This list includes 88 Adjectives that start with T, from “tacit” to “tyrannical”. It gathers common and less-common single-word adjectives useful for vocabulary building, editing, ESL study, and creative writing.
Adjectives that start with T are single words that describe or modify nouns, giving qualities, measurements, or opinions. Many come from Latin, Old English, or French; for example, “terrific” once meant “causing terror” before gaining a positive sense.
Below you’ll find the table with ‘Adjective’, ‘Definition’, ‘Example’, and ‘Register’.
Adjective: Shows the word itself so you can quickly scan and select the exact adjective you need for your sentence or list.
Definition: Gives a concise meaning so you can understand the word’s basic sense and choose it correctly.
Example: Provides a short, natural sentence so you see real usage and can adapt the phrase for your writing.
Register: Notes formality or dialect so you know whether to use the adjective in casual, formal, or historical contexts.
Adjectives that start with T
| Adjective | Part of speech | Definition | Example sentence | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tacit | adjective | Understood without being said. | Their agreement was tacit and unspoken. | (formal/neutral) Common in formal writing to describe implied consent or understanding. |
| tactile | adjective | Relating to the sense of touch. | The sculpture has a tactile surface. | (neutral/formal) Used in design, art, and sensory descriptions; moderately common. |
| tactful | adjective | Showing sensitivity in dealing with others. | She gave a tactful reply to the criticism. | (neutral/formal) Frequent in social and professional contexts; polite tone. |
| tactless | adjective | Lacking sensitivity or diplomacy. | His tactless comment upset everyone. | (neutral/colloquial) Used to criticize blunt or rude remarks; common. |
| tacky | adjective | Cheap or in poor taste. | That souvenir looks a bit tacky. | (colloquial) Informal word for gaudy or low-quality items; common in everyday speech. |
| tall | adjective | Above average height. | He is tall for his age. | (neutral) Very common basic adjective for height; used in everyday language. |
| tame | adjective | Not wild; domesticated or unexciting. | The performance felt rather tame. | (neutral) Used for animals and figuratively for events or ideas. |
| tan | adjective (also noun) | Light brown color like sun-exposed skin. | She wore a tan jacket today. | (neutral) Common color adjective; also a noun and verb (to tan). |
| tangible | adjective | Able to be touched or clearly perceived. | There was tangible evidence of change. | (formal/neutral) Used in legal, business, and abstract contexts to mean real or concrete. |
| tangy | adjective | Sharp, pleasantly sour in taste. | The sauce has a tangy flavor. | (colloquial) Used for foods and drinks; moderately common. |
| tart | adjective | Sharp or sour in taste; sharp in manner. | The lemon pie is tart and bright. | (neutral) Culinary common adjective; also describes sharp remarks. |
| tasteful | adjective | Showing good aesthetic judgment. | The room is decorated in a tasteful style. | (neutral/formal) Used about design, fashion, and manners; positive connotation. |
| tasteless | adjective | Lacking good taste or flavor. | The joke was rude and tasteless. | (neutral) Critiques flavor or aesthetic judgement; common. |
| tasty | adjective | Pleasantly flavored; delicious. | That sandwich is really tasty. | (colloquial) Common for food reviews and casual speech. |
| taut | adjective | Pulled tight; very tense. | The rope was taut across the deck. | (neutral/formal) Used for physical tension and metaphorically for writing or plots. |
| tepid | adjective | Lukewarm; lacking enthusiasm. | His response was tepid at best. | (formal/neutral) Often used figuratively for reactions and literally for temperature. |
| tedious | adjective | Boring because of length or repetition. | Filling out forms is tedious work. | (neutral) Common to describe dull tasks or explanations. |
| teeming | adjective | Abundantly filled or overflowing. | The market was teeming with shoppers. | (neutral) Often used with “with”; common in descriptive writing. |
| teetotal | adjective | Abstaining completely from alcohol. | She is teetotal and avoids parties with alcohol. | (rare/colloquial) Mostly British usage; describes lifestyle choices. |
| teeny | adjective | Very small; tiny. | She wore a teeny hat at the party. | (colloquial) Informal, playful synonym of tiny; common in casual speech. |
| temporary | adjective | Lasting for a limited time. | This job is temporary for six months. | (neutral) Widely used in work, contracts, and descriptions of duration. |
| tempting | adjective | Appealing or hard to resist. | That chocolate looks tempting right now. | (neutral) Common in advertising and personal contexts. |
| tender | adjective | Gentle, soft, or easily hurt. | Please be tender with the seedlings. | (neutral) Used for care, meat texture, and emotional sensitivity. |
| tenacious | adjective | Holding firm; persistent. | She remained tenacious despite setbacks. | (formal/neutral) Common in character descriptions and motivational contexts. |
| tense | adjective | Nervous or tightly stretched. | The meeting felt tense and awkward. | (neutral) Common for mood, muscles, and grammar. |
