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February 18, 2019
Encouraging writers to use wow words.
As you dig into writer’s workshop, I hope you’re seeing your writers blossom and make great strides in their writing! One impactful mini-lesson you’ll want to do with writers in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade is writing wow words. “Wow words” are words outside of their regular vocabulary that make the reader or listener say, “WOW!” For example, using elated for happy. We want to encourage writing “wow words” so students can grow their vocabulary and make their writing more interesting.
“Wow Words” Chart
During writer’s workshop, I would watch for students to use a “wow word” in their writing and choose one student. That writer would take their notebook up to our anchor chart and fill it in. It had three columns: Name, My Spelling, Conventional Spelling. During the sharing part of writer’s workshop, we would chat about that student’s wow word, discuss how they spelled it, and help them stretch it out to spell it conventionally. It was amazing to see how motivated they would be to use wow words so they could have it up on the chart with their name. All you’ll need are chart paper and markers, and you’ll be set to implement it!
Try It First Dictionary
In my Encouraging Young Writers post, I shared the Try It First Dictionary that one of my fabulous teammates shared with me. This is a similar way to encourage writers to use wow words but on a more individual level. Before I helped a student with a word they wanted to spell but didn’t they could, I would have them try it out in their dictionary first. Then we would chat about it and try to stretch it out together. Friends, this was a game changer! It really helped build my students’ confidence about trying to write harder wow words! You can grab these dictionaries for FREE in the post HERE .
Create a Fancy Word Wall
One fun way to inspire our young authors is to enlist the help of Fancy Nancy. There are many different Fancy Nancy books, but HERE is the original. While reading the book, have students listen for the fancy words.
Write them down on cards and post them on a word wall. I would also let my students decorate the word cards to make them fancy. Then, encourage students to use the fancy, wow words in their own writing. You can even add a few fancy accessories to wear while you read the Fancy Nancy books!
Mini Synonym Anchor Charts
If you start seeing the same words used again and again with your writers, try making a mini anchor chart for each word. Write the common word in the middle – for example, good. Then have students brainstorm synonyms and record them around the common word (great, fantastic, amazing, excellent, super). You can have students add more wow words as the year goes on!
Encouraging our young authors to write more wow words can be such fun! Remember to keep your mini-lessons brief and to the point. Model thinking through wow words in your own writing, too. You will probably revisit this mini-lesson several times throughout the year to keep encouraging your students to use those wow words!
Happy Teaching,
Writer's workshop posters.
Hi, I'm Amanda
I’m a K-1 teacher who is passionate about making lessons your students love and that are easy to implement for teachers. Helping teachers like you navigate their way through their literacy block brings me great joy. I am a lifelong learner who loves staying on top of current literacy learning and practices. Here, you’ll find the tools you need to move your K-2 students forward!
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10 Beautiful Words You Can Use in Narrative / Descriptive Writing | Secondary School
- Posted By blog-user
Have you ever asked yourself: what makes a word beautiful? Is it because of what it means or the way it sounds? According to British linguist David Crystal in his article titled, “Phonaesthetically Speaking”, we tend to love words that have three or more syllables and include letters that we enjoy enunciating like “ m ” and “ l ”. Simply put, beautiful words are lovely to read and sound pleasant to our ears.
For Secondary English students, such charming words with positive connotations can be used to bedazzle your reader. Let’s explore ten beautiful words which not only sound great but will also be useful in painting vivid pictures for your examiners (especially for narrative and descriptive writing). With the examples provided below, try coming up with your own sentences to use these words! (:
1. Compelling (adj.)
Meaning: (something e.g. a reason, argument) that makes you pay attention to it because it is interesting and exciting
Synonym: enthralling, captivating, gripping
Sentence examples:
I found it hard to look away from his compelling eyes that seemed to ask me to inch closer. It was such a compelling story that I ended up reading the entire book in one sitting.
2. Effervescent (adj.)
Meaning: (of people and their behaviour) excited, enthusiastic and full of energy
Synonym: vivacious, animated, bubbly
She has a warm effervescent personality that made her easy to get along with. The effervescent host spoke with infectious energy and was able to bring a smile to not only the contestants on the show, but also the audience at home.
3. Euphonious (adj.)
Meaning: (of a sound, especially speech) pleasing to the ear
Synonym: pleasant-sounding, sweet-sounding, honeyed
The euphonious chimes of the bell lulled the baby to sleep. Her euphonious tone made her sound like an angel and I was immediately all ears to what she was explaining.
4. Evocative (adj.)
Meaning: bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind
Synonym: reminiscent, suggestive
The writer uses descriptive vocabulary to paint evocative images, moving his readers to tears. The evocative music that she often heard as a child in her grandparents’ house made her miss them dearly.
5. Halcyon (adj.)
Meaning: denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful
Synonym: happy, carefree, blissful
My grandmother would often recall the halcyon days of the past when her grocery store business boomed and she was healthy and free to do what she liked. The halcyon summer holidays where we could play outdoors freely in groups without our masks are long gone.
6. Lissom (adj.)
Meaning: (of a person or their body) thin, supple, and graceful
Synonym: lithe, elegant, svelte
The lissom dancer mesmerised the audience as she swayed to the music. Perry grew up with horses and always admired how graceful they looked trotting around the stables with their lissom bodies.
7. Resplendent (adj.)
Meaning: very bright, attractive and impressive in appearance
Synonym: splendid, magnificent, brilliant
Dressed in resplendent costumes, the children created a beautiful rainbow of colours on the stage. During the Singapore Night Festival in 2019, a resplendent underwater scene full of marine animals was projected onto the building of the National Museum of Singapore.
8. Redolent (adj.)
Meaning: having a strong pleasant smell
Synonym: aromatic, perfumed
Although my mother had left for work, the entire house was redolent with the fragrance of her perfume. The kitchen was redolent with the aroma of freshly baked bread, making my mouth water.
9. Serendipitous (adj.)
Meaning: occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way
Synonym: coincidental, lucky
The serendipitous encounter with my primary school classmate after not seeing him for two years led to an enjoyable chat about our shared experience. The scientists made a serendipitous discovery which could lead them to the cure for cancer.
10. Sublime (adj.)
Meaning: of great excellence or beauty
Synonym: outstanding, grand, majestic, stellar
The Great Barrier Reef is known for its sublime natural seascape full of unique marine life and vibrantly coloured corals. Having devoured the delectable food, we complimented the chef for the sublime meal.
Were you able to come up with your own examples to use the beautiful words in your narrative writing as you were reading this post? Feel free to look them up in a dictionary to familiarise yourself with more contexts where you can use these charming words appropriately.
I hope you would use these beautiful words in your narrative writing. Go forth and apply the new knowledge you have acquired to impress your readers. See you in future posts!
Ms. Hui Jun
As a teacher, Ms Hui Jun is driven to create a safe conducive space for learning in her classroom. To achieve this, she makes an effort to build rapport with her students so that they are unafraid to ask questions when in doubt. With an aim for her students to grow from every lesson, she encourages them to reflect on their learning and find ways to connect them to real life application. With this, she hopes to stretch the young minds of all her pupils and to equip them with the language skills necessary in our world today.
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What are Wow Words?
- Teaching Strategies, Tactics, and Methods
Wow, words are advanced adjectives, verbs, and adverbs that can make a written work more vivid and interesting. These words are taught at KS2 to diversify children’s vocabulary and written ability. Teach your KS2 class about wow words today!
What are some examples of Wow Words?
Here are a few KS2 examples of wow words within the different word groups:
Adjectives : An adjective is a word used to describe or modify a noun or phrase. In some cases, they’re used to give essential information about the noun that’s being described. Here are a few examples of how adjectives can be used in a sentence:
“The expensive crimson boat sat in the harbor.”
“Grandma’s withered rug was scratchy underfoot.”
Complex adjectives can be great for use in creative writing or schoolwork, and pupils can elevate their writing skills by learning them. Here are some great adjectives that your pupils can use in their writing:
- Intelligent
- Adventurous
Verbs : A verb is a word that describes a state, occurrence, or action which shapes the main part of a sentence. They’re often called ‘doing words’ because they explain what the subject of the sentence is doing.
“Billy watched the autumn leaves drift along the floor.”
“The cat pounced atop the fence.”
Longer verbs can be great wow words and provide KS2 children with a more good vocabulary to use in their creative writing and essays. By swapping out normal verbs for these fancier ones, they can instantly boost any writing that they produce:
- Concentrated
Adverbs : An adverb changes or modifies a verb, adjective, or clause. While verbs describe the action that has happened, adverbs can often show how, when, or to what degree it happened. Here are just a few examples:
“The mouse crawled quietly under the sofa.”
“Courteously, the gentleman held the door open.”
Adverbs can help to make writing rich and intense by adding a further description. KS2 kids can easily enhance their writing by memorizing just some of the ones on this list:
- Suspiciously
- Courteously
- Deceptively
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Writing with Wow Words and Building Vocabulary
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HOME > Literacy > Words and Vocabulary > ‘Wow’ Words
Wow Words Display Banner (SB5781)
A colourful banner for your classroom ‘Wow Words’ display.
‘Wow’ Word Cards (SB665)
A set of printable cards (3- per- page) featuring some useful and interesting adjectives with accompanying pictures.
‘Wow’ Word Cards - Cursive (SB5715)
A set of printable cards (3- per- page) featuring some useful and interesting adjectives with accompanying pictures. In cursive script.
Wow Words Award Certificates (SB7125)
Printable certificates to present to your children when they use interesting and imaginative words in their writing.
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Nice and Nasty Character Words (SB3365)
Printable nice and nasty faces featuring adjectives and adverbs to help children describe their characters and the way they talk.
Nice and Nasty Characters Word Mat (SB4916)
A printable desktop word mat with useful words to describe nice and nasty story characters.
Nouns, Adjectives, Verbs and Adverbs Display Banners (SB5035)
A set of banners for your classroom vocabulary displays.
Wow Words Wall Display Banner (SB6048)
A colourful banner for your classroom ‘Wow Words Wall’ display.
