This list includes 122 Adjectives that start with U, from “ubiquitous” to “uxorious”. These words range from common everyday descriptors to rarer, literary terms useful for writing, editing, and language learning.
Adjectives that start with U are single-word modifiers beginning with the letter U, used to describe nouns clearly. Many come from Latin roots, with “ubiquitous” a familiar example now common in everyday English.
Below you’ll find the table with Word, Definition, Example, and Register.
Word: The adjective itself in base form; you scan this column to find the exact word or check spelling quickly.
Definition: A concise one-line meaning that helps you grasp usage and choose the right adjective for your sentence.
Example: A short, natural sentence that shows how the adjective appears in context so you can use it.
Register: Notes on tone or formality—colloquial, formal, or archaic—so you pick appropriate language for your context.
Adjectives that start with U
| Word | POS_Register | Syllables | Synonym |
|---|---|---|---|
| ubiquitous | adjective; neutral | 4 | omnipresent |
| ubiquitousness | adjective; formal | 5 | omnipresence |
| ultimate | adjective; neutral | 3 | final |
| ultra | adjective; colloquial | 2 | extreme |
| ultramodern | adjective; neutral | 4 | cutting-edge |
| ultrasonic | adjective; formal | 4 | high-pitched |
| ultraviolet | adjective; neutral | 4 | UV |
| unable | adjective; neutral | 3 | incapable |
| unabashed | adjective; neutral | 3 | unashamed |
| unacceptable | adjective; formal | 5 | intolerable |
| unaccountable | adjective; formal | 5 | inexplicable |
| unaccustomed | adjective; neutral | 4 | unused |
| unafraid | adjective; neutral | 3 | fearless |
| unanimous | adjective; formal | 4 | united |
| unapologetic | adjective; neutral | 5 | defiant |
| unarmed | adjective; neutral | 2 | defenseless |
| unaware | adjective; neutral | 3 | ignorant |
| unauthorized | adjective; formal | 5 | illicit |
| unavailable | adjective; neutral | 4 | inaccessible |
| unavoidable | adjective; neutral | 4 | inescapable |
| unbalanced | adjective; neutral | 3 | asymmetric |
| uncertain | adjective; neutral | 3 | doubtful |
| uncivil | adjective; neutral | 3 | rude |
| uncharted | adjective; neutral | 3 | unexplored |
| unclear | adjective; neutral | 2 | vague |
| uncomfortable | adjective; neutral | 4 | uneasy |
| uncommon | adjective; neutral | 3 | rare |
| unconscious | adjective; formal | 3 | insensible |
| unconditional | adjective; formal | 5 | absolute |
| unconventional | adjective; neutral | 5 | unorthodox |
| uncovered | adjective; neutral | 3 | exposed |
| undeniable | adjective; formal | 4 | irrefutable |
| understated | adjective; neutral | 4 | subtle |
| undesirable | adjective; formal | 5 | unwelcome |
| undetermined | adjective; formal | 4 | unknown |
| underused | adjective; neutral | 3 | underutilized |
| underwhelming | adjective; neutral | 4 | disappointing |
| undoubted | adjective; formal | 3 | certain |
| uneasy | adjective; neutral | 3 | uncomfortable |
| unemployed | adjective; neutral | 4 | jobless |
| unequivocal | adjective; formal | 5 | clear |
| unending | adjective; neutral | 3 | ceaseless |
| unethical | adjective; formal | 4 | immoral |
| unexciting | adjective; neutral | 4 | boring |
| unfamiliar | adjective; neutral | 4 | unknown |
| unfazed | adjective; colloquial | 2 | untroubled |
| unfit | adjective; neutral | 2 | unsuitable |
| unforgettable | adjective; neutral | 5 | memorable |
| unfortunate | adjective; neutral | 4 | regrettable |
| unfriendly | adjective; neutral | 3 | hostile |
| ungainly | adjective; neutral | 3 | awkward |
| ungovernable | adjective; formal | 5 | unruly |
| unharmed | adjective; neutral | 2 | uninjured |
