Adjectives that Start with S: List of 500+ Words to Describe Someone

S Adjectives Cover

Finding the perfect word to describe people or things can be difficult. When you’re writing, you may find yourself searching far and wide for the perfect adjective. Writers often choose a word based on its spelling because it helps with the flow or rhythm of their prose.

If you’re looking for the perfect adjectives that start with S, you’re in luck. We’ve compiled a list of positive and negative adjectives, as well as some personality traits, that all begin with S.

ProWritingAid’s Word Explorer can also help you find the right descriptive words. You can enter any word and see not only synonyms and definitions, but also alliterative words and rhymes.

If you’re searching for the right word by meaning, you can even access the reverse dictionary and contextually related words. You can access these options in the Word Explorer from the menu in the online editing tool.

But you can also peruse this huge list of common adjectives starting with S. We’ve compiled over 500 adjectives that start with the letter S, so you can find the perfect description.

Contents:

Positive Adjectives that Start with S

Words have tones and connotations attached to them that might not be part of their definitions. It’s important to find words that fit the feeling you’re going for.

For example, there’s a notable difference between smile and smirk, even though they are synonyms. And look and leer are synonyms with very different connotations.

When you’re searching for adjectives that start with S, you want them to help set the mood of your writing. If you’re writing a happy scene, you want to use positive adjectives.

Below is a list of some positive adjectives starting with S.

Sagacious
Sage
Saintly
Salubrious
Salutary
Sated
Satiated
Satisfactory
Satisfied
Satisfying
Savvy
Scintillating
Scrumptious
Scrupulous
Seasonable
Secure
Seemly
Sellable
Sensational
Sensible
Sensuous
Sentimental
Seraphic
Serendipitous
Serene
Shapely
Shimmering
Shining
Shiny
Shrewd
Significant
Silky
Sincere
Singular
Sisterly
Sizzling
Skilled
Sleek
Slinky
Smashing
Smiley
Smiling
Smoldering
Smooth
Snug
Soaring
Soft
Soothing
Sophisticated
Sought-after
Soulful
Spacious
Sparkly
Special
Spectacular
Speedy
Spellbinding
Spicy
Spiffy
Spirited
Splashy
Splendid
Springy
Spry
Staggering
Stately
Statuesque
Steady
Steamy
Stimulating
Stirring
Stout
Strapping
Striking
Strong
Studied
Stunned
Stunning
Stupendous
Sturdy
Stylish
Suave
Sublime
Substantial
Subtle
Successful
Succulent
Sugary
Suggestive
Suitable
Sumptuous
Sunkissed
Sunny
Super
Superb
Superhuman
Superior
Supple
Supreme
Sure-footed
Svelte
Swaggering
Swanky
Sweet
Swift
Swishing
Swooping

Examples of positive S adjectives

Negative Adjectives that Start with S

Sometimes, what you’re writing isn’t so positive. You might need an adjective that is gloomy, dark, angry, or otherwise negative.

Now it’s time for a list of negative adjectives that start with S. Some of the S adjectives listed below might be more fitting for a person, a setting, or an item. Hopefully, you’ll find the exact descriptive word you need.

Saccharine
Sacrilegious
Sad
Sagging
Saggy
Sallow
Sanctimonious
Savage
Scabbed
Scandalous
Scarred
Scary
Scathing
Scorching
Scornful
Scraggly
Scratchy
Scrawny
Screeching
Scummy
Scurrilous
Seditious
Seedy
Seething
Senseless
Severe
Shabby
Shaggy
Shaky
Shamefaced
Sheepish
Shifty
Shocking
Shoddy
Short-lived
Showy
Shrieking
Shrill
Shriveled
Sickly
Simpering
Simplistic
Sinful
Sinister
Sisyphean
Skeletal
Sketchy
Skimpy
Slanderous
Slimy
Sloppy
Sluggish
Smarmy
Smelly
Smoggy
Smothering
Smug
Snaggle-toothed
Snaky
Snarling
Sneering
Snide
Sniffling
Snippy
Snoopy
Snooty
Snotty
Soggy
Solemn
Solicitous
Somber
Sordid
Sorrowful
Sorry
Soulless
Sour
Sparse
Spectral
Spiky
Spine-chilling
Spiritless
Spiteful
Splotchy
Spoiled
Spooky
Spurious
Squalid
Squashed
Squat
Squawking
Squealing
Squinty
Squished
Stagnant
Stained
Stale
Star-crossed
Stark
Starving
Stealth
Steely
Stereotypical
Stiff
Stifled
Stifling
Stigmatic
Stilted
Stinging
Stinking
Stinky
Stodgy
Stony
Stormy
Straggly
Strange
Stringent
Stringy
Stubby
Stuffy
Stumbling
Stumpy
Stuttering
Stygian
Subdued
Subpar
Subservient
Subversive
Suffering
Sulky
Sunken
Suppressive
Surly
Suspect
Suspicious
Sweltering
Swinish
Swollen

Examples of negative adjectives that start with s

Character Traits that Start with S

While some of the adjectives beginning with S listed above can describe a person, they aren’t necessarily character traits.

