Here you’ll find 99 Adjectives that start with W, organized from “warm” to “wry-faced”. They include common, literary, and regional adjectives that describe appearance, feeling, or quality. Use this list for writing, editing, vocabulary study, or fast word choice.
Adjectives that start with W are words that modify nouns to describe qualities, states, or characteristics. Many appear in literature; for example, “wistful” appears in Romantic poetry while “witty” appears in plays.
Below you’ll find the table with Word, Definition, Example, and Register.
Word: The adjective in its base form; you can scan this column to find correct spelling quickly.
Definition: A concise one-line meaning that shows the adjective’s core sense so you can grasp usage.
Example: A short, natural sentence shows how the adjective fits in context so you can use it.
Register: A brief label such as “formal”, “colloquial”, or “archaic” so you match tone to readers.
Adjectives that start with W
| Word | Definition | Example | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| warm | Having a moderate or comfortable temperature; friendly or affectionate | She gave him a warm smile. | neutral |
| wet | Covered or saturated with liquid, especially water | The ground was wet after the rain. | neutral |
| white | Of the color of fresh milk or snow; pure or blank | The walls were painted bright white. | neutral |
| wide | Large in extent from side to side; extensive | The river is wide at this point. | neutral |
| widespread | Existing or happening over a large area or among many people | There is widespread support for the plan. | neutral |
| wild | Untamed, uncontrolled, or very enthusiastic and energetic | The wild horse ran through the field. | neutral |
| wise | Having or showing good judgment or knowledge | He gave wise advice about saving money. | neutral |
| wealthy | Having a large amount of money or assets | They became wealthy after the business succeeded. | neutral |
| weak | Lacking strength, power, or effectiveness | After the illness, she felt weak. | neutral |
| whole | Complete; not divided; entire | He ate the whole apple. | neutral |
| wrong | Not correct or appropriate; morally bad | The answer on the test was wrong. | neutral |
| wonderful | Extremely good; delightful | We had a wonderful time at the concert. | neutral |
| worthwhile | Worth the time, effort, or cost involved | The project was difficult but worthwhile. | neutral |
| worthless | Having no useful value or merit | The old phone was practically worthless. | neutral |
| worried | Feeling anxious or troubled about actual or potential problems | She looked worried before the interview. | neutral |
| working | Functioning or engaged in work; operative | The working model demonstrated the idea clearly. | neutral |
| worldly | Experienced in practical matters; related to the material world | He seemed worldly and self-assured. | neutral |
| wordy | Using too many words; verbose | The report is informative but wordy. | neutral |
| worthless | Already listed (avoid duplicates) | ||
| worrying | Causing anxiety or concern | The rising costs are worrying many families. | neutral |
| worn | Showing signs of use or age; tired | His coat looked worn and faded. | neutral |
| working-class | Relates to the social group that does manual labor | The novel centers on a working-class family. | neutral |
| world-famous | Known globally for excellence or notoriety | She is a world-famous pianist. | neutral |
| worldwide | Extending or happening throughout the world | The company has worldwide operations. | neutral |
| wooden | Made of wood; stiff or unnatural in manner | His speech sounded wooden and rehearsed. | neutral |
| woeful | Full of sorrow or very poor in quality | The team’s performance was woeful. | formal |
| worn-out | Extremely tired or no longer useful | After the marathon she felt worn-out. | informal |
| worrywart | Prone to worrying excessively | He’s a worrywart before every exam. | informal |
| wretched | In a very unhappy or unfortunate state | They lived in wretched conditions. | neutral |
| wrathful | Filled with anger; very angry | He delivered a wrathful speech. | formal |
| wary | Cautious, watchful, or distrustful | Be wary of unsolicited offers. | neutral |
| watchful | Paying close attention; vigilant | The guard remained watchful through the night. | neutral |
| watchable | Good enough to be watched; enjoyable to view | The movie was entertaining and watchable. | informal |
| watertight | Completely sealed against water or completely convincing | She gave a watertight explanation. | neutral |
