Business Writing Copywriting 2023-03-02 00:00

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:
  1. Positive Adjectives that Start with S
  2. Negative Adjectives that Start with S
  3. Character Traits that Start with S
  4. Full List of Adjectives that Start with S

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!


Take your writing to the next level:

20 Editing Tips From Professional Writers

20 Editing Tips from Professional Writers

Whether you are writing a novel, essay, article, or email, good writing is an essential part of communicating your ideas.

This guide contains the 20 most important writing tips and techniques from a wide range of professional writers.

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.