IMPRESSIVE PHRASES

These phrases and groups of related adjectives are meant to make an impact and impression on the reader or listener. They are meant to sound and be impressive. We have carefully selected groups of related adjectives and adverbs which complement each other and can be used together without sounding repetitive. Use them together to drive a point home.

A

able, skilful, thorough, and genuine

absolute, complete, unqualified, and final

accurate, precise, exact, and truthful

active, alert, vigorous, and industrious

actual, positive, certain, and genuine

adequate, uniform, proportionate, and equitable

adventurous, fine, active, and gossipy

adverse, antagonistic, unfriendly, and hostile

advisable, advantageous, acceptable, and expedient

affable, diffident, humble, and mild

affectionate, tender, loving, and attached

affluent, opulent, abundant, and ample

allurements, pits, snares, and torments

anger, indignation, resentment, and rage

animate, impel, instigate, and embolden

animosity, malice, enmity, and hatred

annul, frustrate, reverse, and destroy

anxiety, caution, watchfulness, and solicitude

apparent, ostensible, plausible, and specious

appropriate, use, arrogate, and usurp [arrogate = claim without right; appropriate]

approval, enthusiasm, sympathy, and applause

aptitude, capacity, efficiency, and power

arbitrary, dictatorial, domineering, and imperious [imperious = arrogantly domineering or overbearing]

architecture, sculpture, painting, and poetry

ardent, impatient, keen, and vehement

argue, discuss, dispute, and prove

arrangement, place, time, and circumstance

art, science, knowledge, and culture

artful, wily, insincere, and disingenuous

artificial, soulless, hectic, and unreal

assemble, amass, accumulate, and acquire

assiduity, tenderness, industry, and vigilance [assiduity = persistent application]

assurance, persuasion, fidelity, and loyalty

attention, effort, diligence, and assiduity [assiduity = persistent application]

august, magnanimous, important, and distinguished

authoritative, independent, arbitrary, and supreme

avaricious, grasping, miserly, and parsimonious [parsimonious = excessively frugal]

aversion, dislike, hatred, and repugnance

B

bad, vicious, unwholesome, and distressing

babble, prate, chatter, and prattle

barbarous, brutal, inhuman, and cruel

base, cowardly, abject, and hideous

battle, defeat, frustrate, and ruin

bearing, deportment, manner, and behavior

beg, entreat, implore, and supplicate

beliefs, doctrines, ceremonies, and practices

boorish, clownish, rude, and uncultivated

boundless, immeasurable, unlimited, and infinite

bravery, courage, fearlessness, and confidence

breadth, knowledge, vision, and power

brilliant, beautiful, elegant, and faithful

broaden, enlarge, extend, and augment

business, profession, occupation, and vocation

C

candid, sincere, familiar, and ingenuous

captious, petulant, peevish, and splenetic [captious = point out trivial faults]

cautious, discreet, considerate, and provident

certain, confident, positive, and unquestionable

chagrin, vexation, irritation, and mortification

character, disposition, temperament, and reputation

charm, fascinate, bewitch, and captivate

cheap, inexpensive, inferior, and common

cheer, animate, vivify, and exhilarate [vivify = bring life to]

chiefly, particularly, principally, and especially

childhood, youth, manhood, and age

circumstance, condition, environment, and surroundings

claim, grab, trick, and compel

clean, fastidious, frugal, and refined

clear, distinct, obvious, and intelligible

clumsy, crawling, snobbish, and comfort-loving

coarse, gross, offensive, and nauseous

coax, flatter, wheedle, and persuade

cogitate, contemplate, meditate, and ponder

cold, frigid, unfeeling, and stoical

commanding, authoritative, imperative, and peremptory [peremptory = ending all debate or action]

compassion, goodwill, admiration, and enthusiasm

confirm, establish, sustain, and strengthen

conform, submit, obey, and satisfy

confuse, distort, involve, and misinterpret

consistent, congruous, firm, and harmonious

cool, collected, calm, and self-possessed

copious, commanding, sonorous, and emotional

cowardly, timid, shrinking, and timorous

crazy, absurd, nonsensical, and preposterous

crude, rough, jagged, and pitiless

D

daring, cordial, discerning, and optimistic

darkness, dimness, dulness, and blackness

deadly, destructive, fatal, and implacable

deceit, delusion, treachery, and sham

deep, abstruse, learned, and profound

deficient, inadequate, scanty, and incomplete

define, explain, determine, and circumscribe

degrade, defame, humble, and debase

delicacy, daintiness, tact, and refinement

delicious, sweet, palatable, and delightful

democracy, equality, justice, and freedom

deny, dismiss, exclude, and repudiate

deprive, dispossess, divest, and despoil

describe, delineate, depict, and characterize

designed, contrived, planned, and executed

desperate, extreme, wreckless, and irremediable

despicable, abject, servile, and worthless

destructive, detrimental, deleterious, and subversive

desultory, discursive, loose, and unmethodical [desultory = disconnected: haphazard]

