11+ words to describe appearance
Words for how people, places and things look: immaculate, unkempt, gnarled, ostentatious, mottled. Several are close neighbours with different shades of meaning. Threadbare clothes are old and worn thin; unkempt hair just hasn’t been looked after.
There are 90 words here: 79 describing words, 7 doing words and 4 naming words. Each has its meaning, an example sentence and similar words. Tap a word for its opposites and a practice question.
Describing words (adjectives)79
- bedraggled
- Wet, muddy and messy-looking.
- The bedraggled cat squelched in from the storm, fur dripping and full of leaves.
- Similar: messy, soggy, scruffy
- bland
- Plain and boring, without much taste or interest.
- The soup was so bland that even a mountain of pepper could not save it.
- Similar: plain, dull, boring
- bleary
- Tired-looking and unable to see clearly.
- Ben stumbled downstairs with bleary eyes, still half asleep after the sleepover.
- Similar: blurry, tired, sleepy
- blunt
- Not sharp, or saying things in a very direct way.
- The blunt pencil left thick, fuzzy lines, so Amy went to sharpen it.
- Similar: dull, direct, plain
- brawny
- Strong and full of muscles.
- The brawny blacksmith lifted the anvil as easily as a loaf of bread.
- Similar: strong, muscly, sturdy
- brittle
- Hard but easily snapped or broken.
- The brittle twigs cracked and snapped under our boots.
- Similar: fragile, weak, crumbly
- burly
- Big, strong and heavily built.
- A burly security guard filled the doorway, arms folded like tree trunks.
- Similar: big, strong, hefty
- charred
- Burnt and blackened on the outside.
- Only charred logs were left in the campfire the next morning.
- Similar: burnt, scorched, blackened
- coarse
- Rough to touch, or rude and unpolished.
- The coarse rope left red marks on our palms during the tug of war.
- Similar: rough, scratchy, rude
- conspicuous
- Very easy to see; standing out so everyone notices.
- In his neon-orange coat, Raj was conspicuous in every crowd photo from the trip.
- Similar: obvious, noticeable, striking
- counterfeit
- Made as a fake copy of something real, meant to trick people.
- The market trader was arrested for selling counterfeit watches that stopped working within a week.
- Similar: fake, false, copied
- dainty
- Small, pretty and delicate.
- The dainty teacup was so small and fine that Gran only used it on special days.
- Similar: delicate, petite, pretty
- decrepit
- Old and falling apart because of age or heavy use.
- The decrepit old shed leaned to one side, its rotten door hanging off one rusty hinge.
- Similar: crumbling, worn, shabby
- delectable
- So delicious that you want more of it.
- The bakery window was full of delectable cakes that made Leo's mouth water.
- Similar: tasty, delicious, yummy
- delicate
- So fine or soft that it can easily be broken or hurt.
- She carried the delicate butterfly wing carefully, afraid the slightest touch would tear it.
- Similar: fine, soft, weak
- dishevelled
- Very untidy, with messy hair or clothes.
- After the windy walk, Jack arrived dishevelled, his hair sticking up and his shirt untucked.
- Similar: messy, scruffy
- distinct
- Clearly different, or easy to see, hear or notice.
- Each zebra has a distinct pattern of stripes.
- Similar: clear, separate, different
- divine
- Belonging to a god, or so wonderful that it seems heavenly.
- The ancient Greeks believed that thunder was a sign of divine anger.
- Similar: heavenly, wonderful, glorious
- drab
- Dull, plain and without colour.
- The office walls were a drab grey, so Meena pinned up bright paintings to cheer the place up.
- Similar: dull, plain, grey
- elaborate
- Full of careful detail, with lots of parts.
- The wedding cake had an elaborate design, with tiny sugar roses on every single layer.
- Similar: detailed, fancy, complex
- elegant
- Graceful and stylish.
- The elegant dancer glided across the stage in a long silver gown.
- Similar: graceful, stylish, smart
- erect
- Standing up straight.
- The meerkat stood erect on its back legs, watching for danger.
- Similar: upright, straight, vertical
- exquisite
- Extremely beautiful and finely made.
- The exquisite necklace sparkled with tiny jewels, each one placed with perfect care.
- Similar: lovely, beautiful, delicate
- feeble
- Weak and without strength.
- The feeble kitten could barely lift its head to drink the milk.
- Similar: weak, frail, puny
- flamboyant
- Bold, colourful and eye-catching, in a way that makes people notice you.
- The flamboyant magician wore a sparkly purple cape and a tall glittering hat.
- Similar: showy, flashy, dazzling
- flawless
- Perfect, with no mistakes or faults.
- Priya's flawless dive earned a perfect ten from every judge.
- Similar: perfect, faultless, spotless
- flimsy
- Thin, weak and easily broken.
- The flimsy paper umbrella folded inside out at the first gust of wind.
- Similar: weak, thin, breakable
- fragile
- Easily broken or damaged.
- 'Careful, that vase is fragile,' warned Gran, as Tom carried it with both hands.
