This collection presents 42 Adjectives that start with Q, spanning from “quadrangular” to “quotidian”. Many come from Latin or French and often appear in formal or literary contexts. They help you enrich descriptions in writing, editing, and language learning.
Adjectives that start with Q are descriptive words beginning with the letter Q. Many entered English through Latin and Old French, reflecting historical trade and scholarship.
Below you’ll find the table with Word, Definition, Example sentence, and Register.
Word: This column lists each adjective so you can scan and choose the exact word you need.
Definition: You get a concise one-line meaning to confirm the adjective fits your context.
Example sentence: See a short, natural sentence showing common usage to help you apply the adjective.
Register: Notes like formal, colloquial, or archaic tell you when and where the adjective suits.
Adjectives that start with Q
| Adjective | Part of speech / Register | Definition | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| quaint | adj, common | Pleasantly old-fashioned or attractively unusual. | They visited a quaint seaside village last summer. |
| qualified | adj, common | Having required skills or meeting a condition. | She is a qualified nurse at the clinic. |
| qualitative | adj, formal | Relating to qualities or descriptive characteristics. | They conducted a qualitative study of behavior. |
| quantitative | adj, formal | Relating to measurable amounts or numbers. | They performed quantitative tests on the samples. |
| quasi | adj, formal | Resembling or seemingly but not fully the real thing. | The group had quasi-official responsibilities this year. |
| queasy | adj, common | Feeling slightly sick or uneasy. | I felt queasy after the roller coaster ride. |
| queer | adj, common, colloquial | Strange; also relating to LGBTQ identities. | The story had a queer, unexpected twist. |
| querulous | adj, formal | Complaining in a petulant or whining manner. | Her querulous tone annoyed the committee. |
| questionable | adj, common | Doubtful or open to challenge. | The evidence looked questionable to the lawyer. |
| questioning | adj, common | Expressing doubt or wanting information. | He gave her a questioning look across the table. |
| quick | adj, common | Moving or acting with speed; prompt. | She gave a quick answer to the question. |
| quickish | adj, colloquial | Somewhat quick; fairly fast. | We took a quickish walk before dinner. |
| quiet | adj, common | Making little or no noise; calm. | The library is a quiet place to study. |
| quietish | adj, colloquial | Rather quiet; somewhat calm. | The classroom felt quietish after recess. |
| quiescent | adj, formal | In a state of inactivity or dormancy. | The volcano remains quiescent at present. |
| quincuncial | adj, formal | Arranged in a five-point pattern like a quincunx. | The garden beds were set in a quincuncial layout. |
| quinary | adj, formal | Relating to the number five or fifth in order. | They studied a quinary numeral system in class. |
| quintuple | adj, common | Consisting of five parts; fivefold. | They ordered a quintuple batch of cookies. |
| quintessential | adj, common, formal | Representing the most perfect example of something. | She is the quintessential modern artist. |
| quixotic | adj, common | Idealistic but impractical or unrealistic. | His plan to change everything felt quixotic. |
| quirky | adj, common | Unconventional in an attractive or amusing way. | He has a quirky sense of humor. |
| quivering | adj, common | Trembling or shaking slightly. | Her lip was quivering with emotion. |
| quizzical | adj, common | Expressing mild puzzlement or amusement. | He raised a quizzical eyebrow at the remark. |
| quondam | adj, archaic | Former or erstwhile; in the past. | The quondam ruler lived quietly in exile. |
| quotidian | adj, formal | Ordinary or occurring every day. | He accepted the quotidian chores without complaint. |
| quotable | adj, common | Worthy of being quoted; memorable. | That was a quotable line from the speech. |
| quadrate | adj, formal | Square or nearly square in shape. | They cut a quadrate stone for the foundation. |
| quadrilateral | adj, formal | Having four sides; four-sided. | Draw a quadrilateral for the geometry exercise. |
| quadratic | adj, formal | Relating to a polynomial of degree two. | Solve the quadratic equation for x. |