| tentative | adjective | Not fully settled; hesitant. | They made a tentative plan for Friday. | (formal/neutral) Used for provisional plans and hesitant actions. |
| terminal | adjective | Relating to an end or final stage. | The illness progressed to a terminal stage. | (formal) Common in medical and transport contexts. |
| terrestrial | adjective | Relating to the Earth or land. | The study focused on terrestrial habitats. | (formal/neutral) Used in science and geography; moderately common. |
| terrible | adjective | Very bad or unpleasant. | That was a terrible mistake. | (neutral/colloquial) Extremely common; everyday negative descriptor. |
| terrific | adjective | Extremely good or impressive. | She gave a terrific performance tonight. | (colloquial) Informal positive exclamation; very common. |
| terse | adjective | Brief and to the point. | His reply was terse and direct. | (formal/neutral) Common in writing and communication contexts. |
| testy | adjective | Irritable or easily annoyed. | He became testy during the interview. | (colloquial) Used of mood; moderately common. |
| textual | adjective | Relating to a text. | The article offers a textual analysis. | (formal) Common in literary and academic contexts. |
| thankful | adjective | Feeling gratitude. | I am thankful for your help. | (neutral) Common in everyday and seasonal contexts (holidays). |
| theatrical | adjective | Relating to theater; dramatic. | His gestures were overly theatrical. | (neutral/colloquial) Used to describe stage-related things or showy behavior. |
| thematic | adjective | Relating to a theme. | The exhibition follows a thematic structure. | (formal) Used in literature, art, and organization. |
| thick | adjective | Having large distance from one side to the other. | The book has a thick cover. | (neutral) Common for physical dimensions, textures, and figurative uses. |
| thin | adjective | Small distance between two opposite sides. | The slice of cake was thin. | (neutral) Common basic adjective for width and weight. |
| third | adjective (also noun) | Coming after the second in order. | She finished in third place. | (neutral) Ordinal adjective used in ordering, rankings, and dates. |
| thirsty | adjective | Needing or wanting drink. | After the run she felt thirsty. | (neutral) Very common in physical and figurative uses. |
| thorough | adjective | Complete and careful. | The report was thorough and detailed. | (neutral/formal) Common in professional and academic contexts. |
| thorny | adjective | Difficult or full of problems; spiky. | It was a thorny legal issue. | (neutral) Used literally for plants and metaphorically for problems. |
| thoughtful | adjective | Considerate or showing careful thought. | That was a thoughtful present. | (neutral) Positive descriptor for people and actions; common. |
| thoughtless | adjective | Not showing consideration; careless. | His thoughtless remark hurt her feelings. | (neutral) Common negative description of behavior. |
| threadbare | adjective | Worn and thin from use; cliché. | His coat looked threadbare and old. | (neutral/rare) Used for worn fabrics and overused ideas. |
| thrifty | adjective | Careful with money; economical. | They are thrifty shoppers by choice. | (neutral) Common in personal finance and lifestyle discussions. |
| thunderous | adjective | Very loud like thunder. | The audience gave a thunderous applause. | (formal/colloquial) Used for sound or dramatic effect. |
| tidy | adjective | Neat and orderly. | Keep your desk tidy every day. | (neutral) Common household and organizational adjective. |
| timely | adjective | Done at the appropriate time. | That was a timely reminder. | (neutral) Used for punctuality and relevance. |
| timid | adjective | Lacking courage or confidence. | The kitten was timid around strangers. | (neutral) Common in personality descriptions; gentle tone. |
| timorous | adjective | Showing fear; fearful. | He gave a timorous little laugh. | (formal/rare) More formal or literary synonym of timid. |
| tiny | adjective | Extremely small. | They live in a tiny apartment. | (neutral/colloquial) Very common basic adjective. |
| tired | adjective | In need of rest; weary. | After the hike she was tired. | (neutral) Extremely common everyday adjective. |
| toxic | adjective | Poisonous or harmful. | The chemical is toxic to fish. | (neutral/formal) Used in science and figurative contexts (relationships, cultures). |
| toothsome | adjective | Pleasing to the taste; delicious. | The dessert was surprisingly toothsome. | (rare/colloquial) Somewhat old-fashioned but used for tasty food. |
| toothy | adjective | Having prominent teeth. | The shark has a toothy grin. | (colloquial) Often used literally or playfully about smiles. |
| tolerant | adjective | Willing to accept differences. | A tolerant society values diversity. | (neutral/formal) Common in social and political discussions. |
| torrid | adjective | Very hot or passionate. | They had a torrid summer romance. | (formal/colloquial) Used for heat and intense relationships. |
| total | adjective | Complete or whole. | The total cost was higher than expected. | (neutral) Extremely common for sums and completeness. |
| tough | adjective | Strong or difficult to break or deal with. | The exam was tough but fair. | (neutral/colloquial) Very common; used literally and figuratively. |