- Similar: delicate, breakable, weak
- frail
- Weak and delicate, often because of age or illness.
- The frail old man gripped the handrail with both hands as he climbed the steps.
- Similar: weak, feeble, delicate
- gaunt
- Very thin and bony, often from being ill or hungry.
- After weeks lost at sea, the sailor looked gaunt, his cheeks hollow and his clothes hanging loose.
- Similar: thin, bony, skinny
- ghastly
- Horrible, shocking or very unpleasant.
- A ghastly smell of rotten eggs drifted from the science lab, and everyone held their noses.
- Similar: horrible, dreadful, awful
- gnarled
- Twisted, knobbly and rough, like a very old tree.
- The wizard's gnarled walking stick was carved from an ancient oak root.
- Similar: twisted, knotted, bent
- grotesque
- Strange and ugly in a way that is frightening or silly.
- The castle walls were decorated with grotesque stone faces.
- Similar: hideous, monstrous, ugly
- haggard
- Looking very tired and worn out.
- After three sleepless nights, the explorer looked haggard, with dark rings under his eyes.
- Similar: tired, worn, drained
- identical
- Exactly the same in every way.
- The identical twins wore matching hats, and even their teacher could not tell them apart.
- Similar: same, matching, alike
- illegible
- So messy that it cannot be read.
- The doctor's illegible scrawl looked more like spider trails than words.
- Similar: unreadable, scrawled
- immaculate
- Perfectly clean and tidy.
- His immaculate uniform had not a single crease or speck of dirt.
- Similar: spotless, clean, tidy
- impeccable
- So perfect that not a single fault can be found.
- Her impeccable handwriting looked as if it had been printed by a machine.
- Similar: perfect, flawless, spotless
- inconspicuous
- Not easily seen or noticed.
- The spy wore a plain grey coat to stay inconspicuous in the crowd.
- Similar: hidden, unnoticed, low-key
- inedible
- Not fit or safe to eat.
- The burnt pizza was so hard that it was completely inedible.
- Similar: uneatable
- intact
- Whole and undamaged.
- Amazingly, the eggs stayed intact even after the shopping bag tumbled down the steps.
- Similar: whole, unharmed, complete
- intricate
- Having many small parts or details.
- The intricate lock had dozens of tiny cogs and hidden switches.
- Similar: complex, detailed, fancy
- jagged
- Having sharp, uneven points along the edge.
- The jagged rocks at the bottom of the cliff looked like a row of broken teeth.
- Similar: spiky, sharp, rough
- knobbly
- Covered in small bumps and lumps.
- The old tree's knobbly roots twisted across the path like sleeping snakes.
- Similar: bumpy, lumpy
- lanky
- Very tall and thin, often with long arms and legs.
- The lanky teenager had to fold his long legs under the tiny desk.
- Similar: gangly, skinny, thin
- legible
- Clear enough to read.
- Please write your name in legible letters so the judges can read it.
- Similar: readable, clear, neat
- lopsided
- Leaning or heavier on one side, not even.
- Ben's lopsided birthday cake sloped so steeply the candles slid to one edge.
- Similar: uneven, tilted, crooked
- luscious
- Tasting or looking rich, sweet and delicious.
- The luscious peach dripped juice down her chin with every bite.
- Similar: delicious, tasty, juicy
- magnificent
- Extremely beautiful and impressive.
- A magnificent castle rose above the lake, its towers gleaming in the sun.
- Similar: splendid, grand, superb
- majestic
- Grand and impressive, like a king or queen.
- The majestic lion surveyed the plains from the top of the great rock.
- Similar: grand, noble, proud
- mottled
- Covered in patches or spots of different colours.
- The frog's mottled skin blended perfectly with the muddy, leaf-strewn pond.
- Similar: spotted, patchy, blotchy
- opulent
- Very grand and expensive-looking.
- The opulent palace had golden taps, marble floors and a chandelier in every single room.
- Similar: rich, grand, fancy
- ornate
- Decorated with lots of fancy patterns and details.
- The ornate mirror was covered in carved roses and curling golden leaves.
- Similar: fancy, decorated, showy
- ostentatious
- Showy in a way that is meant to impress other people.
- The millionaire drove an ostentatious gold car.
- Similar: showy, flashy, extravagant
- outlandish
- Very strange and unusual, almost unbelievable.
- Uncle Pete arrived in an outlandish hat shaped like a flamingo riding a bicycle.
- Similar: strange, weird, wild
- parallel
- Side by side and always the same distance apart, never meeting.
- The two railway tracks run parallel for miles.
- Similar: alongside, side-by-side
- peculiar
- Strange or unusual.
- There was a peculiar smell in the kitchen, like burnt toast mixed with roses.
- Similar: strange, odd, weird
- pristine
- Perfectly clean and unspoilt, like new.
- The snow lay pristine across the field, without a single footprint in it.
- Similar: spotless, clean, perfect
- prominent
- Easy to see or notice; standing out.
- The clock tower is the most prominent building in town, visible from every street.
- Similar: obvious, noticeable, striking
- quizzical
- Showing that you are puzzled or curious, often in a joking way.
