800 Negative Adjectives to Describe People, Places, or Things • 7ESL

Negative adjectives can be hurtful even when they are truthful. They can describe someone’s character or a situation in ways that are not nice. You might use negative adjectives when you are upset or unhappy about something. These words can be powerful and have a lasting impact.

This reference covers what negative adjectives are, provides examples, and includes a huge list of negative adjectives from A to Z with images.

Contents

Negative Adjectives

What Are Negative Adjectives?

Negative adjectives are basically descriptive words that we use to describe someone’s character in a bad way. We can use them to describe places or situations that we don’t like.

Places, people, and situations are sometimes very unpleasant. Negative adjectives help people to describe their negative and unflattering opinions about people or situations. These descriptive words can be used for writers to bring a story to life. It helps the reader understand that a character’s personality is distasteful or to explain how bad a certain situation really is.

Negative adjectives can be used to describe any and everything that is not pleasant. Negative adjectives are usually used as a verbal reaction towards something or someone who has hurt you or made you mad. Words like these are frequently used during an argument. Although they may be used correctly and maybe accurate, they are words meant to insult, not compliment.

Negative Adjectives Examples

Below is a list I have complied of several negative adjectives and their meanings and an example of how they are used in a sentence.

Aloof

Meaning: Someone with a very unfriendly manner towards others.
Example: She was aloof about how she made him feel.

Hostile

Meaning: angry, violent feelings towards someone
Example: He was hostile about being fired from his job.

Callous

Meaning: feeling no sympathy for others
Example: They were so callous towards their boss when his wife died.

Nasty

Meaning: Not nice or pleasant to any of the senses
Example: Raymond had a nasty habit of lying and cheating.

Cynical

Meaning: Not trusting anyone, believing that all people are bad or dishonest
Example: People who are cynical usually don’t believe in trust or in love.

Vain

Meaning: Overwhelming pride in one’s own accomplishments or abilities
Example: She is so vain that she stands in the mirror looking at herself for hours.

Self-centered

Meaning: Being too interested in one’s own self.
Example: Rachel is so self-centered that she thinks of no one but herself.

Deceitful

Meaning: lying to get one’s way
Example: She is a very deceitful person.

Impatient

Meaning: wanting something right now, not wanting to wait
Example: Cody was impatient to get his paycheck.

Stubborn

Meaning: refusing to stop doing something, demanding one’s own way
Example: My dog is so stubborn that he absolutely refuses to walk with a leash.

Defensive

Meaning: protecting one’s self when there is no reason to
Example: He got defensive when confronted about the missing money.

Vague

Meaning: unclear meanings or intentions
Example: She was vague in her directions.

These are just a few examples of negative adjectives that can be used when describing undesirable people, places, or things.

List of Negative Adjectives from A-Z

Negative Adjectives that Start with A

Abhorrent
Abject
Abnormal
Abrasive
Abrupt
Absent
Absentminded
Absurd
Abusive
Abysmal
Accidental
Acerbic
Aching
Acrimonious
Adversarial
Afraid
Aggravating
Aggressive
Agonizing
Aimless
Alarming
Aloof
Anemic
Angry
Annoying
Antagonistic
Antiquated
Appalling
Apprehensive
Argumentative
Arrogant
Artificial
Artless
Ashamed
Astringent
Atrocious
Awful
Awkward

Negative Adjectives that Start with B

Babbling
Backhanded
Bacterial
Bad
Baffled
Baffling
Barbaric
Barbarous
Barren
Basic
Battered
Batty
Bawling
Beady
Befuddled
Belching
Belligerent
Berserk
Betrayed
Bewildered
Bewitched
Biased
Bigoted
Biting
Bitter
Bizarre
Blamable
Bland
Blank
Blaring
Blasphemous
Bleak
Bleary
Blind
Blistering
Bloated
Bloodied
Bloodthirsty
Bloody
Blue
Blundering
Blunt
Blurred
Blurry
Boastful
Bookish
Boorish
Bored
Boring
Bossy
Bothered
Brainless
Brash
Brassy
Breakable
Bribable
Brisk
Bristly
Broken
Brooding
Bruised
Brutal
Brutish
Bulky
Bumpy
Bungling
Bureaucratic
Busiest

