Awesome Alternative Adjectives That Start With A

If you want to write a book, upgrade your correspondence, or just make your vocabulary pop, you need words.

Lots of them.

The more you have in your arsenal, the better your writing and oratory skills will be.

So, whether you’re embarking on NaNoWriMo for the first time, gearing up for a debate, getting ready to eulogize grandma, or just looking to pulverize your Scrabble competition, here are some adjectives that start with the letter A that you may not be using nearly enough.

Almighty Examples of ‘A’ Adjectives

We don’t want to promote some adjectives that start with ‘A’ over others, but we’ve pulled out a handful of our favorite ‘A’ adjectives to try to get those creative juices flowing and get you thinking about how you might start using these words in your everyday life.

Abashed

“abashed” definition, in triplicate:

“made to feel uncomfortable, disconcerted, or embarrassed by something that has happened or been done or said” (Merriam-Webster)

“embarrassed” (Cambridge Dictionary)

“ashamed or embarrassed; disconcerted” (Dictionary.com)

Why you should use it: Chucking the Cambridge definition, which is way too general we think, let’s focus on the “disconcerted” part.

When you’re abashed, you’re more than just embarrassed, you’re a bit stunned and unable to act or respond.

If you include that aspect of “abashed,” nothing else means quite the same thing.

Though, it does still serve as a strong synonym for “embarrassed” too.

Aberrant

“aberrant” definition, in triplicate:

“Deviating from the usual or natural type; straying from the right or normal way” (Merriam-Webster)

“Different from what is typical or usual, especially in an unacceptable way” (Cambridge Dictionary)

“Departing from the right, normal, or usual course; deviating from the ordinary, usual or normal type; exceptional; abnormal” (Dictionary.com)

Why you should use it: While this word has several fairly effective synonyms – odd, queer, abnormal – this word is heavily weighted by the “right” and “unacceptable” parts of its definition.

It’s a truncated way of saying “this thing or person is going against the grain and it makes me both uncomfortable and angry.”

Ace

“ace” definition, in triplicate:

“of first or high rank or quality” (Merriam-Webster)

“excellent” (Cambridge Dictionary)

“excellent; first-rate; outstanding” (Dictionary.com)

Why you should use it: Because it’s got a lot of synonyms, but none of them are a single syllable or sound as cool.

à la carte

“à la carte” definition, in quadruplicate:

“according to a menu or list that prices items separately” (Merriam-Webster)

“choosing separate foods in a restaurant rather than having a complete meal” (Cambridge Dictionary)

“with a separate price for each dish offered on the menu; with a separate price for each item on a list” (Dictionary.com)

“to the card” (direct French translation)

Why you should use it: This term is used the same way in both French and English – to refer to ordering menu items separately in a restaurant.

But the actual translation leaves lots of room for interpretation. What else might you order (or dish out) à la carte?

Anemic

“anemic” definition, in triplicate:

“lacking force, vitality, or spirit” (Merriam-Webster)

“without any energy and effort” (Cambridge Dictionary)

“lacking power, vigor, vitality, or colorfulness; listless; weak” (Dictionary.com)

Why you should use it: Again, there are a handful of decent (more widely-used) synonyms for this word.

But if you mix in the biological meaning, this word paints a picture its synonyms don’t. It insinuates weakness due the absence of some vital essence.

Autonomic

“autonomic” definition, in triplicate:

“acting or occurring involuntarily” (Merriam-Webster)

“occurring involuntarily or spontaneously” (Cambridge Dictionary)

“autonomous [having autonomy; not subject to control from outside]” (Dictionary.com)

Why you should use it: Another biological word with no true comparison, you typically see this word in reference to the autonomic nervous system.

But anything can be autonomic if it acts unconsciously and involuntarily.

Avaricious

“greedy of gain : excessively acquisitive especially in seeking to hoard riches” (Merriam-Webster)

“showing an extremely strong wish to get or keep money or possessions” (Cambridge Dictionary)

“characterized by avarice; greedy; covetous” (Dictionary.com)

Why you should use it: Avarice, or greed, is one of the seven deadly sins.

And whenever you can bring one of the seven deadly sins into your vocabulary in a close approximation of their original Latin, you absolutely should.

‘A’ Adjectives Lists

And, now, several alliterative lists of applicable adjectives.

Positive Adjectives That Start With A

Generally speaking, we don’t like to divide words into positive and negative, because words can change meaning in context.

But these words almost always have a positive meaning.

Acceptable
Acclaimed
Altruistic
Amiable
Amicable
Awesome

Negative Adjectives That Start With A

Again, “negative” is subjective, but these words almost always put out a negative vibe.

Abject
Abusive
Abysmal
Acrimonious
Acrid
Adversarial
Adverse
Antagonistic
Awful

Descriptive Words That Start With A

These ‘A’ adjectives can be used to describe almost anything, including people.