| unhealthy | adjective; neutral | 3 | unwell |
| unhurried | adjective; neutral | 3 | leisurely |
| unilateral | adjective; formal | 4 | one-sided |
| unimaginable | adjective; neutral | 5 | inconceivable |
| unimportant | adjective; neutral | 4 | insignificant |
| uninspired | adjective; neutral | 4 | stale |
| unique | adjective; neutral | 2 | distinctive |
| unified | adjective; formal | 3 | united |
| unilateralism | adjective; formal | 5 | single-sided |
| unimpeachable | adjective; formal | 5 | irreproachable |
| unintended | adjective; neutral | 4 | unplanned |
| uninterested | adjective; neutral | 4 | indifferent |
| unique | adjective; neutral | 2 | singular |
| unjust | adjective; neutral | 2 | unfair |
| unkempt | adjective; neutral | 2 | messy |
| unlawful | adjective; formal | 3 | illegal |
| unlike | adjective; neutral | 2 | different |
| unlikely | adjective; neutral | 3 | improbable |
| unlimited | adjective; neutral | 4 | boundless |
| unloved | adjective; neutral | 2 | neglected |
| unmistakable | adjective; formal | 5 | distinct |
| unnecessary | adjective; neutral | 5 | needless |
| unnatural | adjective; neutral | 4 | artificial |
| unobtrusive | adjective; formal | 4 | discreet |
| unorthodox | adjective; neutral | 4 | unconventional |
| unpaid | adjective; neutral | 2 | voluntary |
| unparalleled | adjective; formal | 5 | unequaled |
| unpleasant | adjective; neutral | 3 | disagreeable |
| unprecedented | adjective; formal | 5 | unparalleled |
| unpredictable | adjective; neutral | 5 | erratic |
| unprepared | adjective; neutral | 3 | ill-equipped |
| unproductive | adjective; neutral | 4 | inefficient |
| unprotected | adjective; neutral | 4 | vulnerable |
| unrestricted | adjective; neutral | 4 | free |
| unruly | adjective; neutral | 3 | disorderly |
| unsanitary | adjective; neutral | 4 | unsanitary |
| unsightly | adjective; neutral | 3 | ugly |
| unsophisticated | adjective; neutral | 5 | primitive |
| unstable | adjective; neutral | 3 | volatile |
| unstoppable | adjective; neutral | 4 | invincible |
| unsuccessful | adjective; neutral | 4 | failed |
| unsuitable | adjective; neutral | 4 | inappropriate |
| unsure | adjective; neutral | 2 | uncertain |
| unsung | adjective; neutral | 2 | unrecognized |
| unswerving | adjective; formal | 3 | steadfast |
| untidy | adjective; neutral | 3 | messy |
| untimely | adjective; neutral | 3 | inopportune |
| untouched | adjective; neutral | 2 | pristine |
| untrained | adjective; neutral | 2 | inexperienced |
| untrue | adjective; neutral | 2 | false |
| unused | adjective; neutral | 2 | unused |
| unusual | adjective; neutral | 3 | odd |
| unwieldy | adjective; neutral | 3 | cumbersome |
| unwise | adjective; neutral | 2 | foolish |
| unwonted | adjective; archaic | 3 | unusual |
| upbeat | adjective; colloquial | 2 | optimistic |
| upright | adjective; neutral | 2 | honest |
| upset | adjective; neutral | 2 | distressed |
| upstanding | adjective; formal | 3 | honorable |
| urban | adjective; neutral | 2 | city |
| urbane | adjective; formal | 2 | suave |
| urgent | adjective; neutral | 2 | pressing |
| usable | adjective; neutral | 3 | functional |
| useful | adjective; neutral | 2 | helpful |
| useless | adjective; neutral | 2 | worthless |
| utopian | adjective; neutral | 3 | idealistic |
| utmost | adjective; formal | 2 | greatest |
| utter | adjective; neutral | 2 | complete |
| uxorious | adjective; formal | 4 | dotingly |
Descriptions
ubiquitous
Found everywhere or very common; The smartphone is ubiquitous, appearing in nearly every pocket.
ubiquitousness
(Note: rarely used adjective form) Present everywhere; Her ubiquitousness is felt across the organization.