Negative Adjectives that Start with C

Caged
Cagey
Callous
Cancelled
Cancerous
Cantankerous
Capricious
Captive
Careless
Carsick
Catastrophic
Catatonic
Caustic
Cavalier
Certifiable
Challenged
Challenging
Chauvinistic
Cheap
Cheerless
Chemical
Chicken
Childish
Chilling
Chilly
Choking
Choppy
Chubby
Chunky
Clammy
Clamoring
Clashing
Clingy
Clinical
Cliquish
Clogged
Cloistered
Clownish
Clueless
Clumsy
Cluttered
Coarse
Cockamamie
Cocky
Coercive
Cold
Coldhearted
Colorless
Combative
Commercial
Common
Complacent
Complaining
Complicated
Compulsive
Compulsory
Conceited
Concerning
Condemned
Condescending
Conditional
Conflicted
Conflicting
Confounded
Confused
Confusing
Congested
Conspicuous
Constrictive
Contagious
Contemptible
Contemptuous
Contradicting
Contradictory
Contrarian
Contrary
Contrite
Controllable
Controlling
Controversial
Convoluted
Cornered
Corny
Corporate
Corrosive
Corrupt
Corrupting
Corruptive
Costly
Cowardly
Cowering
Coy
Crabby
Cracked
Crafty
Crammed
Cramped
Cranky
Crass
Craven
Crazy
Creaky
Creeping
Creepy
Crestfallen
Criminal
Crippling
Critical
Crooked
Cross
Crotchety
Crowded
Crude
Cruel
Crumbling
Crumbly
Crumply
Crushable
Crushed
Crusty
Crying
Cryptic
Culpable
Cumbersome
Cursed
Curt
Cutting
Cynical

Negative Adjectives that Start with D

Daffy
Daft
Damaged
Damaging
Damp
Dangerous
Dark
Daunting
Dawdling
Dazed
Deadly
Deafening
Decayed
Decaying
Deceitful
Deceivable
Deceiving
Deceptive
Decimated
Decipherable
Declining
Decrepit
Defeated
Defective
Defenseless
Defensive
Defiant
Deficient
Deformed
Degenerative
Degraded
Dejected
Delinquent
Delirious
Deluded
Demanding
Demented
Demonic
Deniable
Dense
Dependent
Deplorable
Depraved
Depressed
Depressing
Depressive
Deprived
Deranged
Derivative
Derogative
Derogatory
Deserted
Desolate
Despairing
Desperate
Despicable
Despised
Despondent
Destroyed
Destructive
Detached
Detestable
Detrimental
Devastated
Devastating
Devious
Diabolical
Difficult
Digressive
Dilapidated
Dim
Diminishing
Diminutive
Dingy
Dire
Dirty
Disadvantaged
Disadvantageous
Disaffected
Disagreeable
Disappearing
Disappointed
Disappointing
Disapproving
Disastrous
Discarded
Disconnected
Discontented
Discordant
Discouraged
Discouraging
Discourteous
Discredited
Discreet
Discriminatory
Disdainful
Diseased
Disenchanted
Disgraceful
Disgruntled
Disgusted
Disgusting
Disheartened
Disheartening
Dishonest
Dishonorable
Disillusioned
Disinclined
Disingenuous
Disinterested
Disjointed
Dislikeable
Disliked
Disloyal
Dismal
Dismissive
Disobedient
Disorderly
Disorganized
Disparaging
Dispassionate
Dispensable
Displeased
Displeasing
Disposable
Disproportionate
Disproved
Disputed
Disreputable
Disrespectful
Disruptive
Dissatisfied
Dissimilar
Distant
Distasteful
Distracted
Distraught
Distressed
Distressing
Distrustful
Disturbed
Disturbing
Divided
Divisive
Dizzy
Domineering
Doubtful
Doubting
Dowdy
Down
Drab
Drained
Dramatic
Drastic
Dreaded
Dreadful
Dreary
Dripping
Droll
Drooping
Droopy
Drowsy
Drunk
Dry
Dubious
Dulcet
Dull
Duplicitous
Dusty
Dwindling
Dysfunctional

Negative Adjectives that Start with E

Eerie
Egocentric
Egomaniacal
Egotistical
Emaciated
Embarrassed
Embarrassing
Embittered
Embroiled
Emotional
Emotionless
Empty
Encrusted
Endangered
Enraged
Envious
Erasable
Eroding
Errant
Erratic
Erroneous
Estranged
Evasive
Evil
Exacerbating
Exasperated
Exasperating
Excessive
Excruciating
Exhausting
Expendable
Expired
Exploitative
Exploited
Explosive
Exposed
Expressionless
Extraneous
Extreme