Abandoned
Abbreviated
Abdominal
Abessive
Abhorrent
Abiding
Abiogenic
Abiotic
Ablaze
Abnormal
Abominable
Aboral
Aboriginal
Abortive
Abounding
Aboveboard
Abrasive
Abreast
Abrupt
Absolute
Absorbent
Absent
Absolute
Abstergent
Abstract
Absurdist
Abundant
Academic
Accelerated
Accentuated
Accepted
Accessible
Accidental
Accompanying
Accomplished
Accredited
Accretive
Accrued
Accumbent
Accurate
Accursed
Achievable
Aching
Achy
Acidic
Acknowledged
Acoustic
Acrid
Achromatic
Aclastic
Actionable
Acral
Actual
Acute
Acyclic
Adamant
Adaptive
Added
Additional
Add-on
Adequate
Adherent
Adhesive
Adjacent
Adjoining
Adjudicated
Adjustable
Administrative
Adoptive
Adrift
Adult
Adulatory
Adulterous
Advanced
Advantageous
Adventurous
Advisable
Advised
Advisory
Aerial
Aerobic
Aerodynamic
Aerogenic
Aeronautical
Aesthetic
Afar
Affected
Affiliated
Affirmative
Affixed
Affordable
Afield
Aflame
Afloat
Afoot
Agape
Ageless
Aging
Aggravated
Aggravating
Aggressive
Aggrieved
Aglow
Agonizing
Agrarian
Agricultural
Ahead
Aimless
Airy
Ajar
Akin
Al dente
Alarming
Albino
Alcoholic
Alert
Algebraic
Algorithmic
Alien
Alienated
Aligned
Alike
Alive
Alkaline
All-around
All-inclusive
All-or-nothing
All-purpose
All-star
Alleged
Allergenic
Allied
Allocated
Allowable
Allowed
Almighty
Alone
Allover
Alpha
Alphabetical
Alpine
Alterable
Altered
Alternative
Aluminum
Amandine
Amateur
Amateurish
Amatory
Amazing
Ambient
Ambiguous
Ambrosial
Ambulatory
Amended
Amorphous
Amped
Amphibious
Ample
Amplified
Anachronistic
Anachronous
Ancient
Ancillary
Androgynous
Anecdotal
Anesthetic
Angelic
Angled
Animalistic
Animated
Ankle-deep
Annexed
Annotated
Annual
Annular
Anomalous
Anonymous
Anorexic
Antediluvian
Anterior
Anticipated
Anticlimactic
Antipodal
Antiquarian
Antiquated
Antique
Antiseptic
Antithetical
Aperiodic
Aphrodisiac
Apocalyptic
Apocryphal
Appalling
Apparent
Appetizing
Applaudable
Applicable
Appointed
Apportioned
Appreciable
Appropriate
Approved
Approximate
Aquatic
Aqueous
Arbitrary
Arboreal
Arcane
Arched
Archaic
Archetypal
Architectural
Archival
Arctic
Ardent
Areal
Arid
Aristocratic
Arrhythmic
Armed
Armored
Aromatic
Aroused
Arranged
Arresting
Arterial
Articulated
Artificial
Artisanal
Artsy
Ascendant
Ashen
Aspirational
Assembled
Assiduous
Assisted
Assorted
Assumptive
Assured
Astir
Astonishing
Astounding
Astral
Astringent
Astronomical
Aswirl
Asymmetric
Asynchronous
Atingle
Atmospheric
Atomic
Atonal
Atrocious
Atrophied
Attached
Attainable
Attired
Attractive
Atypical
Audacious
Audible
Auditory
Au naturel
Aural
Auroral
Auspicious
Authentic
Authoritative
Authorized
Autocratic
Automatic
Automotive
Autumnal
Auxiliary
Available
Avant-garde
Average
Averse
Avian
Avid
Avowed
Awake
Aware
Awe-inspiring
Awkward

Words That Start With A To Describe Someone

These A adjectives can be used for other things, but are commonly used to describe people.

Able
Absentminded
Absurd
Accepting
Accommodating
Accountable
Acerbic
Accused
Accusing
Acquiescent
Acrobatic
Active
Addictive
Addlebrained
Adept
Admirable
Admired
Adorable
Adored
Adroit
Affable
Affectionate
Afflicted
Affluent
Afraid
Aggravated
Aghast
Agitated
Agnostic
Agreeable
Airsick
All-American
Allergic
Alluring
Aloof
Amative
Amazonian
Ambidextrous
Ambitious
Ambivalent
Amorous
Amused
Amusing
Amuck
Anal
Analytic
Anarchic
Anatomical
Ancestral
Angry
Anguished
Antisocial
Antsy
Anxious
Apathetic
Apologetic
Apoplectic
Appalled
Appreciative
Apprehensive
Approachable
Argumentative
Aromantic
Arrogant
Artful
Artistic
Arthritic
Asexual
Ashamed
Assertive
Asthmatic
Astute
Athletic
Attentive
Austere
Avoidant
Awe-struck

Anymore ‘A’ Adjectives?

Of course, there are more adjectives that start with ‘A.’ Literally, hundreds of them.

But these ‘A’ Adjectives should be enough to get you good and started in your avid efforts to build a more artful vocabulary.