detestable, abominable, horrible, and hideous

developed, revealed, measured, and tested

difference, disagreement, discord, and estrangement

difficult, arduous, intricate, and perplexing

diffuse, discursive, rambling, and wordy

diligence, attention, industry, and assiduity [assiduity = persistent application]

disagreement, discrepancy, difference, and divergence

disconsolate, desolate, pessimistic, and impossible

discrimination, acuteness, insight, and judgment

disgust, distaste, loathing, and abhorrence

dissatisfied, rebellious, unsettled, and satirical

distinct, definite, clear, and obvious

distinguished, glorious, illustrious, and eminent

disturbed, shaken, distressed, and bewildered

docile, tractable, compliant, and teachable

dogmatic, bigoted, libelous, and unsympathizing

doubt, indecision, suspense, and perplexity

dread, disgust, repugnance, and dreariness

dreary, dispirited, unhappy, and peevish

dry, lifeless, tiresome, and uninteresting

dubious, equivocal, fluctuating, and uncertain

dull, heavy, painstaking, and conscientious

E

earth, air, stars, and sea

efficient, forcible, adequate, and potent

emaciated, scraggy, meager, and attenuated

endless, ceaseless, immutable, and imperishable

energy, eagerness, earnestness, and enthusiasm

enhance, exalt, elevate, and intensify

enormous, base, prodigious, and colossal

enrage, incense, infuriate, and exasperate

enthusiasm, devotion, intensity, and zeal

envy, discontent, deception, and ignorance

equitable, reasonable, just, and honest

equivocal, uncertain, cloudy, and ambiguous

eradicate, extirpate, exterminate, and annihilate [extirpate = pull up by the roots]

erroneous, faulty, inaccurate, and inexact

eternal, unchangeable, unerring, and intelligent

evil, misfortune, corruption, and disaster

exacting, suspicious, irritable, and wayward

exalt, dignify, elevate, and extol

examination, inquiry, scrutiny, and research

exceed, outdo, surpass, and transcend

exceptional, uncommon, abnormal, and extraordinary

excitement, distraction, diversion, and stimulation

exhaustive, thorough, radical, and complete

expend, dissipate, waste, and squander

F

facile, showy, cheap, and superficial

faithful, truthful, loyal, and trustworthy

fame, distinction, dignity, and honor

fanatic, enthusiast, visionary, and zealot

fanciful, unreal, fantastic, and grotesque

fancy, humor, vagary, and caprice [vagary = extravagant or erratic notion or action]

fashion, practise, habit, and usage

fastidious, proud, gracious, and poised

fate, fortune, contingency, and opportunity

fatuous, dreamy, moony, and impracticable

fear, timidity, cowardice, and pusillanimity

feeble, languid, timid, and irresolute

ferocious, restive, savage, and uncultivated

fervent, enthusiastic, anxious, and zealous

fiction, fancy, falsehood, and fabrication

fine, fragile, delicate, and dainty

firmness, steadfastness, stability, and tenacity

flash, flame, flare, and glare

flat, insipid, tame, and monotonous

fluctuating, hesitating, vacillating, and oscillating

folly, foolishness, imbecility, and fatuity

foolhardy, hasty, adventurous, and reckless

fop, coxcomb, puppy, and jackanapes [jackanapes = conceited person]

force, vigor, power, and energy

formal, precise, stiff, and methodical

fortunate, happy, prosperous, and successful

fragile, frail, brittle, and delicate

freedom, familiarity, liberty, and independence

frightful, fearful, direful, and dreadful

frivolous, trifling, petty, and childish

fruitful, fertile, prolific, and productive

fruitless, vain, trivial, and foolish

frustrate, defeat, disappoint, and thwart

fully, completely, abundantly, and perfectly

furious, impetuous, boisterous, and vehement

G

gaiety, merriment, joy, and hilarity

gallant, ardent, fearless, and self-sacrificing

garnish, embellish, beautify, and decorate

generous, candid, easy, and independent

genius, intellect, aptitude, and capacity

genteel, refined, polished, and well-bred

gentle, persuasive, affective, and simple

genuine, true, unaffected, and sincere

ghastly, grim, shocking, and hideous

gibe, mock, taunt, and jeer

giddy, fickle, flighty, and thoughtless

gleam, glimmer, glance, and glitter

gloomy, dismal, dark, and dejected

glorious, noble, exalted, and resplendent

glut, gorge, cloy, and satiate [cloy = too filling, rich, or sweet]