Wow Adjectives Board Game (SB7201)
A simple board game where children think of adjectives that mean similar to the words they land on. A great way for getting pupils to increase their vocabulary and introduce new ‘wow’ words. Includes editable version to add your own words as appropriate.
Words for ‘said’ in Speech Bubbles (SB6199)
A set of coloured speech bubbles showing various alternative words for ‘said’. Great as visual prompts for children’s writing.
Editable Version
Words for ‘said’ Word Mat (SB4343)
A printable word mat featuring useful words that can be used in writing instead of ‘said’.
Words for ‘looked’ on Magnifying Glasses (SB6201)
Alternative words for ‘looked’ presented on magnifying glasses.
Words for ‘looked’ Word Mat (SB10964)
A printable word mat featuring useful words that can be used in writing instead of ‘looked’.
Words for ‘walked’ on Footprints (SB6200)
A set of colourful footprints showing various alternative words for ‘walked’. Great as visual prompts for children’s writing.
Words for ‘walked’ Word Mat (SB10963)
A printable word mat featuring useful words that can be used in writing instead of ‘walked’.
Adverbs Word Mat (SB6526)
A simple word mat listing lots of useful adverbs related to how, when, where, how often and how much.
Nouns Word Mat (SB6527)
A simple word mat listing lots of useful nouns including everyday objects, people, places, food, clothes and vehicles.
Adjectives Word Mat (SB6524)
A simple word mat listing lots of interesting adjectives to describe people, objects, feelings, size and time.
Power Words! Display Banners (SB9297)
Printable banners with the titles, ‘Power Words!’ and ‘Remember Our Power Words!’. Great for classroom displays encouraging children to use creative adjectives or ‘wow words’.
‘Wow words’ Word Mat (SB624)
A printable word mat featuring lots of adjectives and accompanying pictures to help encourage children to use imaginative words when writing.
Synonyms on Chelsea Buns (SB7309)
A large set of word cards featuring adjectives animated to represent their meanings.
Feelings Adjectives Synonyms Posters (SB11701)
A set of printable posters featuring synonyms for common adjectives that describe feelings. Great for wall displays to encourage use of adventurous and interesting vocabulary in students' writing.
Adjectives Synonyms Posters (SB11726)
A set of printable posters featuring synonyms for useful adjectives. Great for wall displays to encourage use of adventurous and interesting vocabulary in students' writing.
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Preparing for the 7 Plus composition paper: Using ‘wow’ words in writing
September 12th, 2019 Last updated: July 6th, 2023
In addition to structure and content, the writing composition section of the 7 plus exam is designed to test a candidate's use of interesting vocabulary in their writing. This blog - written by Meredith, a professional school entrance tutor - explains how ‘wow’ words can enhance a piece of writing and sets out five ways to generate them.
‘Wow’ words help to make language adventurous and exciting and can be used in your child’s speech and writing. Using ‘wow’ words in writing can build a better picture in the mind of the reader, grabbing their attention and making them want to read on. Focusing on building your child’s store of ‘wow’ words can deepen their understanding of language as well as develop their written work. This will certainly help them to shine in school entrance exams and by finding, discussing and putting these words in sentences your child can become more familiar and more confident with using them in their stories or in speech.
The following example shows the difference ‘wow’ words can make in writing:
Without ‘wow’ words:
‘One cold day a small boy woke up and got out of bed. He put on his uniform and went to school. He had maths and English and then it was break time. The bell went and he noticed his stomach hurt. He walked the long way to the playground so he didn’t meet the bully.’
With ‘wow’ words (in bold):
‘On a freezing winter’s day, a young boy woke up and dragged himself out of his warm, comfortable bed. He sleepily put on his dull, grey uniform and wandered slowly to the enormous , red brick school. He tried hard to listen through his Maths and English lessons but was dreading break time. Suddenly the screaming bell rang for break and he noticed a strange, aching feeling in his stomach. He nervously meandered the long way to the playground so he didn’t encounter the bully.’
In the second extract the writing was greatly enhanced by adding ‘wow’ words like exciting adjectives, adverbs, feeling words as well as varying sentence openers.
Being able to use ‘wow’ words in speech or writing is like having a thesaurus in your head and having the ability to choose more interesting synonyms. Children are constantly building this internal thesaurus with exposure to new words.
Here are 5 ways to help students generate ‘wow’ words for their writing:
1. Get students to spot ‘wow’ words in texts they read or hear
When reading or listening to stories ask your child to write down three to five ‘wow’ words that stand out. They could be great describing words, words used to communicate feeling, smell, sounds, or words used other than ‘said’, ‘went’ or ‘looked’. You can repeat the same exercise when listening to the lyrics of songs or the lines of poetry. All ‘wow’ words should be explained with examples, compared to words with similar meanings and discussed in context.
2. Give your child a thesaurus (such an obvious one, but it often gets forgotten!)
If they do not already know, explain what a thesaurus is (a book of words and their synonyms) and that the words are in alphabetical order.
You could give your child the task of finding alternatives to particular words. An online thesaurus also works. Make sure to check to ensure they are choosing suitable synonyms!
3. Play word games and puzzles
Word games (think Articulate, Scrabble, Bananagrams, crossword puzzles etc.) are a fantastically fun way to familiarise your child with new and exciting vocabulary and to help them delve into their internal thesaurus to see what they already know.
4. Create a ‘wow’ word wall or word bank
Using the exercises above, or through other methods, get your child to write down any ‘wow’ words they come across on a large sheet of paper. You could divide the paper (or have many sheets) into different sections for adjectives, verbs, sentence openers, feeling words, travelling words, other words for ‘said’, ‘looked’, ‘went’ etc. Ensure the word walls/ banks can be easily viewed when writing (or, even better, all the time!)
5. Work together to improve a small extract of writing.
You could use the first draft of your child’s writing to discuss ways it could be improved. This gives your child a first-hand experience of improving their own writing with ‘wow’ words and seeing the difference they make. Get them to read aloud the before and after and notice the improvement.
Using ‘wow” words in creative writing can really make a student stand out, and is an important step in 7 Plus and 8 Plus preparation. Happy ‘wow’ word-searching!
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Ambitious vocabulary – The pros and cons of ‘wow’ words
Encourage children to add sophisticated shimmer to their writing, with truly thoughtful and creative vocabulary choices.
By Sue Drury
Last updated 02 June 2020
In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone , one of the first things Professor Dumbledore says is, “Before we start our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!”
With JK Rowling’s characteristic wit, this emphasises an important truth: there are many wonderful words in the English language. Most of us have particular favourites, like Dumbledore here, but they are rarely overused ones like ‘good’ and ‘nice’.
To make what we say and write more interesting, we need to develop an extensive vocabulary. This is rather like a muscle – in order to make it grow, it needs to be fed the right nutrition and exercised regularly.
There are many ways to do this, so here are some ideas to help your pupils to develop the expanding lexicon of ‘wow’ words that is so important in greater depth writing.
Give a good reason to use Wow words
Help your students to understand that words are tools. In theory, you could try to do many jobs around the house – scraping wallpaper, tightening screws, digging in the garden, and so on – with an ordinary table knife. It might work – sort of – for many of those tasks but not all and even then the results won’t be as satisfactory. It’s the same with words. Finding the right word will make the meaning clearer and convey precisely what you want your reader to understand. Whether it’s a noun, adjective or verb, descriptive words or a wonderful turn of phrase – it’s like using the right tool for the job.
Ambitious vocabulary – Scaling the language tiers
When searching for the best words, you’re not necessarily looking for the longest or most obscure examples. Start aiming for Tier 2 vocabulary/words – high-frequency words that are used by accomplished writers – and, where appropriate, Tier 3 language, which means those subject-specific, perhaps technical terms required for certain topics.
Get children reading
In order to broaden their vocabulary, children need to be immersed in high-quality texts. There is an argument that any reading is good reading, but that idea can be taken a bit too far in a simplistic direction. Reading will typically expose young minds to a greater range of words. What’s more, they’ll be actively consuming them rather than passively receiving them, which means they are more likely retain a new word or an unfamiliar word for future use.
Don’t assume they know an unfamiliar word
It is crucial that you don’t let unfamiliar words slip beneath the radar. Even if you think your pupils know a word, perhaps during guided reading, check that they really do understand its meaning. If not, talk about it. Make sure they can pronounce it. Count its syllables. Ask whether they can think of other words that mean the same thing. Then check again at the end of the session to see whether they have remembered.
Use a thesaurus for great synonyms
Don’t be misled by the word synonym. A synonym rarely means exactly the same as the original word. There is often a subtle difference in nuance or perhaps in the context for which these related words are best suited.
Brains, being the marvellous organs they are, can usually come up with a ‘near miss’ for the word you are seeking, even if you know there’s a better one. That’s why every writer from school children to published authors need a good thesaurus.
So, make sure they are not left to become fossilised on your bookshelf. If you can get children to develop their own internal thesauruses, so much the better. Challenge them to come up with a range of synonyms (or near synonyms) for given words.
Why not make a display of connected words? We offer a number of bright, interactive posters showing more interesting alternatives for bland examples such as said and walked to use in classroom displays. We also offer a selection of related activities through our exclusive Grammar Burst resources.
Definition – Understanding new words
Encourage children to use etymology to gain a full understanding of new words. See if they share common roots with other, more familiar words. Look at any prefixes and suffixes to see how they affect the meaning. Challenge them to make links with other synonyms and perhaps antonyms too. Most importantly, make sure they can use them correctly in a context of their own.
Other techniques for ambitious vocabulary
As well as learning new words, it can help to organise them into a continuous scale. For example, you could challenge your pupils to think of four or five synonyms for a comparatively dull word such as hard and arrange them in order of difficulty. To save you the planning work, try our Ordering Adjectives worksheets resource. Alternatively, check out our Exploring Vocabulary resources for which pupils have to think of words to place on a scale between two extremes, such as tidy and messy .