ultimate
Last or most important; The ultimate decision rests with the board.
ultra
Extremely or beyond the usual degree (colloquial); He favors ultra-conservative policies.
ultramodern
Very modern or up-to-date; The ultramodern kitchen impressed visitors.
ultrasonic
Relating to sound above human hearing; Ultrasonic cleaners remove tiny particles effectively.
ultraviolet
Relating to electromagnetic radiation beyond violet light; She wore sunglasses blocking ultraviolet rays.
unable
Not able to do something; He was unable to attend the meeting.
unabashed
Not ashamed or apologetic; She gave an unabashed defense of her choices.
unacceptable
Not satisfactory or allowable; The committee found the proposal unacceptable.
unaccountable
Not able to be explained or justified; The sudden outage was unaccountable.
unaccustomed
Not familiar with or used to; She felt unaccustomed to the cold weather.
unafraid
Not afraid; He approached the challenge unafraid.
unanimous
Fully in agreement; The vote was unanimous among members.
unapologetic
Not showing regret; He remained unapologetic about his remarks.
unarmed
Not carrying weapons; The protest was mostly unarmed.
unaware
Not conscious or informed of something; She was unaware of the deadline.
unauthorized
Not officially permitted; Access to the area was unauthorized.
unavailable
Not present or obtainable; The product is currently unavailable.
unavoidable
Impossible to avoid; Traffic made the delay unavoidable.
unbalanced
Not stable or fair; The report showed an unbalanced budget.
uncertain
Not sure or fixed; The outcome remains uncertain.
uncivil
Impolite or discourteous; His uncivil remark halted the conversation.
uncharted
Not previously mapped or explored; They sailed into uncharted waters.
unclear
Not easily understood; The instructions were unclear.
uncomfortable
Causing physical or emotional unease; The chair felt uncomfortable after an hour.
uncommon
Not often encountered; This species is uncommon in the area.
unconscious
Not awake or aware; The athlete was unconscious after the collision.
unconditional
Not subject to any conditions; They offered unconditional support.
unconventional
Not based on tradition; Her unconventional ideas generated interest.
uncovered
Not covered or hidden; The investigation uncovered hidden fees.
undeniable
Impossible to deny; The evidence was undeniable.
understated
Presented with restraint; The design is elegant and understated.
undesirable
Not wanted or approved; That side effect is undesirable.
undetermined
Not yet decided or established; The cause remains undetermined.
underused
Not used as much as it could be; The feature is underused by customers.
underwhelming
Failing to impress; The sequel was widely underwhelming.
undoubted
Not in doubt; She is an undoubted leader in the field.
uneasy
Feeling worried or uncomfortable; He grew uneasy about the silence.
unemployed
Without paid work; Many graduates entered an unemployed job market.
unequivocal
Leaving no doubt; The CEO gave an unequivocal denial.
unending
Continuing without stopping; They faced an unending stream of questions.
unethical
Violating moral principles; The practice was widely viewed as unethical.
unexciting
Not interesting or thrilling; The lecture proved unexciting to many.
unfamiliar
Not known or recognized; The route was unfamiliar to drivers.
unfazed
Not disturbed or affected; She remained unfazed by criticism.
unfit
Not suitable or healthy; The old equipment was unfit for use.
unforgettable
Impossible to forget; It was an unforgettable performance.
unfortunate
Having bad outcomes; It was an unfortunate accident.
unfriendly
Not friendly; The clerk gave an unfriendly response.
ungainly
Moving awkwardly or clumsily; The new puppy was ungainly on the stairs.
ungovernable
Impossible to control; The protest became ungovernable.
unharmed
Not injured or damaged; Fortunately, everyone emerged unharmed.
unhealthy
Bad for health; A diet high in sugar is unhealthy.
unhurried
Not rushed; He took an unhurried stroll through the park.
unilateral
Done by one side only; The country made a unilateral decision.
unimaginable
Impossible to imagine; The scale of the disaster was unimaginable.
unimportant
Not significant; The detail seemed unimportant to the report.
uninspired
Lacking creativity or energy; The design felt uninspired.
unique
One of a kind; Her perspective was unique among the group.