good, safe, venerable, and solid

government, law, order, and organization

grand, stately, dignified, and pompous

grave, contemplative, reserved, and profound

great, joyous, strong, and triumphant

greed, avarice, covetousness, and cupidity

gross, academic, vulgar, and indiscriminate

H

habit, custom, method, and fashion

handsome, exquisite, brilliant, and accomplished

harmless, innocent, innocuous, and inoffensive

harmony, order, sublimity, and beauty

harsh, discordant, disagreeable, and ungracious

hasty, superficial, impatient, and desultory [desultory = disconnected: haphazard]

healed, soothed, consoled, and assuaged

healthy, hale, sound, and wholesome

heavy, sluggish, dejected, and crushing

high-minded, truthful, honest, and courageous

holy, hallowed, sacred, and consecrated

homely, hideous, horrid, and unsightly

honor, obedience, virtue, and loyalty

hopefulness, peace, sweetness, and strength

hopes, dreams, programs, and ideals

hospitable, generous, tolerant, and kindly

hot, hasty, fervent, and fiery

humane, gentle, kind, and generous

humble, simple, submissive, and unostentatious

I

idea, imagination, conception, and ideal

idleness, recreation, repose, and rest

ignominious, infamous, despicable, and contemptible

illumine, instruct, enlighten, and inform

imaginative, sensitive, nervous, and highly-strung

impatience, indolence, wastefulness, and inconclusiveness

impel, stimulate, animate, and inspirit

imperious, wayward, empirical, and impatient [imperious = arrogantly domineering or overbearing]

improvident, incautious, prodigal, and thriftless

impudent, insolent, irrelevant, and officious

inadvertency, carelessness, negligence, and oversight

indecision, doubt, fear, and lassitude

indifference, caution, coldness, and weariness

indolent, passive, sluggish, and slothful

ineffectual, powerless, useless, and unavailing

infamy, shame, dishonor, and disgrace

infantile, childish, boyish, and dutiful

informal, natural, unconventional, and careless

insolent, impudent, impertinent, and flippant

integrity, frankness, sincerity, and truthfulness

intellectual, moral, emotional, and esthetic

intense, earnest, violent, and extreme

invent, discover, design, and contrive

inveterate, confirmed, chronic, and obstinate

invidious, envious, odious, and offensive

invincible, unconquerable, insurmountable, and insuperable

irksome, tiresome, tedious, and annoying

irregular, uncertain, devious, and unsystematic

irritable, choleric, petulant, and susceptible

J

jangle, wrangle, squabble, and quarrel

jealousy, suspicion, envy, and watchfulness

joyful, lively, happy, and hilarious

judgment, discrimination, penetration, and sagacity [sagacity = farsighted; wise]

just, impartial, equitable, and unbiased

juvenile, childish, trifling, and puerile [puerile = immature; childish]

K

keen, intelligent, penetrating, and severe

keep, protect, support, and sustain

kind, sympathetic, ready, and appreciative

kingly, noble, imperial, and august

knowledge, learning, enlightenment, and understanding

L

lapses, makeshifts, delays, and irregularities

lawful, legitimate, allowable, and just

lazy, listless, drowsy, and indifferent

lightly, freely, unscrupulously, and irresponsibly

lively, vivacious, vigorous, and forcible

loss, deprivation, forfeiture, and waste

loud, noisy, showy, and clamorous

loutish, prankish, selfish, and cunning

love, depth, loyalty, and faithfulness

lucidity, impressiveness, incisiveness, and pungency [pungency = to the point]

