This list includes 70 Adjectives that start with S, from “sad” to “systematic”. Many are common single-word base adjectives that describe feeling, appearance, size, and manner. You can use these words for writing, editing, vocabulary study, and ESL practice.
Adjectives that start with S are single-word modifiers that describe nouns by quality, appearance, or feeling. As a small cultural note, English poets often use soft “s” sounds to create subtle rhythm with S-adjectives.
Below you’ll find the table with Word, Definition, Example, and Register.
Word: Contains the adjective in its base form so you can copy, search, or recognize it quickly.
Definition: Gives a concise one-line meaning so you immediately understand common usage.
Example: Offers a short natural sentence showing how the adjective fits in real writing or speech.
Register: Notes when a word is formal, colloquial, or archaic so you can choose an appropriate tone.
Adjectives that start with S
| Adjective | Synonyms | Frequency (per million) | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| sad | unhappy, sorrowful, downcast | 6.50 | neutral |
| safe | secure, protected, sound | 8.20 | neutral |
| same | identical, equal, unchanged | 45.00 | neutral |
| scarce | rare, limited, sparse | 0.90 | formal |
| scary | frightening, spooky, alarming | 0.40 | colloquial |
| scientific | academic, empirical, methodological | 3.00 | formal |
| seasonal | periodic, cyclic, periodic | 1.20 | neutral |
| secondary | lesser, subordinate, ancillary | 2.50 | formal |
| secret | private, hidden, confidential | 4.80 | neutral |
| secure | safe, stable, protected | 2.10 | neutral |
| selective | choosy, discriminating, particular | 0.60 | formal |
| selfish | self-centered, egoistic, inconsiderate | 0.70 | colloquial |
| sensitive | responsive, delicate, touchy | 3.50 | neutral |
| sensible | practical, reasonable, prudent | 1.40 | neutral |
| serious | grave, solemn, earnest | 7.80 | neutral |
| severe | harsh, intense, extreme | 2.20 | formal |
| shy | timid, reserved, bashful | 0.80 | neutral |
| short | brief, small, concise | 20.00 | neutral |
| simple | easy, plain, uncomplicated | 12.00 | neutral |
| similar | alike, comparable, resembling | 6.00 | neutral |
| sincere | honest, genuine, heartfelt | 0.60 | formal |
| single | one, lone, individual | 10.00 | neutral |
| social | communal, public, sociable | 14.00 | neutral |
| special | distinctive, particular, unique | 9.50 | neutral |
| specific | particular, precise, definite | 7.00 | formal |
| spectacular | impressive, striking, amazing | 0.50 | colloquial |
| spacious | roomy, capacious, expansive | 0.30 | neutral |
| spicy | piquant, hot, flavorful | 0.40 | neutral |
| spiritual | religious, soulful, devotional | 0.80 | neutral |
| spontaneous | impulsive, unplanned, automatic | 0.60 | neutral |
| sporty | athletic, active, fit | 0.20 | colloquial |
| stable | steady, secure, constant | 2.80 | neutral |
| stagnant | inactive, motionless, stale | 0.10 | formal |
| standard | typical, normal, accepted | 9.00 | neutral |
| steep | sharp, abrupt, sheer | 0.90 | neutral |
| sticky | adhesive, tacky, gooey | 1.10 | neutral |
| stiff | rigid, inflexible, firm | 0.60 | neutral |
| strict | rigorous, exacting, stern | 2.00 | neutral |
| strong | powerful, sturdy, robust | 18.00 | neutral |
| structural | architectural, constructional, formative | 1.50 | technical |
| subjective | personal, biased, individual | 0.50 | formal |
| substantial | considerable, sizable, significant | 1.70 | formal |
| subtle | delicate, understated, nuanced | 1.90 | neutral |
| successful | prosperous, victorious, thriving | 5.50 | neutral |
| sufficient | adequate, enough, ample | 1.20 | formal |
| suitable | appropriate, fitting, proper | 1.10 | neutral |
| sunny | bright, cheerful, clear | 1.00 | neutral |
| superior | better, higher, finer | 1.00 | formal |
| suspicious | doubtful, wary, questionable | 0.90 | neutral |
| symbolic | representative, emblematic, figurative | 0.30 | formal |
| systematic | methodical, organized, orderly | 0.60 | formal |
| sympathetic | compassionate, understanding, supportive | 0.80 | neutral |
| synthetic | man-made, artificial, fabricated | 0.50 | technical |
| shallow | superficial, slight, empty | 0.70 | neutral |
| sharp | keen, acute, incisive | 4.00 | neutral |
| shiny | glossy, lustrous, polished | 0.60 | neutral |
| smooth | even, sleek, calm | 2.50 | neutral |
| smart | clever, stylish, bright | 6.50 | neutral |
| sour | acidic, tart, puckering | 0.40 | neutral |
| steady | stable, constant, reliable | 1.10 | neutral |
| stern | strict, severe, austere | 0.30 | formal |
| sterile | sanitary, aseptic, barren | 0.40 | technical |
| salty | briny, saline, savory | 0.20 | colloquial |
| savory | tasty, flavorful, piquant | 0.10 | neutral |
| skeptical | doubtful, doubtful, incredulous | 0.60 | neutral |
| sleepy | drowsy, tired, somnolent | 0.30 | neutral |
| slim | thin, slender, slight | 0.50 | neutral |
| slippery | slick, unstable, treacherous | 0.20 | neutral |
| sloppy | messy, untidy, careless | 0.30 | colloquial |
| slow | unhurried, sluggish, gradual | 8.00 | neutral |
Descriptions
sad
feeling sorrowful or unhappy – She felt sad after reading the letter.