- The dog gave a quizzical tilt of its head when the doorbell played a brand-new tune.
- Similar: puzzled, curious, questioning
- rickety
- Old, weak and likely to fall apart.
- They climbed the rickety ladder one at a time, wincing as every rung creaked and wobbled.
- Similar: shaky, wobbly, flimsy
- rotund
- Round and plump in shape.
- The rotund snowman was so wide that the children needed three scarves to go round his middle.
- Similar: round, plump, chubby
- shabby
- Old, worn out and scruffy-looking.
- The scarecrow's shabby coat was full of holes and patched at both elbows.
- Similar: scruffy, tatty, worn
- sleek
- Smooth, shiny and well cared for.
- The otter's sleek fur glistened as it slipped through the water.
- Similar: smooth, shiny, glossy
- splendid
- Extremely good or beautiful to look at.
- The palace ballroom was splendid, with golden mirrors and a thousand candles.
- Similar: wonderful, grand, brilliant
- stately
- Grand, dignified and impressive.
- The stately swan glided past the rowing boats as if it owned the lake.
- Similar: grand, noble, proud
- stout
- Rather fat and solid, or strong and thick.
- The stout old farmer puffed as he climbed over the stile.
- Similar: sturdy, solid, plump
- sturdy
- Strong and solidly built, not easily broken.
- The sturdy oak table had survived years of homework, spills and elbow wars.
- Similar: strong, solid, tough
- superb
- Extremely good; among the very best.
- The view from the tower was superb, with the whole city glittering below us.
- Similar: excellent, great, brilliant
- tattered
- Torn, ragged and falling apart.
- The scarecrow wore a tattered jacket that flapped in ribbons.
- Similar: torn, ragged, scruffy
- taut
- Stretched tight with no slack.
- The climber checked that the rope was taut before trusting it with her weight.
- Similar: tight, stretched, firm
- threadbare
- So worn out that the material is thin and nearly see-through.
- His threadbare jumper had been washed so many times you could see through the elbows.
- Similar: worn, ragged, shabby
- transparent
- So clear that you can see straight through it.
- The water was so transparent we could count the pebbles on the riverbed.
- Similar: clear, glassy, see-through
- unkempt
- Untidy and not looked after.
- His unkempt hair stuck out in all directions, as if he had slept in a hedge.
- Similar: messy, scruffy, dishevelled
- unscathed
- Not harmed or damaged at all.
- Amazingly, the postman walked away from the crash completely unscathed.
- Similar: unharmed, unhurt, safe
- vibrant
- Full of life, energy or bright colour.
- The market was vibrant with striped stalls, sizzling pans and music from every corner.
- Similar: lively, bright, colourful
- vivid
- So bright or clear that it feels real.
- Ravi's dream was so vivid that he checked his shoes for beach sand in the morning.
- Similar: bright, clear, lifelike
- wondrous
- So wonderful that it fills you with amazement.
- From the hilltop we had a wondrous view of the whole glittering city.
- Similar: marvellous, amazing, magical
- youthful
- Seeming young, fresh and full of energy.
- Grandad's youthful grin appeared the moment he grabbed a sledge and joined in.
- Similar: young, fresh, lively
Doing words (verbs)7
- adorn
- To decorate something to make it look prettier.
- Fairy lights and paper stars adorn the hall for the winter party, making it sparkle.
- Similar: decorate, beautify, dress
- embellish
- To add extra details or decoration to make something fancier.
- Rosa embellished her plain notebook with stickers, ribbons and glitter stars.
- Similar: decorate, adorn, beautify
- grimace
- To twist your face because of pain or disgust.
- Ivy grimaced as she bit into the lemon, screwing up her whole face.
- Similar: frown, scowl, wince
- mar
- To spoil or damage something.
- One clumsy scratch marred the shiny new car door.
- Similar: spoil, ruin, damage
- preen
- To tidy and admire your own appearance.
- The peacock stopped to preen its shining feathers in front of the pond as if it were a mirror.
- Similar: groom, tidy, smarten
- scowl
- To make an angry, cross face by pulling your eyebrows down; or that angry face itself.
- Instead of answering, Tom just scowled at me from across the classroom.
- Similar: frown, glare, sulk
- tarnish
- To make something less shiny or spoil how good it seems.
- Years of neglect had tarnished the silver trophy until it looked grey and sad.
- Similar: dull, stain, spoil
Naming words (nouns)4
- blemish
- A small mark or fault that spoils how something looks.
- The apple was perfect except for one tiny blemish near the stem.
- Similar: mark, spot, flaw
- camouflage
- The colours or patterns that help something blend in and hide.
- The stick insect's camouflage was so good that Maya stared at the branch for ages before spotting it.
- Similar: disguise, cover, hiding
- contrast
- A clear difference between two things.
- There was a huge contrast between the sunny beach and the stormy sea.
- Similar: difference, distinction
- trinket
- A small, pretty object that is not worth much money.
- Her shelf was crowded with trinkets from every seaside holiday.
- Similar: ornament, charm, bauble