Don’t overdo it with ambitious vocabulary
A quick word of caution: emphasise the importance of applying ambitious vocabulary thoughtfully. For example, it is perfectly acceptable to use ‘said’ as a speaking verb in dialogue; alternatives should be used where it adds something for the reader but overuse of them can be distracting or even annoying. Furthermore, a desperation to use ambitious vocabulary can verge on the obsessive. Many of us will have taught a child who, having been praised for using an impressive word in one context, becomes determined to use it everywhere. If you’re unlucky, you could end up being presented with something like this: The food in the cupboard was so old it was beginning to go malicious .
We hope you have found this inspiring and that you can use it to turn your pupils into ambitious word wizards. That really would be magical.
Do you want to extend your pupils’ vocabulary?
If you are looking for ways to close the vocabulary gap and ensure progress from the start, take a look at our Word Whoosh resources . We have over 48 resource packs for years 1-6 that will help your pupils to learn 144 ambitious tier 2 words – a new word taught each week. Find out more here .
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Get your Ducks in a Row
- By Lisa Jagger
If, like me, you’ve worked in and around schools during the last few years, you’re probably familiar with ‘WOW words’. Often displayed in highly creative classroom displays, used as a resource to develop children’s vocabulary and a tool to support storytelling and creative writing.
“Using ‘wow’ words in writing can build a better picture in the mind of the reader,
grabbing their attention and making them want to read on.” (Taken from https://owltutors.co.uk/)
But how do they apply to grant funding applications?
Well to be honest, in pretty much the same way as it applies to your 8-year-old! It’s a very similar principle.
We usually tell stories using words, whether in written or verbal form, and sometimes with sign language. But, we often think in pictures; look what happens when I use the words:
Big frog……………. Or big fat furry cat………………Or even hot chocolate fudge cake (can you see the steam rising?!)
I guess we all see these pictures differently, dependant on our personal experiences – but we know these pictures can be pretty powerful. Which is why WOW words are so important when describing the impact your organisation makes, the difference your project makes, or the changes investment could generate.
WOW words bring your writing to life; they can deepen the understanding of the reader. Vitally, they can focus the readers attention, arouse curiosity, make them want to read on and find out more. All the things you are trying to do when answering that question “Tell us in no more than 70 words how you are going to change the universe for all living beings”!!!
WOW words (and phrases) can also inspire confidence – try using ‘We will’ instead of ‘We would like to’, one simple way to help you sound more decisive.
Can you spot the WOW words in this example?
- We are a vibrant and ambitious primary school, situated within a challenging, and culturally diverse community. We have a proven track record, delivering innovative and creative outdoor learning. We empower our children by consistently modelling positive ways of being; nurturing their natural curiosity through exciting and interesting activities. Funding will enable us to explore the stunning countryside around our school, that our families are nervous to access.
It could equally have been written:
- Our primary school is situated in an area of multiple deprivation. A high proportion of families speak English as a second language. We deliver outdoor learning activities and need more funding to make it accessible to local families. We know that our children enjoy outdoor learning.
Both are potentially accurate answers to the same question – but which one would makes you want to find out more?
I’m guessing that you probably don’t want to have a full on WOW word wall if you are working at home (although it could be a fun home learning activity if you’re stuck for ideas!) but it could be worth setting up a file, or a database of useful WOW words and phrases. I tend to use Airtable for this sort of thing, because my One Drive is overflowing with ‘useful documents’ that I don’t read! Airtable is just far easier and can be easily shared with colleagues and co-workers.
Here’s a few words to get you going!
Words to describe how you could improve things:
Words to describe how you could measure things
Just a word of warning though – a few carefully placed WOW words, will add intrigue, depth and interest to your application, but don’t be tempted to go overboard! You need to think about the overall ‘readability’ of the application as a whole. You can even check that using this handy tool Readability Formula For your average application, using the Flesch Reading Scale, you are aiming for a score of about 60 – 70.
Finally, if you came here from a search, and just wanted to find out about WOW words for your children’s learning, here are a couple of useful links that I came across!
Useful links
https://owltutors.co.uk/preparing-for-the-7-plus-composition-paper-using-wow-words/
https://knaphill.surrey.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Wow-Words.pdf
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Wow words for writing
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WOW Words Writing Support
Synonyms Writing Anchor Chart Word Choice Writing Poster Wow Words
Christmas Writing Activities: Print & Digital Writing 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade
W.O.W . {Wonderful Outstanding Words } Interactive Writing Bulletin Board
Super Wow Cow - Udderly Awesome words for writing
Writing with Wow Words / A Practical Booklet to Improve Writing Skills
Charlotte's Web Inspired WOW Words - Display or Guided Writing - Complete List
WOW ( words I use when I write )
WOW Words - Guided Writing groups & Literacy Circles - Harry Potter inspired
Writing uplevelling mats - description and wow words
Charlotte's Web Inspired WOW Words - Classroom Display or Guided Writing groups
Spanish writing " WoW " Words / Palabras " WoW "para escritura
Writing : My Book of " Wow " Words
Teaching Sentences in Kindergarten- Explicit Writing Lessons Powerpoint Slides
Fall Writing Following Directions Activity Fun Writing Center Fall Coloring
Thanksgiving Writing Fun : Following Directions Quirky Turkey Writing
Teaching Writing Animated Shorts Digital Bundle
Synonym Posters and Charts - WOW Words
Addition & Subtraction Number Word Problems Mega Bundle K.OA.2 @ 1.OA.1
WOW : Word of the Week Intermediate Program (tier 2 vocabulary enrichment!)
Teaching Narrative Writing with Animated Short Films | Digital + Printable
Snow Day Winter Persuasive Writing Prompt: Argumentative Paragraph 3rd 4th Grade
Fun Halloween Following Directions Writing Activity with Coloring Center Idea
WOW : Wonderful Outstanding Words {6+1 Trait of Word Choice}
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500 Descriptive Words To Improve Your Writing
These descriptive words will help improve your writing. All these describing words are from my own personal notes. I’m an avid, and active, reader, and over the last couple of years I’ve jotted down the descriptive words that I pop out to me.
This list of descriptive words for writing was born from a desire to become enhance my vocabulary and become a better storyteller, and writer. Three things I care a lot about – just a fun fact about me .
I’ve learned over time – and with many failures – that working with describing words on a page is akin to a potter at the molding wheel. And as writers, we use them to slowly shape our stories whether it’s writing about driving around the world or inspiring people to create their own list of bucket list ideas .
The list is separated by parts of speech ; You’ll find a list of adjectives, descriptive phrases, action verbs, and more.
At the end are some phrases I like, that I have read here or there over the years. Make sure to check out our list of descriptive adjectives as well.
I hope you use this list of descriptive words , and phrases and garner inspiration to enhance your tales.
500 Describing Words to Improve Your Writing
“This is one of the best resources I’ve come across in a long time…”
Get our Descriptive Word Cheat Sheet for FREE . You’ll get immediate access to our PDF cheat sheet of Descriptive Words. A resource you won’t find elsewhere. Perfect for papers, writing and resumes!
1 – although.
“he was making headway, albeit rather slowly.”
1 – very typical of a certain kind of person or thing.
“the archetypal country doctor”
1 – without purpose or direction.
“Don’t live an aimless life.”
1 – To face or endure danger or pain; showing courage.
The brave healthcare workers are putting their life on the line.
1 – perplexed and confused; very puzzled.
“I had a bewildered look on my face”
1 – giving out or reflecting a lot of light; shining.
The sun was bright in his eyes.
2 – vivid and bold color.
The grass in Ireland is bright green.
1 – Bright or Radiant.
The brilliant light was blinding.
1 – Clever or Smart
He was a brilliant student. He always chose to use the right word.
1 – unlimited, infinite, or immense.
The boundless energy of the kid wore me out.
1 – socially unconventional in a way regarded as characteristic of creative
Running this travel blog has led me to live a boho life.
2 – woman’s fashion aesthetic is characterized by flowing print fabrics, layers of clothing, and costume jewelry such as long strings of beads, dangling earrings, and multiple bangles.
she went for the boho look in a floor-length green dress teamed with a fringed jacket and chandelier earrings.
1 – hurt by repeated blows or punishment.
he finished the day battered and bruised.
2 – damaged by age or used repeatedly.
I finished the day battered and bruised.
1 – a taste sensation that is peculiarly sharp or acrid.
The bitter fruit tasted terrible.
1 – lacking due thought or consideration
Zack Morris showed a blithe disregard for the rules.
2 – Happy or Lighthearted Character
Want to watch a blithe romantic comedy?
1 – having a blue tinge; somewhat blue.
The bluish tint of the water was stylish.
1 – Lost in deep sadness of thought.
The kid was brooding that his parents wouldn’t buy the toy.
1 – having the characteristic of a baby.
He acted babyish when he lost the game.
1 – not fake; or counterfeit
This is a bona fide masterpiece.
1 – lose or hanging.
My eyes are baggy after a red-eye flight.
1 – loved very dearly.
The teacher was beloved by his students.
1 – a low murmuring or humming sound.
The buzzing bee flew across the park.
1 – strong, or strongly built.
The burly bear was intimidating.
1 – having a lot of bounce.
The trampoline was extra bouncy.
2 – confident or having a jaunty rhythm.
The man was bouncy and full of life.
1 – very apt to stay afloat.
The pool floaty was extremely buoyant.
2 – cheerful.
The buoyant salesman was very charming.
1 – lacking plants or life.
The bleak desert was barren.
2 – Cold and Miserable Outlook.
After his divorce, he had a bleak outlook on life.
1 – expressing or marked by earnest entreaty or pleading.
The beseeching peasant feared for his life.
1 – having the taste of butter.
The buttery bread warmed the soul.
1 – having feelings or actions control or remaining calm.
Even though he was afraid he remained composed.
1 – caverns in either size, shape, or atmosphere.
The cavernous mansion stood empty.
2 – Giving the impression of dark and vast.
The cavernous eyes.
1 – a series of columns set at specific intervals, and supporting a roof.
The ancient marble colonnades are just one reason to explore the best islands in Greece .
1 – free from worry or anxiety.
he was a carefree soul.
