There are numerous descriptive words beginning with the letter A. These can really help to bring your sentences alive as you write your novel. Below are 10 descriptive words starting with A with definitions, examples and explanations of their use.
1. Austere
Definition
Serious or strict in one’s appearance or manner; very plain with no other comforts or luxuries.
Examples
“The nurse appeared tired and austere—it was clear that she wasn’t someone you could share a joke with.”
“Further down the road, the house rose up, cold and austere in the mist.”
How it Adds Description
The word austere is a great way to make sure that your readers view something as very serious. It can easily be applied to both people and objects, making it a word with a lot of flexibility. Using the term can make a scene feel darker or more somber.
2. Adamant
Definition
Uncompromising; a person who is adamant is someone who refuses to change their opinion or position.
Example
“He tried to convince her to take the shortcut, but she was adamant that taking the long way around was the safest way to go.”
How It Adds Description
You can use this word to help add weight or seriousness to a scene. It’s also a good word to use if you are writing conflict between characters, especially when one character has very strong beliefs about something. Using the word adamant as a descriptor can help add weight to a character’s words.
3. Affable
Definition
Pleasant and friendly; an affable person is someone easy to approach and get along with.
Example
“She had been nervous about her first day at her new school. Luckily, the teachers and other students in the class were affable and welcomed her with open arms.”
How It Adds Description
If you want a quick, concise way to describe someone as being friendly and open, you can use the term affable. When you apply it to a person, it makes them at once feel like someone that can be trusted.
4. Aggravating
Definition
Frustrating or causing anger or impatience.
Examples
“It had been an aggravating day. Earlier, he had spilled his coffee all over the table, and because he’d had to clean it up, he missed his bus. He was really starting to lose his patience.”
“She supposed she should go and talk to her brother, but he could be so aggravating that all she really wanted to do was avoid him completely.”
How It Adds Description
Aggravating is a word with a lot of feeling behind it. More than simply being annoying, when you describe someone or something as being aggravating, it makes the situation feel much more serious.
5. Alien
Definition
Extra-terrestrial or coming from another world; different to the point of incompatibility; exotic or belonging to a different place, time, or thing.
Examples
“Although they had found no signs yet, the scientists continued to search for alien life on the cold, remote planet.”
“The plants were alien and strange—she had never seen anything like them before.”
“Her mannerisms were so alien to him. He was eager to stop talking to her and go back to his own room.”
How It Adds Description
The term alien can help make a person, thing, or situation feel strange or even unnerving. In many cases, it can even add a sense of repugnance.
6. Aloof
Definition
Distant or detached, either physically or emotionally.
Example
“When he first started working at the office, he had tried to become her friend. She, however, had remained aloof, and he still hardly knew anything more about her than her name.”
How It Adds Description
If you want to make a person seem disinterested in something or someone, this term is a good one to use. It can also be used to imply disdain or a sense of superiority that someone may have.
7. Ambiguous
Definition
Indistinct or uncertain; able to be understood in more than one way.
Examples
“The color of his eyes was ambiguous—some days, they appeared brown, while in certain lighting you could see greens and golds.”
“The definition of the text the class was reading remained ambiguous. Half the class thought it was a story about overcoming hardship, but the other half felt it was about learning to appreciate little things in life.”
How It Adds Definition
This is a great term to use if you want to make something or someone appear more mysterious. You can also use it as a way to stress that something means more than one thing.
8. Arduous
Definition
Highly challenging or difficult; something that is arduous requires a lot of labor or effort to achieve.
Examples
“The mountain was steep and with the wind blowing the way it was, the climb to the top was going to be particularly arduous.”
“The program at the university was an arduous one, with only half of the students graduating at the end of the year.”
How It Adds Definition
Want to show that something is particularly strenuous or requires a lot of exertion? The term arduous will make something feel much more difficult.
9. Astronomical
Definition
Relating to astronomy; inconceivably great.
Examples
“He was interested in everything astronomical. His dream was to one day travel through space.”
“Our phone bill this month is absolutely astronomical.”
How It Adds Description
Because the word astronomical can often feel hyperbolic, it’s a great way to make a situation or thing feel big. When you are trying to exaggerate how big something, this is a great word to use.
10. Awesome
Definition
Inspiring awe; something that is terrific or amazing.
Examples
“They looked up at the awesome sight of the mountain towering above them.”
“She kept talking about how awesome the concert she went to had been. He made a mental note to check out the band next time they were in town.”
How It Adds Definition
While we more frequently use the word awesome today to denote that something is cool, its original definition was something that inspired awe or wonder. This gives the word a lot of flexibility—you can use it to show that your characters like something, or you can use it in its original definition to make something feel wondrous or staggering.