unified
Made into a whole; The team presented a unified front.
unilateralism
(Rare adjectival use) Relating to unilateral action; The policy reflected unilateralism.
unimpeachable
Cannot be doubted or discredited; Her integrity was unimpeachable.
unintended
Not planned or meant; The consequence was unintended.
uninterested
Not interested; He appeared uninterested in the offer.
unique
Being the only one of its kind; This artifact is unique.
unjust
Not fair or morally wrong; The decision seemed unjust to many.
unkempt
Untidy in appearance; His hair looked unkempt after the trip.
unlawful
Against the law; The sale was declared unlawful.
unlike
Not similar; Her style is unlike her peers’.
unlikely
Not likely to happen; It seems unlikely they’ll arrive on time.
unlimited
Without limits; The plan offered unlimited access.
unloved
Not loved or appreciated; The old house felt unloved.
unmistakable
Impossible to mistake; His handwriting was unmistakable.
unnecessary
Not needed; The extra steps seemed unnecessary.
unnatural
Not occurring naturally; The pose looked unnatural in the photo.
unobtrusive
Not attracting attention; The decoration is tasteful and unobtrusive.
unorthodox
Not conforming to tradition; She took an unorthodox approach to teaching.
unpaid
Not paid; Many interns perform unpaid work.
unparalleled
Having no equal; Her achievements were unparalleled.
unpleasant
Causing discomfort or displeasure; The odor was unpleasant.
unprecedented
Never done or known before; The crisis led to unprecedented measures.
unpredictable
Not able to be predicted; The weather remained unpredictable.
unprepared
Not ready; They were unprepared for the exam.
unproductive
Not producing desired results; The meeting was unproductive.
unprotected
Not protected; The data was unprotected on the server.
unrestricted
Not limited; The service offers unrestricted access.
unruly
Difficult to control; The crowd grew unruly after midnight.
unsanitary
Not clean or hygienic; The kitchen was found unsanitary.
unsightly
Unpleasant to look at; The billboard was unsightly in the town square.
unsophisticated
Lacking refinement or complexity; The interface is unsophisticated but functional.
unstable
Not steady or secure; The ladder felt unstable.
unstoppable
Impossible to stop; The team’s momentum seemed unstoppable.
unsuccessful
Not achieving the desired result; The campaign was ultimately unsuccessful.
unsuitable
Not appropriate or fitting; The attire was unsuitable for the event.
unsure
Not confident or certain; She sounded unsure about the date.
unsung
Not celebrated or praised; The unsung heroes worked behind the scenes.
unswerving
Firm and not changing; He showed unswerving loyalty.
untidy
Not neat; The room was untidy after the party.
untimely
Occurring at an inconvenient time; His arrival was untimely.
untouched
Not touched or affected; The manuscript remained untouched for decades.
untrained
Not trained for a role; The volunteer was untrained in first aid.
untrue
Not true; The rumor proved untrue.
unused
Not used; The equipment sat unused in storage.
unusual
Not common or ordinary; The pattern is unusual for the region.
unwieldy
Hard to handle because of size or shape; The package was unwieldy.
unwise
Not wise; It was an unwise investment.
unwonted
Not usual or customary (archaic); He displayed unwonted patience.
upbeat
Cheerful and positive; The team stayed upbeat despite setbacks.
upright
Vertical or morally honest; He kept a reputation for being upright.
upset
Emotionally disturbed; She was upset by the news.
upstanding
Having high moral standards; He’s regarded as an upstanding citizen.
urban
Relating to a city; Urban development is on the rise.
urbane
Polished, courteous (formal); His urbane manner charmed guests.
urgent
Requiring immediate attention; The doctor received an urgent call.
usable
Able to be used; The interface is usable on phones.
useful
Providing utility or benefit; This tool is very useful.
useless
Not able to serve a purpose; The broken pen is useless.
utopian
Relating to an ideal but impractical society; He described a utopian vision.
utmost
Of the greatest degree; She showed the utmost patience.
utter
Complete or absolute; The attempt was an utter failure.
uxorious
Excessively submissive to a wife (formal); He was considered uxorious by some neighbors.