safe
free from harm or danger – Keep valuables in a safe place.
same
not different; exactly alike or unchanged – We wore the same jacket today.
scarce
occurring in short supply or hard to find – Fresh water was scarce in the desert.
scary
causing fear or alarm – The movie was too scary for kids.
scientific
relating to science or systematic study – She published a scientific paper on enzymes.
seasonal
linked to or recurring each season – Seasonal allergies flare in spring.
secondary
coming after primary in rank or importance – This is a secondary concern for now.
secret
kept hidden or known by few – They shared a secret plan.
secure
free from danger or reliably protected – The account is secure with two-factor login.
selective
carefully choosing only certain items or people – The school is very selective about applicants.
selfish
concerned excessively with oneself – His selfish behavior upset his friends.
sensitive
easily affected by external influences or emotions – Be sensitive when giving criticism.
sensible
showing good judgment or practicality – It was a sensible decision to save money.
serious
not playful; important or severe in nature – She spoke in a serious tone.
severe
very great; causing strong effect or hardship – The storm caused severe damage.
shy
reluctant to draw attention; timid – He stayed quiet because he’s shy.
short
measuring little length or duration – The meeting was short and efficient.
simple
not complex; easy to understand or do – The recipe is simple to follow.
similar
having a resemblance or likeness to something – Their ideas are quite similar.
sincere
free from pretense or deceit; genuine – Her apology sounded sincere.
single
consisting of one unit; not multiple – He lives in a single-room apartment.
social
relating to society or interaction with others – Social events help people connect.
special
different from usual; noteworthy or exceptional – This is a special occasion.
specific
clearly defined or identified; precise – Give specific examples in your essay.
spectacular
visually impressive or dramatic – The fireworks display was spectacular.
spacious
having ample space; roomy – Their new apartment is very spacious.
spicy
flavored with or containing spice; hot-tasting – The curry is spicy but delicious.
spiritual
relating to religion or the spirit rather than the body – She seeks spiritual guidance at the retreat.
spontaneous
occurring without premeditation; unplanned – They took a spontaneous weekend trip.
sporty
relating to or suitable for sports or athletic activity – He prefers sporty cars with good handling.
stable
firmly established and unlikely to change suddenly – The patient’s condition is now stable.
stagnant
showing no activity or development; stale – The economy remained stagnant for years.
standard
widely used or accepted as a norm – Meet the standard requirements before applying.
steep
rising or falling sharply; costly or difficult – The hill was too steep to climb.
sticky
tending to stick to surfaces; difficult to remove – The label was very sticky.
stiff
not easily bent or moved; rigid – His muscles felt stiff after exercise.
strict
enforcing rules or standards firmly – The teacher is strict about homework.
strong
having great physical or metaphorical strength – She gave a strong performance.
structural
relating to the arrangement or construction of something – They inspected structural damage after the quake.
subjective
based on personal feelings or opinions rather than facts – His view was highly subjective.
substantial
large in amount, importance, or size – They made a substantial donation to charity.
subtle
not obvious; requiring careful perception – The changes were subtle but meaningful.
successful
having achieved desired aims or favorable results – The campaign was highly successful.
sufficient
having as much as is needed for a purpose – We have sufficient funds to proceed.
suitable
right or appropriate for a particular purpose or person – That outfit is suitable for work.
sunny
filled with sunlight; cheerful in mood – It was a sunny afternoon at the park.
superior
higher in rank, quality, or status – She delivered a superior performance.
suspicious
inclined to suspect; arousing mistrust – His story sounded suspicious to the detective.
symbolic
standing for or representing something else – The dove is symbolic of peace.
systematic
done according to a fixed plan or system – Conduct a systematic review of literature.
sympathetic
showing care or understanding for others’ feelings – She was sympathetic toward his situation.
synthetic
made by chemical or artificial processes, not natural – The fabric is synthetic and dries quickly.
shallow
not deep; lacking depth of thought or feeling – Keep discussions deeper than shallow topics.
sharp
having a fine edge or clear distinction; intense – He gave a sharp reply.
shiny
reflecting light; bright and smooth in appearance – Her shoes were shiny and new.
smooth
having an even surface or uninterrupted flow – The road was smooth all the way.
smart
intelligent or well-dressed; neatly stylish – She looked smart in a tailored suit.
sour
having an acid taste; unpleasantly sharp – The milk had gone sour overnight.
steady
firmly fixed; not changing or wavering – Keep a steady pace while running.
stern
serious and unrelenting in manner or judgment – The coach gave a stern warning.
sterile
free from bacteria; without life or creativity – The lab must remain sterile at all times.
salty
tasting of or containing salt – The soup was a bit too salty.
savory
pleasantly flavored but not sweet; appetizing – I prefer savory over sweet snacks.
skeptical
having doubts or reserving judgment – I’m skeptical of that claim without evidence.
sleepy
ready to sleep or inducing sleepiness – The room made everyone feel sleepy.
slim
slender in build or likelihood; small chance – There’s a slim chance of rain today.
slippery
causing things to slide easily; unsteady – The floor was slippery after the spill.
sloppy
untidy or lacking care and precision – His notes were sloppy and hard to read.
slow
moving at low speed or delayed in action – Traffic was slow during rush hour.