1 – having a rough texture; large grains.
The treated wood was coarse.
1 – anxious to protect or avoid potential danger or mishaps.
he was careful not to get into trouble.
1 – making or liable to make a harsh, high-pitched sound when being moved or when pressure or weight is applied.
“I climbed the creaky stairs”
1 – dirt free, unmarked, or have been washed.
the room was clean.
1 – having a wavy outline
The crenelated coast when backpacking Thailand is breathtaking. ..
1 – covered by clouds.
It was too cloudy to go hiking.
1 – present from birth.
“a congenital defect of the heart.”
1 – a striking array of colors.
The colorful painting lit up the room.
1 – rude language.
They didn’t allow the colorful speech to get past the sensors.
1 – Happy / Sprightly
He was chipper after getting married in Sweden .
1 – rude shortness
The curt manager’s comments angered the waiter.
1 – confused
The chef was confounded by the dinner tickets.
1 – continuing occurrence
I suffer from chronic indigestion.
2 – present and encountered.
Chronic meddling always causes problems.
1 – relating to the community / Collective ownership.
The communal garden gives us great vegetables every year.
1 – huge in size, power, or stupendous.
The colossal rocks blocked the dusty path.
1 – pleasing
Chicago food has some of the most delectable meals I’ve ever had.
1 – delicate
The dainty glass broke from the fall.
2 – tasty
The dainty sandwich was filling.
1 – untidy in appearance
Boys often have a disheveled room.
1 – devoted to a cause or purpose
Star Wars has dedicated fans.
2 – given a purpose
He has a dedicated server to protect his data.
1 – awarded or received marks of honor.
He was decorated with a medal for winning the race.
2 – furnished with something ornamental
A hallmark of the parade are the decorated floats.
1 – chosen but not yet installed
the ambassador designates the future assignments.
He has a designated server to protect his data.
1 – bright, brilliant, or showy, colorful, and impressive.
The dazzling fireworks were the highlight of the festival.
1 – eating food quickly.
The Lion is a devouring beast.
2 – destructively consuming/absorbing
Don’t let devouring loneliness defeat you.
1 – below / far from the surface
His joy was buried deep below the surface of an ocean of swirling emotions.
Deep-Pocketed
1- Having a great deal of money; being wealthy.
The deep-pocketed businessman donated a large sum of money to the charity.
Disagreeable
1- Having a disposition that is not pleasant or agreeable; disagreeable behavior or remarks.
“I’m sorry I was so disagreeable earlier. I had a really bad day.”
DILAPIDATED
1 – fallen into decay or deteriorated
The dilapidated home needed an intense amount of love and care.
1 – serving for ornamental decoration.
The decorative replica was made to be displayed. And invoked a strong emotion.
1 – moving from the common direction.
Do follow the popular path. Instead, go into the unknown, and discover your divergent path.
Compassionate
1 – Showing concern and sympathy for others, especially those in distress.
When I saw the homeless man on the side of the road, I felt compassion for him and wished I could help him.
Entertaining
1 – A movie that is enjoyable and amusing.
The new comedy starring Melissa McCarthy was very entertaining.
1 – hard to pin down, identify, or isolate.
They knew the elusive thief lurked nearby.
1 – enthusiastic joy
They were exuberant about their upcoming trip to some of the most beautiful places in the world .
1 – vertical position
Few erect columns were peppered throughout the temple ruins.
1 – having the ability to expand.
The expansive landscape is seemingly never-ending.
1 – deriving style, ideas, and taste from a wide range of sources.
The eclectic mix of opinions caused an argument.
EXASPERATING
1 – cause a strong feeling of annoyance
The planes exasperating delay made everyone late.
1 – fully detailed or well planned.
The elaborate design of Bangkok’s royal palace is breathtaking.
1 – uttered, or emphasizing on.
The emphatic refusal helped them close the deal.
1 – productive / desired effects.
The efficient writer finished before the deadline.
2 – being involved or an immediate agent.
The efficient action helped make a change.
EVER-DEEPENING
1 – go deeper
He had an ever-deepening love for sports.
1 – thorough / all possibilities
The exhaustive to-do list was intimidating.
1 – seemingly without end
The endless forest instilled a mood of tranquility.
EXTRAVAGANT
1 – exceeding normal limits or excessively elaborate
The extravagant building is grand.
2 – extremely high in price
The extravagant purchase maxed out his credit card purchase.
1 – elegance
The elegant clothes belonged to the king.
1 – relating to or named after
The eponymous landscape outside Dingle is one of the best places to visit in Ireland .
1 – relating to a celebration, festival , or feast.
The festive dinner got a little out of hand.
1 – tinged with red in the face, from shame, heat, or physical exertion.
Caught in a lie, his face became flushed with embarrassment.
1 – very hot or passionate desire.
I have a fervent desire to explore the world.
FAST-MOVING
1 – moving quickly
The fast-moving current washed away our supplies.
FANTASTICAL
1 – based on fantasy
Game of Thrones takes place in a fantastical world, filled with dragons, and magic.
1 – unrestrained violence or brutality
The ferocious lion hunted his prey.
1 – having to do with the burial.
They found treasure in the Pharaoh’s funerary chamber.
1 – focused on something.
The dog was fixated on the squirrel.
1 – loving having fun.
The fun-loving locals love putting on their annual festival.
1 – covered with grass
The grassy knolls are stunning.
1 – a large number of
He had charm galore.
1 – repulsion, or inspiring horror.
The movie was too gruesome for me.
1 – possessing glory
When backpacking New Zealand you see glorious landscapes.
Good-Looking
1 – Very good-looking, or beautiful. Can be used to describe people, things, or places. For example, “She is a glorious sight in that dress.”
1 – painful or distressing
It was a harrowing adventure filled with an unexpected twists, turns, and sacrifices.
1 – an unrestrained expression
I was greeted with a hearty welcome.
2 – wholesome or substantial
I enjoyed the hearty meal.
1 – relating to an herb
Those herbaceous florae were savory.
1 – alone
He was isolated during the exam.
INTOLERABLE
1 – not tolerable or unbearable
The intolerable noise kept me up all night.
1 – picturesque or pleasing
The idyllic Irish landscapes are some of the best in Europe.
1 – great in size or degree
Our immense Universe is without limits.
1 – extreme degree
The intense amount of work was overbearing.
1 – irk or tedious
Sometimes we all have to do Irksome tasks.
1 – prone to act, acting momentarily
To lose weight sometimes we have to deny our impulses for bad food.
1 – tempting
The inviting meal made my mouth water.
1 – existing in, or belonging to
The innate behavior of a child was to cause trouble.
1 – memorable or cannot be washed away or erased.
The indelible landscape means there are hundreds of places to visit in the United States .
INFURIATING
1 – the feeling of extreme anger.
The infuriating delay at the airport made him miss his flight.
1 – spotless / extremely clean
Singapore is an immaculately clean country.
2 – having no flaw
The glass in Venice is immaculate.
1 – having many complex parts
Mona Lisa is an intricate painting. Making it the most famous in the world.
1 – belonging to the inside,
I great battles happen inside the interior of our minds.
1 – sprightly
he took a jaunty stroll through the park.
1 – having a disorienting effect
The jarring truth is that dreams without goals, remain dreams.
1 – ready, or in favor of
I am keen to go to the bar.
2 – sensitive perception
He had a keen nose.
1 – having lungs
The lunged fish swan in the pond.
1 – transparent or clear; Glasslike
The limpid waters in Thailand or famed around the world.
1 – expending or bestowing excess
The lavish palace of Versailles is one of the most popular day trips from Paris .
1 – outlandish, or eccentric
Some ludicrous movies aren’t bad.
1 – filled with desire or lust
She was filled with lascivious thoughts.
1 – lack of interest, or energy
His listless attitude held him back in life.
1 – sad or lonely
Ah, the lonesome road, has many trails, but many rewards.
1 – highly significant, outstanding
The monumental task can be accomplished by taking little steps every day.
1 – expressing sadness
A melancholy nature will keep you stuck.
MERITORIOUS
1 – deserving reward or praise.
A meritorious life of service.
1 – intrusive or getting involved in
The meddlesome raccoon knocked over the trash can.
1 – Huge, exceedingly large
Many of the mammoth caves in the United States are worth visiting.
1 – existing today
Many modern-day advances give our lives ease.
1 – inferior in size or degree
The minor problems in life or nothing to sweat over – life is too short .
1 – covered by mist.
The heavy air of the misty morning endowed the park with an eerie coolness.
1 – covered by mystery
The monk has a mysterious nature.
OUT-OF-PLACE
1 – not where it should be
The restaurant felt out of place.
1 – elaborate or excessively decorated
The ornate .ruins draw in visitors.
OUTSTANDING
1 – standing out
His outstanding skills put him in line for a promotion.
2 – unpaid
Outstanding bills can be stressful.
1 – lack of sharpness
His obtuse answer made no sense.
1 – lacking remembrance, or memory
Don’t be oblivious to the opportunities that life presents you.
1 – wealth, abundance
The opulent hotel is worth the price tag.
1 – characteristic of a person
His hot temper was peculiar.
2 – different from the normal
The book had a particular plot twist in the book.
1 – not spoiled, or corrupted
The pristine beaches had soft sand.
2 – earliest state
The pristine state of the forest
1 – a sense of peace
The peaceful forest instilled a peace of tranquility.
1 – argumentative quarrelsome
He has a pugnacious nature.
1 – mental and emotional state of fear
Don’t panic. Breathe and slow down.
1 – able to be passed
The currents were passable during the low tide.
1 – turning, a pivot
Taking my first trip to Ireland was a pivotal moment in my life.
1 – critical
It was a pivotal piece of the puzzle.
1 – polishing, smooth, glossy
Polish your writing before publishing the piece.
1 – by or in itself
That’s not the facts per se, but valuable to know.
1 – notably luxurious or rich
His plush life made him soft.
1 – elevated or arrogant
The pompous rhetoric is hurtful.
2- exhibiting an air of self-importance.
The pompous politician lost sight of his vision.