Descriptive words for personality traits are crucial when creating characters in your writing. You want to provide your readers with an accurate description.

We’ve compiled a list of some adjectives that start with S to describe a person based on their personality. Some of these are positive adjectives, while others are negative or neutral.

This letter S list focuses on adjectives that address a character’s personality. The next section features some S adjectives for physical traits.

Sadistic
Sane
Sanguine
Sarcastic
Sardonic
Sassy
Saucy
Scatterbrained
Scattered
Scholarly
Scrappy
Secretive
Seductive
Selective
Self-absorbed
Self-centered
Self-confident
Self-destructive
Self-effacing
Self-indulgent
Self-reliant
Selfish
Selfless
Sensible
Sensitive
Sensual
Sentimental
Serious
Shallow
Shameless
Sheltered
Short-tempered
Shortsighted
Shrewd
Shy
Silly
Simple-minded
Skeptical
Skillful
Sleazy
Sly
Small-minded
Smart
Snappish
Sneaky
Snobbish
Sober
Sociable
Social
Soft-hearted
Soldierly
Solipsistic
Spacy
Speculative
Spendthrift
Spineless
Spiritual
Sporting
Sporty
Spunky
Squirrelly
Standoffish
Staunch
Steadfast
Stealthy
Stern
Stingy
Stoic
Stolid
Straightforward
Strategic
Stubborn
Studious
Submissive
Sullen
Supercilious
Superficial
Superstitious
Supportive

Full List of Adjectives that Start with S

Finally, some adjectives starting with S don’t fit into any category.

Some adjectives are neutral, while some can be positive or negative, depending on the other descriptive words. The S adjectives below also include descriptors like colors, shapes, and ethnicities.

Here is a list of adjectives that start with S that can describe just about anything.

Safe
Saffron
Sagittal
Salmon
Salted
Salty
Salvadorean
Salvageable
Same
Samoan
Sandy
Sanitary
Sapphic
Sapphire
Sappy
Satin
Saudi Arabian
Savory
Scalding
Scaly
Scant
Scarce
Scared
Scarlet
Scenic
Scented
Scheduled
Scientific
Scottish
Scratched
Scruffy
Sculpted
Sea Green
Sealed
Seamless
Searching
Seasonal
Secluded
Second-hand
Secondary
Secular
Semi-precious
Senile
Sentient
Separate
Sepia
Sequential
Serbian
Serpentine
Serrated
Seventh
Shaded
Shady
Shaped
Sharp
Sharpy
Shaved
Sheer
Shivering
Shocked
Short
Sickly
Silent
Silky
Silver
Similar
Simple
Simplified
Simultaneous
Sinewy
Single
Sinuous
Sixth
Sizable
Skinny
Sky-blue
Slanted
Slate-gray
Sleepless
Sleepy
Slender
Slick
Slight
Slim
Slippery
Sloped
Sloping
Slovak
Slovenian
Slow
Slumberous
Slumped
Small-scale
Smoked
Smoky
Smutty
Snell
Snow-white
Snowy
Soaking
Socialist
Solar
Sole
Solid
Solitary
Somali
Somatic
Somnial
Sore
Soundless
South African
South American
South-eastern
Southern
South-western
Spaced-out
Spanish
Spare
Spattered
Specific
Speckled
Speechless
Speedy
Sphenoid
Spherical
Spicy
Spindly
Spiraled
Splattered
Split
Spoken
Sporadic
Spotless
Spotty
Spread-out
Square
Squeezable
Squirmy
Stable
Stackable
Stacked
Standard
Standardized
Starched
Startling
Static
Staticky
Statistical
Statutory
Steaming
Steel
Steep
Sterile
Sticky
Still
Stocky
Stooped
Straight
Straining
Straw-like
Streaked
Strenuous
Stretched
Stretchy
Striped
Structural
Stuffed
Stunned
Styled
Subconscious
Subjective
Subliminal
Subordinate
Subsequent
Substitute
Subterranean
Successive
Sudanese
Sudden
Sufficient
Sultry
Sunspotted
Sunburned
Superlative
Supernatural
Supersonic
Supposed
Sure
Surgical
Surmountable
Surprised
Surprising
Surreal
Survivable
Susceptible
Suspected
Sustainable
Swaying
Swazi
Sweaty
Swedish
Sweeping
Swishing
Swiss
Swollen
Symbiotic
Symbolic
Symmetrical
Symptomatic
Synonymous
Synthetic
Syrian
Systematic

That concludes our superb, sensational list of adjectives starting with S. With over 500 S adjectives to choose from, your writing is sure to be spectacular!

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Krystal N. Craiker

Author, Editor, Book Mentor

Krystal N. Craiker is the Writing Pirate, an indie romance author, editor, and book mentor. She sails the seven internet seas, breaking tropes and bending genres. She has a background in anthropology and education, which brings fresh perspectives to her romance novels. When she’s not daydreaming about her next book or article, you can find her cooking gourmet gluten-free cuisine, laughing at memes, and playing board games. Krystal lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, child, and basset hound.