| touristy | adjective | Characteristic of expensive tourist areas. | That part of town feels very touristy. | (colloquial) Used to criticize places that cater to tourists. |
| towering | adjective | Very tall or dominant. | A towering figure loomed in the doorway. | (neutral/formal) Used for height and metaphorical prominence. |
| traditional | adjective | Based on long-established customs. | They observed traditional holiday rituals. | (neutral) Common in cultural and historical contexts. |
| tranquil | adjective | Calm and peaceful. | The garden is tranquil at dawn. | (neutral/formal) Used for scenes and moods; slightly literary. |
| transient | adjective | Lasting only a short time. | He felt a transient sense of relief. | (formal) Common in scientific, medical, and social contexts. |
| transparent | adjective | Allowing light through; clearly understood. | The policy should be transparent to everyone. | (neutral/formal) Used literally and figuratively about clarity. |
| translucent | adjective | Letting light pass but not detailed shapes. | The glass was translucent and frosted. | (formal) Common in material descriptions and design. |
| transformative | adjective | Causing major change or transformation. | The discovery was transformative for the field. | (formal) Used in education, technology, and social change contexts. |
| transitional | adjective | Relating to a change or transition. | This is a transitional period for the company. | (neutral/formal) Common in planning and process descriptions. |
| tragic | adjective | Causing great sadness or disaster. | The play ends with a tragic death. | (neutral/formal) Used for events, stories, and outcomes; common. |
| traumatic | adjective | Emotionally disturbing or causing trauma. | The accident was deeply traumatic for him. | (formal) Used in psychology, medicine, and personal narratives. |
| trained | adjective | Having been taught or prepared. | The dog is trained to sit on command. | (neutral) Common adjective for skills and animals. |
| tremendous | adjective | Very great in amount or degree. | They made a tremendous effort. | (colloquial/formal) Very common expressive adjective. |
| tremulous | adjective | Shaking or quivering slightly from fear. | Her voice sounded tremulous with emotion. | (formal/rare) Literary or descriptive for physical tremors. |
| trite | adjective | Overused and unoriginal. | That phrase is trite and predictable. | (neutral/formal) Common critique of clichés and ideas. |
| trivial | adjective | Of little importance. | Don’t worry about trivial details. | (neutral) Common in prioritization and critique. |
| tropical | adjective | Relating to the tropics; hot and humid. | They visited a tropical island last winter. | (neutral) Common in geography and climate discussions. |
| troubled | adjective | Having problems or distress. | He looked troubled after the call. | (neutral) Common in personal and social contexts. |
| truculent | adjective | Aggressively defiant or hostile. | His tone became truculent during the debate. | (formal/rare) Strong, often literary word for aggressive behavior. |
| true | adjective | In accordance with fact or reality. | Her story proved to be true. | (neutral) Extremely common basic adjective for truth and accuracy. |
| trusting | adjective | Ready to trust others. | The puppy has a trusting nature. | (neutral) Used for personality and relationships; positive tone. |
| trustworthy | adjective | Able to be relied on as honest. | He is a trustworthy friend and colleague. | (neutral) High-frequency adjective for reliability. |
| truthful | adjective | Telling or expressing the truth. | Be truthful about what happened. | (neutral/formal) Common in moral and legal discussions. |
| typical | adjective | Representing a common example. | This reaction is typical for new students. | (neutral) Widely used to describe common patterns or behaviors. |
| tyrannical | adjective | Exercising power oppressively. | The leader’s rule was tyrannical and harsh. | (formal) Strong political term; somewhat literary. |
| typical | adjective | Representing a common example. | This reaction is typical for new students. | (neutral) Widely used to describe common patterns or behaviors. |
| twofold | adjective | Having two parts or aspects. | The problem is twofold: cost and timing. | (formal) Used in analysis and explanations to indicate dual causes. |
| truant | adjective (also noun) | Absent without permission (from school). | Several truant students missed class today. | (neutral) Common in education contexts to describe absenteeism. |
Descriptions
tacit
tactile
tactful
tactless
tacky
tall
tame
tan
tangible
tangy
tart
tasteful
tasteless
tasty
taut
tepid
tedious
teeming
teetotal
teeny
temporary
tempting
tender
tenacious
tense
tentative
terminal
terrestrial
terrible
terrific
terse
testy
textual
thankful
theatrical
thematic
thick
thin
third
thirsty
thorough
thorny
thoughtful
thoughtless
threadbare
thrifty
thunderous
tidy
timely
timid
timorous
tiny
tired
toxic
toothsome
toothy
tolerant
torrid
total
tough
touristy
towering
traditional
tranquil
transient
transparent
translucent
transformative
transitional
tragic
traumatic
trained
tremendous
tremulous
trite
trivial
tropical
troubled
truculent
true
trusting
trustworthy
truthful
typical
tyrannical
typical
twofold
truant