1 – extreme or severe
After rigorous training, he was ready to test himself.
Sidesplitting
1 – When something is so funny that it causes one’s sides to split, it is side-splitting.
My mom’s joke was sidesplittingly funny.
1 – like thunder
The thunderous roar of the waves beating along the coast.
DESCRIPTIVE WORDS FOR WRITING: ACTION and Strong VERBS
These are some of the best words. They are great when wanting to show a clear meaning of a sentence or improve a short story.
1- regard something as being caused by.
I attribute my grammar skill to how many questions I ask.
1 – provide clear evidence; declare that something exist.
I attest that life is good
1 – make minor changes.
I had to amend your application before sending it in.
1 – regard (an object, quality, or person) with respect or warm approval.
I admire your commitment to learning the English Language.
1 – praise enthusiastically
I acclaimed actor won the best actor for his deep performance.
1 – achieve or complete successfully.
I accomplish my goals.
1 – increase in sound
They amplify the sound at the concert.
2 – make copies of something
The notes amplify that new evidence. ..
1 – change, or make changes too
They altered the rules of the game.
1 – (of a problem, opportunity, or situation) emerge; become apparent.
“a string of new difficulties have arisen “
2 – get or stand up.
“he arose at 5:30 to work out.”
1 – to clear out or save (Usually water from a boat)
They bailed him out of trouble.
1 – talk enthusiastically for a long time
Just one of the many fun facts about me . Sometimes I like to babble about travel.
1 – to set upon
We were beset with locals trying to make a sale.
2 – to set with ornaments
The roses are beset with thrones.
1 – fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict.
I newspaper story belied the facts.
2 – fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation); betray.
The notebooks belie Darwin’s later recollection.
1 – hit repeatedly with blows.
He battered the broken car.
1 – become perplexed.
I was bewildered by the lack of work the team had done.
1 – bend the head or upper part of the body as a sign of respect, greeting, or shame.
It is common to bow in Asia.
2 – play (a stringed instrument or music) using a bow.
The techniques by which the pieces were bowed.
1 – think deeply about something that makes the person unhappy.
He brooded over his bad day.
1 – encourage or help
I need to boost my spirits.
2 – push from below
She needs to boost to master the English Language.
1 – cast a spell or enchant.
I was bewitched by the lush landscape.
1 – low murmuring or humming sound.
Flies buzz when they fly.
1 – lock with a bar that slides into a socket.
He bolted the door for protection.
2 – ran away quickly.
He bolted down the street.
1 – strike hard.
He bashed the wall in anger.
2 – criticize.
He bashed the smoking industry.
1 – break or burst
They bust the water balloon.
2 – lose something
He went bust at the poker table…
1 – squeeze together
Compress the laptop’s file to save space.
1 – to bring to an end.
The summit concluded with world peace.
2 – to reach a logical end or decision.
The magazine concludes that Rome is one of the most beautiful cities in the world .
He concluded his college application with a question.
1 – unmarked, free dirt
He cleaned the room every other week.
1 – fall or hang in copious or luxuriant quantities.
“the cool water cascading down the waterfall.”
1 – decrease in size, number, or range.
“glass contracts as it cools.”
2 – become shorter and tighter to affect the movement of part of the body.
“The heart is a muscle that contracts about seventy times a minute”
1 – wind into rings
The sailor coiled the rope.
1 – to cover something
Massive trees canopied the small island.
1 – to form short bends or ripples / Wrinkle
Don’t crinkle my shirt.
2 – a think crackling sound
The crinkling bag woke up the dog.
1 – chuckle or laugh
He chortled with amusement.
2 – sing or chant
She chortled in her happiness.
1 – broken into small parts.
The Greek Islands are filled with crumbling ruins.
1 – beg or sponge
He cadges for a free cup of coffee.
1 – sharp, quick, repeated noises
The crackling fire.
1 – to dig and bring to light.
Don’t dredge up those painful memories.
1 – travel somewhere in a hurry
I dashed through the forest.
2 – strike, or destroy
The ship was dashed upon the rocks.
She dashed his spirits.
1 – cause (someone) to feel consternation and distress.
A deep feeling of dismay overtook the room.
1 – greatly astonish or amaze
I’m often dumbfounded after watching the task force meetings.
1 – eat / destroy / adsorb quickly
I want to devour the big meal.
2 – read eagerly
Amy always devours a good book.
1 – make (someone’s) clothes or hair messy.
Boris Johnson disheveled his hair before being on camera.
1 – to lessen the courage of
A lesser man would be daunted by this challenge.
1 – to set apart for a purpose. to distinguish as a class
We designate this room as the class lab.
2 – to point out a location
A marker designating where the trial starts.
1 – to feel aversion to (Offend)
His distaste for the joke was apparent.
1 – to dig
Suspicion led him to delve into his wife’s bag.
1 – to search for information
He delved into the past to find the problem.
1 – to get carried along (by water, air, etc)
The windy drift pushed the hot air balloon to the west.
1 – a pile of something in heaps
Snow drifts covered the landscape.
1 – to stray or move from a principle, standard, or topic.
Don’t deviate from your goals. Stayed focused even when life is tough.
1 – to cause annoyance or irritation
I hope you’re not exasperated by this list of descriptive words.
1 – Set up / to fix/put together in an upright position
The father and son erected the tree house.
1 – to become known,
Jane emerged from her travels a most well-rounded person.
1 – To make it ornamental or make it more attractive.
Frank embellished his life story to impress his date.
1 – to furnish / to provide with
I’m endowed with a good sense of humor .
1 – allure or tempt
He was enticed by the smell of the chocolate.
1 – eliminate by wearing away surface
The rocks are effaced by wear and tear.
1 – rot slowly
Don’t let your anger fester about your tough English test.
1 – steal secretly
He filches the cookie from the jar.
1 – give a false appearance
The company feigned how bad his leg hurt.
1 – containing frescoes
The frescoed walls of the chapel inspired my love of art.
1 – to pass quickly or shift
The chortling birds flitted around the forest.
1 – to flow in an irregular current
The stream gurgling stream swept over the rocks.
2 – ta gurgling sound
The gurgling stream blocked the path.
1 – to gather,
Tim garnered his courage before presenting his essay to his teachers.
1 – move quickly
He hastened his journey home.
1 – lift or raise by tackle
Hoist the flag.
1 – lift or raise or pull
He heaved the trunk onto the oak table.
1 – a harmful or disquieting occurrence
The past mistakes haunted him.
2 – to visit often to seek the company of
I spend a lot of time haunting the bookstore.
1 – cross one with another.
The intertwined vines were impassable.
1 – place a body in a tomb or grave
The king was interred with all the honor due him.
1 – weave.
It’s dangerous to interweave lies and the truth.
1 – to make, irritated, or weary
He was irked trying to learn all the English grammar rules.
1 – endow or influence
He imbued the spirit of the old times.
INTERSPERSE
1 – spaced in intervals
The interspersed paintings covered the east wing.
1 – sharp uneven surface
The jagged mountains dotted the horizon.
1 – come into contact or pushing
The jostling crowd flooded to the door.
2 – vying for a position.
The workers began to jostle for the new job.
1 – expend or bestow
His lavish habits cost him a lot of money.
1 – slow parting
The effects lingered long after it was over.
1 – take a large shape or an impending occurrence
The teacher loomed over the student to make sure he wasn’t cheating.
1 – an area to stop
Lay-by the dock the ship tied up.
1 – utter barely audible sounds in a low voice.
He muttered to himself about his workload.
1 – hypnotizing
The mesmerizing beauty of the best islands in Croatia is not easily forgotten.
1 – settle snugly
A small town nestled among the mountains.
1 – grab or catch
He nabbed the best spot in the class for the English lesson .
1 – a slow trickle, to seep out of something
The oozing gunk stained the floor.
1 – exiled
He was ostracized after his betrayal was made public.
1 – to peer through / to look furtively.
Don’t peek around the corner.
1 – to go deep into, or thrust into something.
I plunged into the task of self-development.
1 – landscape with a level surface, and little change
He wandered the plateau looking for his lost wallet.
1 – search for information.
His friend probed him with questions about the girl.
1 – sprinkled throughout
The olive trees peppered the Greek countryside.
1 – work laboriously
The book plodded along slowly.
1 – soaked in
The city was steeped in charm.
1 – a loud sharp noise
He shirked when he thought he saw a ghost.
1 – to spread without restraint
The sprawling landscape of the desert is one of the best things to do in Tucson .
1 – fill with things or with satiety
He was stuffed after Thanksgiving dinner.
1 – feeling to do something (usually wrong)
He was tempted to eat the candy.
DESCRIPTIVE WORDS FOR WRITING: LIST OF ADVERBS
1 – Suddenly or Unexpectedly.
The car stopped abruptly.
2 – In a rude manner.
His mom abruptly cut him off.
3 – Steep
The hill ascends abruptly.
Apathetically
1- Without enthusiasm or interest.
She played with the dog apathetically, barely looking at it.
ADDITIONALLY
1 – extra factor or circumstance.
brokers finance themselves additionally by short-term borrowing.
2 – used to introduce a new fact or argument.
Additionally, the regulations require a clean environment.
ALTERNATELY
1 – one after the other or next
Alternately, don’t give up when things get hard.
Begrudgingly
begrudgingly (adverb) – unwillingly; reluctantly
I begrudgingly gave him my number.
Deliberately
1- done or planned with care and intention
The mother deliberately left the child in the car while she went into the store.
Dramatically
1. in a dramatic manner
The actress dramatically read the lines from the script.
EFFECTIVELY
1 – being effective or in effect
John effectively finished his to-do list before stopping for the day.
1 – evident or provide evidence
He was evidently born in Ohio.
1 – expert in something
He expertly navigated his way through the maze of alleyways.
Extraordinary
1 – strikingly unusual or different; remarkable
This painting is extraordinary!
FURTHERMORE
1 – what precedes
Furthermore, people should travel more.
1 – a gloomy or somber
He grimly walked to see his boos.