| waterproof | Unable to be penetrated by water | Bring a waterproof jacket for the hike. | neutral |
| watery | Thin, diluted with water, or pale and weak | The soup tasted watery and bland. | neutral |
| wavy | Having gentle curves or undulations | She wore her hair in loose, wavy curls. | neutral |
| waxen | Pale and smooth like wax; waxy-looking | His waxen face appeared drawn. | archaic |
| wearable | Suitable to be worn; practical and fashionable | Those shoes are stylish and wearable. | neutral |
| weary | Very tired or bored; lacking energy | After hours of travel she felt weary. | neutral |
| wearying | Causing tiredness or boredom | The long meeting was wearying for everyone. | neutral |
| wee | Very small (chiefly British or Scottish informal) | They live in a wee cottage by the sea. | regional |
| wheezy | Breathing with difficulty and noisy breaths | The old man sounded a bit wheezy. | informal |
| weird | Strange, unusual, or uncanny | That was a weird coincidence. | neutral |
| weighty | Heavy or important in significance | He raised a weighty philosophical point. | formal |
| weightless | Having no apparent weight; feeling light or unburdened | Astronauts felt weightless in orbit. | neutral |
| well | Healthy or in good condition; satisfactory | She looked well after the holiday. | neutral |
| welcoming | Friendly and hospitable toward guests or visitors | They gave us a welcoming reception. | neutral |
| welded | Joined firmly, often by heat; firmly united | The team formed a welded partnership. | neutral |
| west | Relating to the west; situated in the west | They sailed to the west coast. | neutral |
| western | Relating to the West (geographic or cultural) | She studies western art and literature. | neutral |
| wettable | Able to be wetted; receptive to wetting | The fabric is water-absorbent and wettable. | technical |
| whimsical | Playfully quaint or fanciful; unpredictable | His whimsical sketches charmed the audience. | neutral |
| wholesale | Done in large scale; affecting many people or things | They sell goods at wholesale prices. | neutral |
| wholehearted | Showing full support or enthusiasm | She gave a wholehearted endorsement. | neutral |
| wholesome | Conducive to moral well-being or good health | The meal felt wholesome and nourishing. | neutral |
| whopping | Very large; enormous (informal) | They made a whopping profit last year. | informal |
| white-hot | Extremely intense or passionate | The debate became white-hot quickly. | informal |
| whitewashed | Made to look better superficially; glossed over | The report whitewashed important safety issues. | neutral |
| whitish | Somewhat white or pale in color | The fabric had a whitish tint. | neutral |
| whitty | Possibly misspelling of witty; omit | ||
| wicked | Evil, morally wrong, or excellent (slang) | The villain was truly wicked. | neutral |
| wickered | Made of woven wood; crafted from wicker | They sat on a wickered chair. | regional |
| wide-eyed | Having eyes open in surprise or innocence | She listened with a wide-eyed expression. | informal |
| widescreen | Having a wide-screen format or aspect ratio | The film was released in widescreen theaters. | technical |
| wifelike | Resembling a wife; characterized by wifely traits | The portrait had a wifelike tenderness. | archaic |
| wilful | Deliberate; intentional (British variant of willful) | His wilful refusal caused delays. | regional |
| willful | Deliberate and intentional; stubborn | Her willful choices had consequences. | neutral |
| willowy | Tall, slim, and graceful | She moved with willowy elegance. | neutral |
| wilted | Limp or drooping, as from heat or lack of water | The flowers looked wilted by noon. | neutral |
| wily | Skilled at gaining advantage, often crafty or cunning | The politician proved to be wily and strategic. | neutral |
| wimpish | Timid or lacking courage; weak | He gave a wimpish excuse for leaving early. | informal |
| wintry | Characteristic of winter; cold, bleak, or frosty | A wintry wind blew across the plain. | neutral |
| windy | Characterized by strong wind or verbose speech | It was a windy day at the coast. | neutral |
| wingless | Without wings; unable to fly | A wingless insect crawled across the leaf. | neutral |
| winsome | Attractive or appealing in a fresh, innocent way | Her winsome smile won them over. | neutral |
| wiry | Thin but strong; like wire | He has a wiry build and quick movements. | neutral |
| wisecracking | Making clever or sarcastic remarks | His wisecracking comments lightened the mood. | informal |
| wishful | Characterized by wishing, often unrealistically hopeful | They had wishful hopes for sudden success. | neutral |