Negative Adjectives that Start with F

Facetious
Faded
Failed
Faint
Faithless
Fallacious
Falsified
Faltering
Famished
Fanatical
Fatal
Fatigued
Faulty
Fawning
Feared
Fearful
Fearsome
Feckless
Feeble
Feebleminded
Feigned
Felonious
Fetid
Feverish
Fidgeting
Fidgety
Fiendish
Filmy
Filtered
Filthy
Finicky
Fishy
Flaky
Flat
Flavorless
Flawed
Fleeting
Flimsy
Flippant
Floppy
Foggy
Foolhardy
Foolish
Forbidding
Forceful
Foreboding
Forgetful
Forgettable
Forgotten
Formulaic
Foul
Fractious
Fragile
Fragmented
Frail
Frantic
Fraudulent
Frayed
Freakish
Freaky
Freezing
Fretful
Fried
Frightened
Frightening
Frightful
Frigid
Frilly
Frivolous
Frosty
Frowning
Frozen
Frugal
Fruitless
Frumpy
Frustrated
Frustrating
Fumbling
Fuming
Furious
Furtive
Fussy
Futile
Fuzzy

Negative Adjectives that Start with G

Gabby
Galling
Gangly
Gaping
Garbled
Garish
Garrulous
Gasping
Gaudy
Gaunt
Gawky
Generic
Ghastly
Ghoulish
Glassy
Glib
Gloomy
Glum
Gluttonous
Gnarly
Goofy
Grainy
Grating
Grave
Greasy
Greedy
Green
Grim
Grimacing
Grimy
Gritty
Groaning
Groggy
Gross
Grotesque
Grouchy
Growling
Grubby
Grueling
Gruesome
Gruff
Grumbling
Grumpy
Guarded
Guilty
Gullible

Negative Adjectives that Start with H

Haggard
Halting
Haphazard
Hapless
Hard
Harebrained
Harmful
Harried
Harsh
Hasty
Hated
Hateful
Haughty
Hazardous
Hazy
Heartbreaking
Heartbroken
Heartless
Heated
Heavy
Hectic
Heinous
Helpless
Hesitant
Hideous
Hoarse
Hollow
Homeless
Homely
Hopeless
Hormonal
Horrendous
Horrible
Horrid
Horrific
Horrified
Horrifying
Hostile
Huffy
Hulking
Humdrum
Humiliated
Humiliating
Humorless
Hungry
Hurried
Hurt
Hurtful
Hushed

Negative Adjectives that Start with I

Icky
Iconoclastic
Icy
Idiotic
Ignorable
Ignorant
Ill
Illegal
Illegible
Illegitimate
Illicit
Illiterate
Illogical
Immature
Immodest
Immoral
Impatient
Imperfect
Imperial
Impersonal
Impertinent
Impetuous
Impolite
Imposing
Impossible
Impoverished
Impractical
Imprecise
Improper
Imprudent
Impulsive
Impure
Inaccessible
Inaccurate
Inactive
Inadequate
Inadmissible
Inadvisable
Inane
Inappropriate
Inarticulate
Inattentive
Inauspicious
Incapable
Incessant
Incoherent
Incompatible
Incompetent
Incomplete
Incomprehensible
Inconceivable
Inconclusive
Incongruent
Inconsequential
Inconsiderate
Inconsistent
Inconsolable
Inconvenient
Incorrect
Indecent
Indecipherable
Indecisive
Indifferent
Indignant
Indiscriminate
Inefficient
Infantile
Inferior
Infuriating
Inhospitable
Insane
Insincere
Insipid
Irksome
Irrational

Negative Adjectives that Start with J, L

Jaded
Jeering
Judgmental
Lame
Laughable
Lecherous
Leering
Loathsome
Lowly

Negative Adjectives that Start with M, N

Malevolent
Malignant
Manipulative
Melodramatic
Messy
Moody
Muddled
Myopic
Narcissistic
Negligent
Nosy

Negative Adjectives that Start with O, P, Q

Obscene
Obstinate
Odd
Opportunistic
Oppressive
Parasitic
Pathological
Pedantic
Pessimistic
Petty
Petulant
Pitiful
Predictable
Prejudiced
Putrid
Querulous

Negative Adjectives that Start with R, S

Racist
Redundant
Reprehensible
Repugnant
Rude
Sanctimonious
Sickening
Smothering
Smug
Squalid

Negative Adjectives that Start with T, U, V, W, Y

Tacky
Tasteless
Temperamental
Thoughtless
Timid
Toxic
Tyrannical
Upsetting
Vacuous
Wasteful
Wretched
Yellow

Negative Adjectives from A-Z – Created by 7ESL

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