1 – a sinister character
The dark figure had a grimly stance that shadows seemed to cling to.
Inquisitively
1- Inquisitively is defined as in a curious or questioning manner.
Looking inquisitively at someone means looking at them in a way that suggests you want to know more about them. For example, you may be staring intently at their face as if you are trying to read their thoughts.
Intelligently
1 – In an intelligent way
The mother cat was intelligently trying to get her kitten out from under the car.
1 – to a great degree
The immensely talented writer self-published his book.
INTENTIONALLY
1 – intentional manner or awareness
He intentionally arrived at the airport early.
1 – intense
He intensely focused on the problem at hand.
IMPULSIVELY
1 – from impulse
He impulsively got up early every morning.
He invitingly offered me a free drink.
INFURIATINGLY
1 – extreme anger
Moving to my wife in Sweden is an infuriatingly slow process.
1 – born or existing in.
He innately loved filling his head with quotes about adventure.
1 – lasting or unforgettable cannot be removed.
The indelibly hued landscape when backpacking Italy changed my life.
INTRICATELY
1 – complex with many parts
The intricately designed plot has levels of detail.
1 – eager or intense
They are keenly attuned to your bad behavior.
1 – clear; glassiness
The limpidly rushing water of the cascading waterfall.
LUDICROUSLY
1 – meriting laughter or exaggeration
He ludicrously lost his wallet.
Synonym for Richly or Grandly
1 – marked by excess
The lavishly decorated crown marked him as king.
Methodically
1 – In a precise and orderly way.
The scientist methodically recorded the data.
MONUMENTALLY
1 – large, or to an extreme degree
He monumentally failed in his task.
1 – without doubt
The claims were patently false.
1 – peace or tranquility
he peacefully listened to the sounds of birds singing outside his window.
1 – strict
He rigorously worked at his craft every day.
ROMANTICALLY
1 – romantic
He was romantically involved with her.
DESCRIPTIVE WORDS FOR WRITING: NOUNS
1 – the process of absorbing.
The absorption of the spilled water.
2 – The whole occupation of the mind.
The absorption of my work overtakes every other desire.
1 – strong desire to do or to achieve something which takes hard work.
People trying to improve their skills with this list of descriptive words for writing have a lot of ambition.
2 – determination to achieve success.
life offers many opportunities for those with ambition.
1 – a large quantity of something.
I have an abundance of ambition.
2 – The condition of having a copious quantity of something; bountifulness.
The vineyard has an abundance of grapes.
1 – a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime.
“He’s a wine aficionado.”
1 – a dark volcanic rock that displays a columnar structure and is made of fine-grained.
The fertile soil was made of decomposed basalt.
1 – something of monstrous size
That’s a behemoth-sized lion.
1 – a person who is socially unconventional in a way regarded as characteristic of creative artists; a bohemian.
The town bohos opened an art gallery.
1 – an increase
A boost in the economy.
1 – a room or pantry used for storing wine or hard liquor.
Can you grab the wine out of the buttery?
1 – a beer that has a strong hop taste; or liquor with the sharp taste of plant extracts.
What bitters do you have on tap?
1 – a combination of qualities of color, such as shape, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight.
“I was struck by her beauty .”
Synonym for Rock or Stone
1 – a large rock, mostly worn smooth by years of erosion.
The boulder blocked the path.
1 – move quickly.
He buzzed through these descriptive words.
1 – Irish name for a beehive hut.
The ruins of a clochán sat on the other side of the field.
1 – a written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy, that is intended to be enforceable by law.
“both parties must sign employment contracts “
1 – a mass of something that falls or hangs in copious or luxuriant quantities.
“A cascade of pink bougainvillea.”
2 – a large number or amount of something occurring or arriving in rapid succession.
“a cascade of antiwar literature”
1 – an ornamental decoration at the ridge of a roof or top of a wall or screen.
High on the roof was a cresting decoration.
1 – Someone who chips
The chipper was hard at working cutting down the tree.
1 – one delegated by a superior to execute a duty or an office
The commissary was tasked with finding a cure.
1 – a series of loops
The coil of pumps was confusing.
2 – everyday troubles
Sometimes we all need to shrug off the coils of the workday.
1 – any of an order (Coniferales) of mostly evergreen trees and shrubs having usually needle-shaped or scalelike leaves like pine, cones, and arillate fruit.
The group of conifer trees took over the forest.
1 – to create
Christians believe in the creation story.
1 – an agreement or promise / attached to someone or something
I have a commitment to my wife.
1 – a cover carried above by a person of rank / or a cloth suspended
The canopy covered the diners on the patio.
1 – a heap of stones in a heap. Usually a landmark or memorial. Typically on a hilltop or skyline.
The stony cairn marked the way back.
Characteristics
1- Colorful Having many different colors. The sunset was so colorful.
Loyalty is one of his best characteristics
1 – something to eat considered rare and luxurious
What is your favorite delicacy in Italy?
2 – the quality or state of being dainty of someone or something
Spiderwebs have a delicacy.
1 – to flow along
To drift through life is sad.
2 – an underlying meaning or design.
The spy understood the drift of his orders.
1 – dislike food or drink
Many have a distaste for mushrooms.
1 – representation in images or describing words depicting something or someone.
The depiction of the movie wasn’t congruent with the book.
1 – a deep place or state of being
The depths of our abilities remain unknown until we push for greatness.
1 – an arrangement, or state of being engaged
Social engagement took most of my day.
1 – a massive structure
The social edifice holds together certain rules.
plural noun
1 – city districts / or surroundings in your space or vicinity
The crystal environs of the waterfalls.
1 – a public showcase
The art exhibition was a success.
1 – a high position of superiority, Commanding or in a profession.
His eminence in the film made him a legend.
1 – refined taste, dignified gracefulness
The novel had an air of elegance and wit.
EXASPERATION
1 – a state of exasperated or exasperating someone/feeling irritation
He was exasperated after working all day.
1 – the act of representing a medium
I don’t understand the expression that artists are trying to achieve.
FOCAL POINT
1 – point of attention.
The focal point of this blog post is describing words that help others master descriptive writing .
1 – an embarrassing mistake or error.
Interpreting someone is considered a social faux pas.
1 – the front of the building
The store’s facade was highly decorated.
1 – a false, or fake appearance
His friends saw through his thinly veiled facade.
A love this descriptive word.
1 – a boisterous and loud burst of laughter.
The joke caused a guffaw in the room.
1 – enthusiastic and filled with joy.
1 – a gloomy or somber outlook
He had a grim disposition on life.
The grim tale left me afraid.
1 – the quality or current state
The grandeur of ancient Rome inspired our world.
1 – grand
Many of the best places to visit in Europe are grand in design, scope, and scale.
1 – strong wind
The gust of wind caused the bike to tip over.
1 – an outburst of feeling
He had a gust of energy that came with the good news.
1 – either side of an arch.
The dog loves to have his back haunches scratched.
1 – a great number
A host of ants took over the picnic.
1 – something to indicate
He gave the indication that he was going to travel this summer.
1 – a stage or exception
In this instance, we all need to be quiet.
2 – example
For instance, pasta tastes better in Italy.
1 – inside limits or inner constitution
Travelers loved the lavish interior of the modern-day art gallery.
1 – limestone land or limestone plateau
The karst lands were filled with sinkholes and caverns.
1 – a plant organism made up of alge
Working the lichen spotted lake held a natural charm rarely found.
1 – machine for interlacing
Working the loom is hard and painful.
1 – soil made of silt, sand, and clay.
The loam ground was hard to walk.
LAUNDERETTE
1 – a self-service laundry
The launderette was packed with others.
1 – causing wonder and astonishment
Abu Simbel, in Egypt, is a marvel to behold.
1 – a great number of
This myriad list of descriptive words is very helpful – like our list of descriptive words for personality -.
1 – middle of the day
The midday meal made him want a nap.
1 – a single massive stone in a column or obelisk
Monoliths pepper the old landscape.
1 – a single massive stone in a column or obelisk from prehistoric origin.
The Menhir’s of Stonehenge tower over all who stand before it.
METROPOLITAN
1 – one who lives in a metropolis
The metropolitan knew the city backward and forwards.
1 – wealth and Abundance
The opulence of the Blue Mosque makes it one of the best things to do in Turkey .
1 – of an unusual size
The outsize bed wouldn’t fit.
1 – a dirty slovenly place
Clean up this pigpen of a room.
1 – the quality of excitement or attractive
He was charming and had a large amount of pizzazz.
1 – an earnest entreaty
They plead for another helping of mashed potatoes.
1 – a bar something is hung on
The bird sat on the perch.
1 – a medical instrument for exploring
The doctor used a probe to discover what was wrong.
1 – a person despised or rejected
The thief was treated as a pariah.
1 – chasing after
Our pursuits define our lives.
1 – contradictory phases or conclusions.
Life is full of many a paradox.
1 – state of fear
Don’t panic about your writing . Just learn more descriptive words that will improve your writing.
1 – a close inspection; under a microscope
His paper was under a lot of scrutiny.
1 – riot or commotion
Tumult uprisings are a big part of history.
2 – loud noise
a tumult of noise kept me from sleeping.
1 – tiles
The tiling walls were stunning.
DESCRIPTIVE WORDS FOR WRITING: LIST OF PREPOSITIONS WITH DEFINITION
preposition
1 – surrounded by; in the middle of
He walked amid the rolling hills and lush landscape.
2 – in an atmosphere or against a background of.
Mid accusations of cheating the student were suspended.
DESCRIPTIVE WORDS FOR WRITING: DESCRIPTIVE PHRASES
Here are a lot of describing words that I’ve picked up from various books, and blog posts. I fell in love with this word list. And are great for adding detail.
Pro tip: The describing words are all around you. Listen to how people use descriptive language in your favorite movies, tv shows, and podcast. Try to find describing words in the things you read. The lesson you are looking for and the right words are all around you! You just have to look for the lesson to find the best describing word.
ARID STEPPE
1 – one of the vast treeless tracts in Europe and Asia.
The arid steppe of Mongolia is famous around the world.