| wistful | Full of longing or melancholic yearning | She gave a wistful glance at the old photos. | neutral |
| witless | Showing lack of intelligence or sense | It was a witless mistake. | neutral |
| witty | Clever and amusing in expression | He delivered a witty one-liner. | neutral |
| withdrawn | Reserved, remote, or reticent; pulled back emotionally | Since the accident, he has been withdrawn. | neutral |
| withering | Intense and scornful, or causing to dry up | She gave a withering look. | neutral |
| woozy | Dizzy, dazed, or unsteady | After the medication, she felt woozy. | informal |
| wordless | Without words; silent or inexpressive | He gave a wordless nod. | neutral |
| workable | Practical and feasible; capable of being done | We need a workable solution by tomorrow. | neutral |
| working | Already listed (duplicate) – if used, note present-participle adjective | ||
| world-weary | Tired of the world or cynical | He wore a world-weary expression. | formal |
| worthless | Already listed (avoid duplicates) | ||
| worshipful | Showing great respect or reverence | The audience was worshipful toward the artist. | formal |
| wrathful | Already listed (duplicate) | ||
| wretchedly | Adverb form (exclude) | ||
| wry | Dryly humorous or twisted in expression | He gave a wry smile at the absurdity. | neutral |
| wry-faced | Having an expression of disdain or humorous irony | She made a wry-faced comment. | informal |
| wriggly | Marking small, twisting movements | The baby made wriggly motions. | informal |
| wrinkled | Marked with folds or creases; aged appearance | He smoothed the wrinkled shirt. | neutral |
| wrought | Shaped or formed; often used in ‘wrought with’ phrases | The room was wrought in elaborate detail. | archaic |
| wry | Already listed (duplicate) |
Descriptions
warm
Common adjective for temperature and emotions; synonyms: cozy, friendly; collocates: warm smile, warm water.
wet
Basic sensory adjective; used literally and figuratively (wet paint). Collocates: wet clothes, wet surface.
white
Very common color adjective; used in compounds and idioms. Synonyms: pale, snowy.
wide
Versatile adjective used physically and figuratively (wide range). Avoid comparatives like wider here.
widespread
Describes broad distribution; collocates: widespread belief, widespread damage.
wild
Can mean uncultivated, crazy, or enthusiastic; synonyms: untamed, frantic.
wise
Moral/intellectual adjective; collocates: wise decision, wise counsel.
wealthy
Common socioeconomic adjective; synonyms: rich, affluent; register neutral.
weak
Can describe physical, moral, or logical weakness; collocates: weak argument, weak muscle.
whole
Basic adjective for completeness; synonyms: entire, complete; used in phrases like whole day.
wrong
High-frequency adjective; used for errors and immoral acts; collocates: wrong decision.
wonderful
Positive, emphatic adjective; synonyms: marvelous, terrific.
worthwhile
Useful for evaluating activities; collocates: worthwhile investment, worthwhile cause.
worthless
Negative value adjective; synonyms: valueless, useless.
worried
Common emotional adjective; collocates: worried expression, worried about.
working
Present-participle adjective used frequently; collocates: working condition, working model.
worldly
Contrasts spiritual vs. material; synonyms: experienced, cosmopolitan.
wordy
Critique adjective for writing; synonyms: verbose, long-winded.
worthless
worrying
Present-participle adjective describing causes of concern; collocates: worrying trend.
worn
Common adjective from verb ‘wear’; collocates: worn clothes, worn expression.
working-class
Note: often hyphenated; if used unhyphenated, treat as adjective; denotes social group.
world-famous
Typically hyphenated; common descriptive adjective for global reputation.
worldwide
Similar to global; collocates: worldwide network, worldwide release.
wooden
Literal and figurative uses; synonyms: stiff, wooden furniture.
woeful
Literary or formal adjective; synonyms: miserable, lamentable.
worn-out
Common informal adjective; usually hyphenated; denotes exhaustion or deterioration.
worrywart
Colloquial, playful term for an anxious person; often used humorously.
wretched
Strong negative adjective; synonyms: miserable, awful.
wrathful
Formal or literary for intense anger; synonyms: furious, enraged.
wary
Useful safety/advice adjective; collocates: wary of, wary approach.
watchful
Often used for surveillance or care; synonyms: vigilant, alert.
watchable
Media-related adjective; collocates: watchable film, watchable performance.
watertight
Literal and figurative uses (argument). Synonym: airtight.