| quadrupedal | adj, formal | Moving on four feet; four-footed. | Most dogs are quadrupedal animals. |
| quadruple | adj, common | Four times as much; consisting of four parts. | They increased production to quadruple the output. |
| quadrennial | adj, formal | Occurring every four years. | The festival is a quadrennial celebration in the town. |
| quadrangular | adj, formal | Having four angles or sides; four-cornered. | The market occupied a quadrangular plaza downtown. |
| qualmish | adj, common | Slightly ill or uneasy; having qualms. | She felt qualmish before the speech. |
| quaffable | adj, common | Pleasant or easy to drink. | That beer is extremely quaffable on a hot day. |
| quaky | adj, colloquial | Shaky or trembling; unstable. | The old bridge felt quaky underfoot. |
| quarrelsome | adj, common | Inclined to argue or fight. | The group became quarrelsome during the debate. |
| quantal | adj, formal | Relating to discrete quantities or quanta. | They analyzed quantal transitions in the experiment. |
| quantum | adj, formal | Relating to quantum theory or discrete amounts. | Researchers observed quantum effects in the material. |
| quaternary | adj, formal | Fourth in order or composed of four parts. | The quaternary period affected geological layers. |
| quenchless | adj, formal | Impossible to extinguish or satisfy. | He had a quenchless thirst for knowledge. |
| quartan | adj, formal | Occurring every fourth day, especially of fever. | Doctors diagnosed a quartan fever historically. |
Descriptions
quaint
Often describes towns, houses, or styles; synonyms: charming, old-fashioned; common in writing about nostalgia.
qualified
Used for people or statements (“qualified support”); contrasts with unqualified; common in jobs and evaluations.
qualitative
Used in research and analysis; contrasts with quantitative; formal register.
quantitative
Common in science, economics, research; opposite of qualitative.
quasi
Used before nouns or attributively; often hyphenated; formal or technical contexts.
queasy
Common for physical nausea or discomfort; informal register.
queer
Has neutral and reclaimed identity sense; historically offensive in contexts—use with awareness.
querulous
Formal or literary; synonyms: petulant, complaining.
questionable
Widely used to signal doubt about facts, morals, or quality.
questioning
Describes looks, tones, or attitudes; common in everyday speech.
quick
Extremely common; used literally or figuratively (quick decision).
quickish
Informal variation of quick; colloquial and conversational.
quiet
Very common; used for sound, atmosphere, or demeanor.
quietish
Informal; used conversationally to soften absolute quiet.
quiescent
Formal or scientific contexts; synonyms: inactive, dormant.
quincuncial
Rare and technical; used in botany, design, and historical descriptions.
quinary
Rare; used in mathematics, classification, or historical contexts.
quintuple
Used in math and everyday counts; synonyms: fivefold.
quintessential
Common in praise or descriptions; synonyms: classic, typical.
quixotic
Used for romantic, impractical ideas; literary tone.
quirky
Informal/friendly; synonyms: eccentric, idiosyncratic.
quivering
Common participial adjective; describes motion or emotion.
quizzical
Used for expressions, looks, or tones; slightly humorous.
quondam
Archaic or literary; use in historical or stylized writing.
quotidian
Formal; used in literary or academic contexts for everyday routine.
quotable
Used for phrases, remarks, or passages worth repeating.
quadrate
Rare/formal; synonyms: square; appears in architecture or biology.
quadrilateral
Common in math and geometry; also used in design.
quadratic
Technical math term; common in algebra classes.
quadrupedal
Scientific/biological usage; contrasts with bipedal.
quadruple
Common in business, math, and everyday speech.
quadrennial
Used for events, cycles, or reports; formal tone.
quadrangular
Architectural and geometric term; formal.
qualmish
Informal; relates to nausea or moral unease.
quaffable
Used about beverages; informal to neutral.
quaky
Informal; often describes structures or sensations.
quarrelsome
Describes people or temperaments; synonyms: argumentative.
quantal
Technical physics term; formal and specialized.
quantum
Primarily technical in physics; often used attributively.
quaternary
Used in geology, classification, and formal contexts.
quenchless
Literary; used for strong passions or curiosity.
quartan
Medical or historical term; rare in everyday use.