ATLANTIC SWELLS
1- Waves crashing on the coast.
The Atlantic swells crashed against the crenelated coast.
BROODING SUMMITS
1 – sad terrain, a phrase to describe mountain ranges.
The brooding summits, covered in clouds, look like a storm is coming.
BEHIND THE TIMES
1 – not aware of or using the latest ideas or techniques; out of date.
When it came to tech, he was behind the times.
CRYSTALLINE LAKES
1 – a good description to describe a still lake. Or a phrase lake on a nice day.
The crystalline lake boasted the perfect space to camp.
CRUMBLING CASTLES
1 – a castle falling apart.
Ireland’s peppered with crumbling castles.
CRESTING MOUNTAINS
1 – descriptive of a scenic mountain range.
The cresting mountains of New Zealand are unforgettable.
EVER- DEEPENING
1 – getting deeper
The ever-deepening snow made the terrain impassable.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The historical significance of Rome echoes even until today.
INFINITE HILLS
The infinite hills of New Zealand lure thousands of visitors a year. This is one of my favorite descriptive phrases.
ICY ROLLERS
1 – cold waves
The icy rollers of the Atlantic Ocean beat along the coast.
INDELIBLY WILD
The indelibly wild forest of Peru.
LUNAR-SCAPED
1 – landscape similar to that on the moon
The Lunar-scaped beaches on Milos, put it high on many travelers’ lists of Greek Islands to visit.
LONG-FORGOTTEN
The long-forgotten castle has centuries of neglect.
A great descriptive word for the forest!
1 – covered by moss
The moss-clad rocks sat along the stream.
MODERN HIGH-RISE SKYSCRAPERS
The hundreds of workers wasted their lives in modern high-rise skyscrapers.
Descriptive Words for Food
1 – having a pleasing smell
1 – having a brittle texture and a dry, brittle sound when broken
Crunchy
1 – having a brittle texture and a crisp, crackling sound when broken
1 – having a strong, satisfying flavor
1 – having a pleasing, sugary flavor
1 -having a sour, acidic taste
Salty
1 – having a salty, savory flavor
1 – not having a strong or distinctive flavor
1 – having a hot, pungent flavor
1 – having a lot of flavors
1 – something that tastes extremely good
1- providing the body with essential nutrients
1 – making someone want to eat something
Scrumptious
1 – extremely delicious and appetizing
1 – a sweet liquid produced by flowers and used as a drink or in cooking
1 – producing an excessive flow of saliva
1 – of or relating to the sense of taste
1 – arousing or tempting the appetite
1 – having an extremely pleasing taste
1 – delightfully beautiful or elegant
1 – extremely luxurious and expensive
Scintillating
1 – brilliantly sparkling
1 – strikingly unusual or different
1 – restoring or invigorating
1 – promoting good health
1 – energetically alive and vigorous
1 – pleasantly firm and fresh
1 -full of juice
1 – having a strong, distinctive taste
Mouth-watering
1- so delicious as to make the mouth water
1 – easily broken or chewed and having a delicate, pleasing texture
Descriptive Words for Trees
Words to describe trees is one of the most requested updates for this post. So I have updated the list with a bunch of tree descriptive words. I hope you enjoy it!
- massive
- towering
- gigantic
- enormous
Descriptive Words in Spanish
- ágil – agile
- bello – beautiful
- brillante – brilliant
- cálido – warm
- claro – clear
- colorido – colorful
- cortés – courteous
- curioso – curious
- dulce – sweet
- enérgico – energetic
- fresco – fresh
- gentil – gentle
- inteligente – intelligent
- joven – young
- ligero – light
- lindo – pretty
- maduro – mature
- maravilloso – marvelous
- nervioso – nervous
- optimista – optimistic
- pacífico – peaceful
- perezoso – lazy
- romántico – romantic
- sensible – sensible
- serio – serious
- simpático – likable
- triste – sad
- vibrante – vibrant
LIST OF DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES
Here are some words to describe the positive qualities of people’s personalities. And using words like this to showcase a personality can connect those feeling with your readers.
affectionate – readily feeling or showing fondness or tenderness.
Agile – able to move quickly and easily.
Altruistic – showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish.
amiable – having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner.
bright – giving out or reflecting much light; shining. – A very common descriptive phrase.
Bonza – excellent; first-rate.
charming – very pleasant or attractive.
Conscientious – wishing to do one’s work or duty well and thoroughly
imaginative – having or showing creativity or inventiveness.
List of Common Adjectives
These are great for common adjectives that can be used for anything from a descriptive phrase, descriptive writing, or a cover letter.
compassionate
distinguished
enthusiastic
fashionable
fascinating
independent
influential
intelligent
mesmerizing
WORD LIST OF ATTRIBUTIVE ADJECTIVES
What are attributive adjectives?
These are words to can be placed inside a sentence that can modify a person or a thing. These different adjective are only used before nouns.
Example Sentence: The tender steak made my mouth water.
Heart-stopping
Too-yummy-to-be-believed
Face-to-face vicious
adjective for thick vines
- coiling, twisting, writhing
- constricting
- claustrophobic
WORD LIST OF MULTIPLE ADJECTIVES
What are multiple adjectives?
Sometimes called paired adjectives. This is using more than one word to describe a noun.
Almost an adjective can be multiple adjectives if it can be paired together with other describing words to describe a noun. The key is to put them in the right order.
But here are some common ones.
Example Sentence: The thick, dense college application seemed daunting.
Smart, energetic
Small, round
Short, Fast
Pretty Little
WHAT ARE COORDINATE ADJECTIVES
Similar to paired adjectives, Coordinate adjectives
are two – or maybe even more – adjectives that describe the same noun. They are separated by a common.
LIST OF POSITIVE ADJECTIVES
Positive words are a great way to make your readers feel something about a character, place, or object. Positive words of descriptive are powerful.
Example: He was brave enough to use a new word to showcase his skill in front of the class.
Adventurous
Affectionate
Broadminded
Knowledgeable
Self-confident
Warmhearted
descriptive words starting with m
Magnificent.
impressively beautiful, elaborate or striking
Example: The view from the top of the mountain was simply magnificent.
given to unpredictable changes in mood or feelings
Example: He was in a moody state after his fight with his girlfriend.
Melancholic
feeling or expressing a deep sadness or gloominess
Example: The melancholic music helped me release my emotions.
Mischievous
Playful or causing trouble in a playful way Example: The mischievous child kept on playing pranks on his siblings.
difficult or impossible to understand or explain
Example: The disappearance of the man is still a mysterious case to this day.
having or showing impressive beauty or dignity
Example: The Taj Mahal is a majestic work of art.
having a smooth, rich, or full flavor or personality
Example: The mellow sound of the saxophone helped me relax.
relating to the present or recent times as opposed to the remote past
Example: The modern technology we have today has made life easier.
Magnanimous
generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival or less powerful person
Example: Despite losing the game, he still remained magnanimous and congratulated the winning team.
unassuming or moderate in size, quantity, or importance
Example: She is a modest person who never seeks attention.
Descriptive Words Starting With N
feeling or showing anxiety or worry.
Example: I’m nervous about my upcoming job interview.
having or showing high moral principles or ideals.
Example: He was a noble man who always put others before himself.
making a lot of sound, often in an unpleasant or disruptive way.
Example: The party next door was very noisy and kept us up all night.
existing or occurring as part of nature; not artificial or man-made.
Example: The park was a beautiful natural oasis in the middle of the city.
clean, orderly, and well-organized.
Example: His desk was always so neat and tidy.
pleasingly stylish or clever; neat or attractive.
Example: The nifty new gadget made my life easier.
quick and light in movement or action.
Example: The nimble cat easily caught the mouse.
feeling a sentimental longing for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.
Example: Looking at old family photos made her feel nostalgic for her childhood.
providing nourishment or food that is essential for health and growth.
Example: The salad was full of nutritious vegetables and healthy fats.
worthy of attention or notice; remarkable.
Example: His notable achievements in the field of science made him a household name.
descriptive words of a leader and Leadership Skills
Here are some great descriptive words that are great for describing effective leaders, passionate leaders, and other leadership qualities.
Charismatic
Having a compelling charm or appeal that inspires devotion in others.
Example: His charismatic personality made him a great public speaker. And a successful leaders.
having or showing a powerful imagination and the ability to think about or plan the future with wisdom or foresight.
Example: Steve Jobs was a visionary who revolutionized the technology industry. And held many leadership roles throughout his life.
Feeling or showing self-assurance; having faith in oneself and one’s abilities.
Example: A confident leader can inspire confidence in others. Which makes him a true leader.
Settling an issue; producing a definite result.
Example: A decisive leader is able to make tough decisions when necessary.
Having the ability to understand and share the feelings of others.
Example: An empathetic leader is able to connect with and inspire their team. Which makes them effective leaders.
Relating to the identification of long-term or overall aims and interests and the means of achieving them.
Example: A strategic leader is able to plan and execute successful business strategies.
Inspirational
providing inspiration or motivation to others; uplifting and motivating.
Example: An inspirational leader can inspire their team to achieve great things. And allows him to be a true leader.
Trustworthy
deserving of trust or confidence; reliable.
Example: A trustworthy leader is one who can be relied upon to keep their promises.
able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.
Example: A resilient leader is able to bounce back from setbacks and continue to lead effectively.
having or showing a modest or low estimate of one’s importance.
Example: A humble leader is able to put the needs of others ahead of their own and lead with integrity. And a true leader is humble, and it’s a sign of effective leadership.
MORE ENGLISH GRAMMAR QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED!
What are the different kinds of adjectives.
There are several kinds of adjectives, including descriptive adjectives, limiting adjectives, proper adjectives, demonstrative adjectives, interrogative adjectives, and distributive adjectives.
Descriptive adjectives describe the qualities of a noun or pronoun, such as “blue,” “soft,” or “happy.”
Limiting adjectives limit the noun or pronoun by indicating a specific quantity or amount, such as “two,” “many,” or “few.”