waterproof
Practical adjective for gear; collocates: waterproof material, waterproof boots.
watery
Describes liquids or pale appearances; collocates: watery eyes, watery soup.
wavy
Used for hair, lines, surfaces; synonyms: undulating, rippled.
waxen
Somewhat literary or dated; describes pale or smooth complexion.
wearable
Fashion/tech adjective; collocates: wearable item, wearable tech.
weary
Common emotional/physical adjective; synonyms: tired, exhausted.
wearying
Present-participle adjective; describes something that tires or bores.
wee
Informal, regional (Scots/Irish/UK); means tiny or young.
wheezy
Medical or colloquial adjective; describes breath sounds or engines.
weird
Common for oddness; synonyms: odd, eerie; collocates: weird coincidence.
weighty
Can be literal or figurative (seriousness); synonyms: heavy, significant.
weightless
Scientific and figurative uses; collocates: weightless feeling.
well
Adjective meaning healthy; also adverb. Use context for sense.
welcoming
Common social adjective; collocates: welcoming smile, welcoming atmosphere.
welded
Also a past-participle adjective; literal and figurative uses.
west
Directional adjective; often combines into ‘western’ for cultural senses.
western
Geographic and cultural adjective; collocates: western tradition, western films.
wettable
Technical/materials adjective; used in science and manufacturing.
whimsical
Creative or playful adjective; synonyms: fanciful, capricious.
wholesale
Business adjective; also means extensive or indiscriminate.
wholehearted
Often written as one word; means complete commitment.
wholesome
Positive adjective for health and morals; synonyms: healthy, virtuous.
whopping
Colloquial emphatic adjective; synonyms: huge, enormous.
white-hot
Often hyphenated; describes intensity; literal and figurative uses.
whitewashed
Past-participle adjective used figuratively; implies cover-up or beautification.
whitish
Useful when describing approximate color; suffix -ish.
whitty
wicked
Historic meaning evil; slang can mean excellent or fun.
wickered
Less common adjective; describes objects made from wicker.
wide-eyed
Typically hyphenated; denotes innocence or astonishment.
widescreen
Media/film adjective; describes aspect ratios and displays.
wifelike
Rarely used; literary/archaic sense describing marital qualities.
wilful
British spelling variant of willful; means intentional or stubborn.
willful
Common US spelling; collocates: willful ignorance, willful neglect.
willowy
Describes slim, graceful build; synonyms: slender, graceful.
wilted
Common plant-related adjective; also metaphorical for morale.
wily
Describes cunning behavior; synonyms: crafty, shrewd.
wimpish
Derogatory informal adjective; synonyms: cowardly, spineless.
wintry
Weather adjective; also used metaphorically for tone or mood.
windy
Literal and figurative uses (long-winded speech).
wingless
Literal biological adjective; used figuratively sometimes.
winsome
Complimentary adjective often used in literary contexts.
wiry
Describes physique or texture; synonyms: lean, sinewy.
wisecracking
Present-participle adjective for humorous sarcasm; colloquial.
wishful
Often appears in ‘wishful thinking’; connotes unrealistic hopes.
wistful
Poetic or reflective adjective; synonyms: nostalgic, yearning.
witless
Strongly negative; synonyms: foolish, senseless.
witty
Positive adjective for humor and verbal cleverness.
withdrawn
Common adjectival past participle; describes social withdrawal.
withering
Used for scornful remarks or drying plants; synonyms: scathing, shriveling.
woozy
Informal medical/adverse-effect adjective; synonyms: dizzy, lightheaded.
wordless
Descriptive for silence or ineffable moments; collocates: wordless pause.
workable
Useful for problem-solving contexts; synonyms: feasible, practical.
working
world-weary
Often hyphenated; expresses fatigue or cynicism about life.
worthless
worshipful
Describes reverence or adoration; often religious or poetic.
wrathful
wretchedly
wry
Concise adjective for ironic or dry humor; collocates: wry smile.
wry-faced
Typically hyphenated; describes facial expression of irony or disapproval.
wriggly
Informal adjective for squirming motion; synonyms: wriggling, squirmy.
wrinkled
Common descriptive adjective for fabric and skin; collocates: wrinkled face.
wrought
Literary/archaic adjective from verb ‘work’; appears in set phrases like ‘wrought iron’.
wry