world of constant rush, running late is inevitable. The term itself signifies a point in time occurring after the expected hour. "You're late" is a much-heard phrase, usually uttered in mild anger.

But for such an ungrateful term, there are plenty of related terms at our disposal: tardy, delayed, belated, behind schedule, overdue, running behind, or behind time can all be used to replace the usual "late".

Deep roots

11 everyday words with indigenous roots

English is a very welcoming language in the sense that it incorporates terms from many other languages from all over the world. And, as it couldn’t be otherwise, Native American languages have lent many of their words and terms to English speakers. Some traveled through Spanish or French before settling into English, and others arrived directly through early contact and trade, helping shape the way we speak today. Did you know about these 11 terms?

The word "canoe" comes from the Taino term canoa, which was first used by Caribbean islanders long before Europeans arrived. Early explorers adopted it to describe the slim, sturdy boats they saw.

Over time, "canoe" became the standard English word for a small paddled craft. Today it still carries that sense of simplicity and closeness to nature.

The word "barbecue" comes from barbacoa, another Taino term for a wooden frame used for cooking meat over fire. Europeans adopted it and applied it to both the method and the gathering itself.

Today, "barbecue" means everything from a backyard cookout to a regional cooking style. Its origins highlight the deep culinary influence of Native Americans in the nation's current culture.

"Skunk" comes from the Algonquian word squnk, which means "urinating fox" (quite a fitting term, indeed). This was an obvious reference to the animal’s strong defensive spray. Early settlers adopted the term directly.

Since English had no better name for the creature, the Native word stuck. Today, the word skunks is also used as playful slang.

The word "moose" originates from Eastern Abenaki, a part of the Algonquian family, where it meant "he strips off bark." Yes, it described the animal’s habit of tearing bark from trees.

The name entered English quickly because settlers relied on Native knowledge of local fauna. The word remains unchanged because of its accuracy and usefulness.

"Raccoon" comes from the Powhatan word arakun, meaning "he scratches with his hands." It described the animal’s clever, humanlike front paws.

Settlers adopted the term because it captured the creature’s behavior beautifully. Today, the raccoon is used as a household symbol of curiosity, not unlike the animal itself.

The term "chipmunk" most probably comes from the Ojibwe word ajidamoo, which means "one who descends trees headfirst." Early English settlers adapted the sound into today’s form.

Though the spelling changed over time, the lively image of a chipmunk racing down a tree face-first stayed.

The word "caribou" comes from the Mi’kmaq term qalipu, which means "snow shoveler," referring to the animal’s habit of digging through snow for food.

French settlers brought the word into English, keeping its descriptive nature. The name still connects the modern animal to the winter landscapes it belongs to.

"Totem" comes from the Ojibwe word ototeman, which means "kinship group." It described symbols representing clans and shared roots.

English adopted it to describe carved poles and symbolic elements. Though broader in modern usage, it still hints at the original sense of community, identity, and heritage.

"Coyote" comes from the Nahuatl word coyōtl, which was used by Indigenous tribes of central Mexico. Spanish speakers adopted it, and English borrowed later.

The word kept its meaning, and it remains one of the most direct links between the English language and Nahuatl.

The tasty avocado’s name traces to the Nahuatl word ahacatl, which refers to the fruit and to a body part as well. Spanish speakers transformed it into aguacate.

Later on, English speakers adapted it to avocado. While the name sounds contemporary and culinary, it has ancient Native roots.

The last Nahuatl word and also the last word on the list comes from the term xocolātl, which describes a bitter cacao drink that was consumed long before Europeans arrived in America. The name traveled from Spanish to English.

Though the product changed dramatically, the word survived. Today, chocolate is a universal symbol of sweetness, with rich and deeply indigenous roots.