Proper adjectives are formed from proper nouns and describe a particular noun or pronoun, such as “American,” “Italian,” or “Shakespearean.”
Demonstrative adjectives point out or indicate which noun or pronoun is being referred to, such as “this,” “that,” “these,” or “those.”
Interrogative adjectives are used to ask questions and include “which,” “what,” and “whose.”
Distributive adjectives refer to individual members of a group, such as “each,” “every,” “either,” or “neither.”
What are Negative Adjectives?
Negative adjectives are adjectives that describe something negatively, or with a negative connotation. And indicating that it lacks or has the opposite of a positive quality. They can be used talk about a personality trait, character trait, and change your writing style.
Examples of negative adjectives include “bad,” “ugly,” “harmful,” “horrible,” “unpleasant,” “unfortunate,” “unfriendly,” “unhappy,” “displeasing,” “unfair,” and “unsatisfactory.”
These adjectives can be used to express criticism, disapproval, or disappointment towards someone or something. Negative adjectives can also be used to contrast one thing with another, such as in phrases like “less beautiful,” “not as smart,” or “less effective.”
positive personality adjectives
- Affable – friendly, easy-going and pleasant to talk to
- Ambitious – determined to succeed and reach goals
- Assertive – confident and self-assured; able to stand up for oneself and one’s beliefs
- Authentic – genuine and true to oneself; not fake or artificial
- Benevolent – kind, caring and generous, with a desire to do good for others
- Brave – courageous, not afraid to face challenges or danger
- Charismatic – possessing a compelling charm or appeal that inspires devotion in others
- Compassionate – empathetic, caring and understanding towards others who are suffering
- Confident – having faith in oneself and one’s abilities; self-assured
- Creative – imaginative, original and innovative
- Diplomatic – able to handle delicate or difficult situations with tact and sensitivity
- Empathetic – having the ability to understand and share the feelings of others
- Enthusiastic – passionate, energetic and eager to do things
- Gracious – courteous, kind and polite
- Honest – truthful and sincere; not deceptive or deceitful
- Humorous – having a sense of humor and able to make others laugh
- Independent – self-sufficient and able to take care of oneself
- Intuitive – able to understand or know something instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning
- Optimistic – hopeful and positive, expecting good outcomes and opportunities
- Passionate – having strong emotions and intense feelings towards something or someone.
WHAT IS A PRESENT PARTICIPLE?
A word formed from a verb that ends in ing.
Sentence: He couldn’t stop laughing.
What is a Pronoun?
Pronouns are words that replace a noun.
A word formed from a verb that ends in ing.
Sentence: He couldn’t stop laughing.
What is a Collective Noun?
A collective noun is a word that refers to a group of things or animals as a single unit. Some common collective nouns are flock, herd, pack, and swarm.
What is a Prepositional Phrase?
A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or a pronoun. The preposition shows the relationship between the noun or pronoun and the verb.
What are Some Popular Synonyms?
Some popular synonyms are beautiful, pretty, handsome, and stunning.
What are Transition Words
Transition words are used to connect ideas, show relationships between ideas, and indicate the logic of thought or argument. They are used to signal the start and end of paragraphs, introduce new paragraphs, and connect related thoughts within a paragraph.
There we go! Over 500 descriptive words that will help you improve your writing! This list is always being updated as I find new describing words I like through reading and writing. Becoming a good writer and increasing your skill , and learning a new word is an endless quest. These are great words that can improve your follow-up comments or inline feedback on your writing.
And I hope that you found the list of adjectives, nouns, descriptive phrases, and verbs useful. And helps you get a little better and expand your vocabulary.
Check back for new descriptive words monthly!
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Wow Words - KS2
Subject: English
Age range: 7-11
Resource type: Lesson (complete)
Last updated
6 July 2023
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Year 3 and 4 - Writing - transcription
Wow Words has been designed to help pupils develop and improve their vocabulary as per the objectives of the English curriculum. Pupils are encouraged to use alternative synonyms for the words - nice, big, small, said, happy, ran, walked, went, sad, looked, scared and laughed.
Content includes:
- interactive synonym activity with 12 accompanying worksheets
- improving sentences activity with an accompanying worksheet
‘Wow Words - KS2’ can be edited allowing teachers to adapt the resource, if they wish, to suit the needs of each class they teach.
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We want to encourage writing "wow words" so students can grow their vocabulary and make their writing more interesting. "Wow Words" Chart. During writer's workshop, I would watch for students to use a "wow word" in their writing and choose one student. That writer would take their notebook up to our anchor chart and fill it in. It ...
Redolent (adj.) Meaning: having a strong pleasant smell. Synonym: aromatic, perfumed. Sentence examples: Although my mother had left for work, the entire house was redolent with the fragrance of her perfume. The kitchen was redolent with the aroma of freshly baked bread, making my mouth water. 9. Serendipitous (adj.)
Writing with 'Wow' Words The following creative writing ideas demonstrate how 'Wow' words can be incorporated into student story writing. ! Story Starters A selection of story starters can be used initially as a brainstorming activity. First the teacher demonstrates or models the possibilities that are
Wow Words. Wow words are advanced adjectives, verbs and adverbs which are used to improve a piece of writing by making it vivid and interesting. Wow words are often taught at grade 3-5 to diversify children's vocabulary and their written ability. Teach your upper elementary class about wow words today! Download FREE teacher-made resources ...
Wow, words are advanced adjectives, verbs, and adverbs that can make a written work more vivid and interesting. ... Longer verbs can be great wow words and provide KS2 children with a more good vocabulary to use in their creative writing and essays. By swapping out normal verbs for these fancier ones, they can instantly boost any writing that ...
Wow words are pieces of interesting vocabulary to use in creative writing, essays, or any other kind of written work. KS2 Teachers may also describe them as interesting or ambitious vocabulary. Children are encouraged to use 'wow words' in place of 'boring' vocabulary, for example, using 'devastated' instead of 'sad' or 'exclaimed' instead of ...
Writing with Wow Words and Building Vocabulary 4 [email protected] Writing with 'Wow' Words The following creative writing ideas demonstrate how 'Wow' words can be incorporated into student story writing. Story Starters A selection of story starters can be used initially as a brainstorming activity. First the teacher demonstrates or ...
Use this teacher-made Wow Words: Adjectives Word Mat to: Support your students during independent writing tasks. Provide help with tricky spellings. Boost vocabulary. A handy visual cue for upper elementary kids, this printable word mat is full of colorful and descriptive wow words for your students to use in creative writing assignments.
The Wow Words List Pack can really help your children to develop their: Creative writing skills. Vocabulary knowledge. Spelling. Confidence in their writing. Like all of our resources, these vocabulary lists are teacher-made, so you can rest assured that they're high quality and meet curriculum standards.
Preview & Download. Wow Adjectives Board Game (SB7201) A simple board game where children think of adjectives that mean similar to the words they land on. A great way for getting pupils to increase their vocabulary and introduce new 'wow' words. Includes editable version to add your own words as appropriate. Preview & Download.
Here are 5 ways to help students generate 'wow' words for their writing: 1. Get students to spot 'wow' words in texts they read or hear. ... Using 'wow" words in creative writing can really make a student stand out, and is an important step in 7 Plus and 8 Plus preparation. Happy 'wow' word-searching!
When searching for the best words, you're not necessarily looking for the longest or most obscure examples. Start aiming for Tier 2 vocabulary/words - high-frequency words that are used by accomplished writers - and, where appropriate, Tier 3 language, which means those subject-specific, perhaps technical terms required for certain topics ...
Test your students understanding with the tasks featured at the end of the PowerPoint as a creative extension task. Download and present this Wow Words: Improving Sentences PowerPoint as a support to develop excellent writing skills in your ELA classes. This resource addresses the following standards: CCSS ELA L.4.6, TEKS ELAR 3.7.F, 4.7.F, 5.7.F.
"Using 'wow' words in writing… If, like me, you've worked in and around schools during the last few years, you're probably familiar with 'WOW words'. Often displayed in highly creative classroom displays, used as a resource to develop children's vocabulary and a tool to support storytelling and creative writing.
The Wow Words List Pack can really help your children to develop their: Creative writing skills. Vocabulary knowledge. Spelling. Confidence in their writing. Like all of our resources, these vocabulary lists are teacher-made, so you can rest assured that they're high quality and meet curriculum standards.
This Writing Support Bundle is the ULTIMATE resource to support your students with their writing! It helps to develop independence with editing, while developing vocabulary, sight word recall and word choice to inspire creative and enthusiastic writers!It includes• Creative Writing Stimulus Task Car. 11. Products. $20.00 $24.50 Save $4.50.
This product includes 24 EDITABLE cards with synonym lists for the words:• small• big• happy• sad• angry• good• bad• light• dark• walk• went • looked• laugh• cried• said• hot• cold• n. Subjects: Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Writing. Grades: 2 nd - 5 th. Types:
Instantly download all the exciting resources you need for your 'wow' words lessons in this handy pack. Includes a 'wow' word mat, two posters, word cards, two display banners, three display words PDFs, loop cards and display borders. All the resources are bright and eyecatching in design for a brilliant class display and lesson on 'wow' words.Get EYFS and KS1 children using more ...
AMBITION. 1 - strong desire to do or to achieve something which takes hard work. People trying to improve their skills with this list of descriptive words for writing have a lot of ambition. 2 - determination to achieve success. life offers many opportunities for those with ambition.
Test your students understanding with the tasks featured at the end of the PowerPoint as a creative extension task. Download and present this Wow Words: Improving Sentences PowerPoint as a support to develop excellent writing skills in your ELA classes. This resource addresses the following standards: CCSS ELA L.4.6, TEKS ELAR 3.7.F, 4.7.F, 5.7.F.
JPG, 131.71 KB. pdf, 816.29 KB. Wow Words - KS2. Year 3 and 4 - Writing - transcription. Wow Words has been designed to help pupils develop and improve their vocabulary as per the objectives of the English curriculum. Pupils are encouraged to use alternative synonyms for the words - nice, big, small, said, happy, ran, walked, went, sad, looked ...