Do you need some descriptive words beginning with the letter F for the story you’re writing? Read on to learn about 10 and expand the arsenal of words you can use.
1. Festering
Definition
Becoming infected or getting worse.
Examples
“Her sadness soon turned into regret, and her regret turned into festering anger that started to consume her.”
“The old man’s body was covered in festering sores that made some of the younger doctors look away in disgust.”
How it Adds Description
Not only does “festering” help you to describe some grisly medical conditions and diseases in your writing, but it is great for describing an emotion or event that has taken hold of someone in a negative way that is slowly eating away at them.
2. Fickle
Definition
Indecisive and quick to change opinion or action.
Examples
“The weather had been a fickle friend thus far on their honeymoon, going from blissful sunshine one moment to torrential downpours the next.”
“The fickle attitudes of some politicians are causing the general public’s opinion to sour.”
How it Adds Description
If you have a character or situation that is highly changeable, “fickle” is a fantastic word to use to describe them. The word can also infer a sense of unreliability, so can hint to your reader that they are not to be trusted.
3. Flippant
Definition
- Not being serious or showing a lack of care when a situation demands it.
- Rude or with a lack of respect.
Examples
“His flippant remarks in light of everything that had just happened over the last 24 hours were starting to wear thin on the other survivors.”
“Her intention was in no way meant to be flippant; it was simply that she felt there were more pressing matters at hand.”
How it Adds Description
“Flippant” is a great word to use for characters who simply do not care! They could be completely disinterested in what is going on around them, and can often serve as a contrast to other characters who might be focused on what is going on at that moment. A character might also see another character as flippant if they have different priorities than them, so it can be as much a reflection of them as it is of the person they are directing the remark to!
4. Focal
Definition
Of great importance or central to something.
Examples
“The focal point of our investigation will be discovering exactly what happened on the night of his disappearance.”
“George had truly been a focal member of their team, and they wondered how they would be able to manage without him.”
How it Adds Description
If something needs to be the center of attention, then “focal” is the descriptive word to use! As it is so close to the word “focus”, it can help to add greater depth and instruction than simply stating that something is important.
5. Frail
Definition
Weak or brittle; easily broken.
Examples
“The frail old woman that stood before her was a shadow of the confident duchess she once knew.”
“Over time, the ropes securing the bridge had become frail and dangerous.”
How it Adds Description
“Frail” shows someone or something that is not strong, which can be used to show that they are perhaps unwell or going to break. The word can also help you to show if someone or something is inferior to someone else.
6. Frantic
Definition
- In a hurried or urgent manner.
- Out of control due to fear or worry.
Examples
“After finding an error in the programming for some of the critical equipment, mission control began frantic attempts to contact the crew.”
“As he continued to pace the hospital hallway waiting for news about his wife, he began to grow more and more frantic.”
How it Adds Description
“Frantic” implies a lack of control. This can either be through extreme emotion impairing a character, or something is done so quickly that mistakes can easily be made as the full focus cannot be paid to a task. If your character is in a desperate situation, “frantic” makes for a good selection to show how it affects them and their actions.
7. Frivolous
Definition
- Behaving in a silly way.
- Something unimportant or meaningless.
Examples
“Gloria looked at her inbox and sighed. Her boss had decided to call yet another frivolous meeting that she could really do without today.”
“His frivolous nature was both a blessing and a curse: although he was always getting into trouble, no one could stay mad at him for long.”
How it Adds Description
A word that can work both for people and objects, “frivolous” is a great one to have in your repertoire when you need to show just how pointless or silly something is! If another character thinks of something or someone as “frivolous”, it can also show how much they do, or don’t care about that thing. Something that might be seen as amazing by one of your characters, could be completely frivolous to another.
8. Frugal
Definition
Spending or eating in a minimal fashion.
Examples
“She was incredibly frugal in the amount of praise that she gave her dog; she did not wish for it to become too excitable.”
“With the rising cost of food and bills, families are urged to be more frugal this year.”
How it Adds Description
“Frugal” is a word that can have either a positive or negative intention depending upon how you use it. It could imply a character is being thrifty and saving to help themself or others, or could give the image of a miserly individual. It also doesn’t have to be food or money that someone can be frugal with, it can be anything that they can figuratively or literally spend, such as affection or compliments.
9. Frumpy
Definition
Unfashionable or unattractive.
Examples
“Dressed in her hand-me-down uniform, Jess felt frumpy next to all the other girls with their new bags, perfect makeup, and neat new blazers.”
“Far from being frumpy, her style was deliberately provocative, with flashes of skin wherever you looked.”
How it Adds Description
“Frumpy” is typically used to refer to female characters. Characters that are “frumpy” are often seen as undesirable, so can be a good word to use for someone that may not be as confident in their appearance in something like a romance.
10. Furtive
Definition
Secret or dishonest behavior.
Examples
“The children exchanged furtive glances, each one hoping that no one would confess to the broken window.”
“The editor’s furtive additions to her novel meant that if someone read the text closely enough, it would have a different meaning entirely!”
How it Adds Description
“Furtive” implies a sense of secrecy and is often associated with facial expressions or glances. However, it can be used in a multitude of situations where you are trying to show something or someone is up to no good.