M

malice, anger, uncharitableness, and indignation

malignity, brutality, malevolence, and inhumanity

manners, morals, habits, and behavior

marvelous, wonderful, extraordinary, and incredible

massive, ponderous, solid, and substantial

mastery, proficiency, dexterity, and superiority

matchless, unrivaled, inimitable, and incomparable

maxim, proverb, truism, and apothegm [apothegm = terse, witty, instructive saying]

medley, mixture, jumble, and hodge-podge

meekness, inwardness, patience, and self-denial

merciless, remorseless, relentless, and ruthless

mild, gentle, humble, and submissive

mismanagement, indecision, obstinacy, and hardihood

mixture, medley, variety, and diversification

modesty, fineness, sensitiveness, and fastidiousness

money, position, power, and consequence

mood, temper, humor, and caprice

motive, impulse, incentive, and intimation

mysterious, dark, secret, and enigmatical

N

narrow, limited, selfish, and bigoted

necessary, expedient, indispensable, and unavoidable

necessity, emergency, exigency, and crisis [exigency = urgent situation]

neglect, overlook, disregard, and contemn [contemn = despise]

nice, finical, effeminate, and silly [finical = Finicky]

niggardly, close, miserly, and parsimonious [parsimonious = Excessively frugal]

noble, pure, exalted, and worthy

nonsense, trash, twaddle, and rubbish

novel, recent, rare, and unusual

noxious, unwholesome, mischievous, and destructive

O

obdurate, unfeeling, callous, and obstinate

obedient, respectful, dutiful, and submissive

object, propose, protest, and decline

obliging, kind, helpful, and courteous

obscure, shadowy, intricate, and mysterious

obsequious, cringing, fawning, and servile [obsequious = fawning.]

observations, sentiments, ideas, and theories

obstinacy, pertinacity, stubbornness, and inflexibility [pertinacity = persistent]

offensive, disagreeable, distasteful, and obnoxious

officious, impertinent, insolent, and meddlesome

P

particular, precise, formal, and punctilious [punctilious = scrupulous]

passions, weaknesses, uglinesses, and deformities

patient, loyal, hard-working, and true

peace, quiet, tranquillity, and harmony

peculiar, individual, specific, and appropriate

perplex, embarrass, confuse, and mystify

phrases, figures, metaphors, and quotations

piteous, woebegone, dismal, and dolorous

placid, meek, gentle, and moderate

plain, transparent, simple, and obvious

play, diversion, pastime, and amusement

pleasant, jocular, witty, and facetious

pliable, ductile, supple, and yielding

poetry, sentiment, morality, and religion

polished, deft, superficial, and conventional

polite, polished, cultured, and refined

positive, direct, explicit, and dogmatic

powerful, efficient, vivid, and forcible

precise, delicate, discriminating, and fastidious

prejudicial, injurious, noxious, and pernicious

preposterous, irrational, unreasonable, and nonsensical

pretense, subterfuge, simulation, and disguise

prevent, restrain, dissuade, and dishearten

primary, foremost, leading, and principal

probity, directness, simplicity, and sincerity [probity = integrity]

profession, business, trade, and vocation

profit, advantage, benefit, and emolument [emolument = compensation]

profuse, excessive, copious, and extravagant

progress, prosperity, peace, and happiness

prolix, prosaic, prolonged, and wordy [prolix = excessive length]

property, comforts, habits, and conveniences

prudence, judgment, wisdom, and discretion

pulsing, coursing, throbbing, and beating

pure, kind, sweet-tempered, and unselfish

purified, exalted, fortified, and illumined

purpose, meaning, scope, and tendency

Q

quack, imposture, charlatan, and mountebank [mountebank = flamboyant charlatan]

qualified, powerful, vigorous, and effective

quality, property, attribute, and character

quarrels, misunderstandings, enmities, and disapprovals

queries, echoes, reactions, and after-thoughts

quick, impetuous, sweeping, and expeditious

quiet, peaceful, sane, and normal

R

racy, smart, spicy, and pungent

rational, sane, sound, and sensible

ravenous, greedy, voracious, and grasping

recreation, sport, pastime, and amusement

relation, work, duty, and pleasure

reliable, accurate, truthful, and duty-loving

reports, stories, rumors, and suspicions

reproach, dishonor, disgrace, and ignominy

restrained, calm, quiet, and placid

reverential, disciplined, self-controlling, and devoted

rigid, inelastic, stiff, and unbending

rough, rude, gruff, and surly

rude, curt, insolent, and unpleasant

S

sad, despondent, melancholy, and depressed

sane, sober, sound, and rational

scandalize, vilify, traduce, and offend [traduce = humiliate with false statements]

scanty, pinched, slender, and insufficient

science, art, religion, and philosophy

scope, design, purpose, and judgment

sensual, cruel, selfish, and unscrupulous

sentence, judgment, verdict, and doom

serene, composed, conservative, and orderly

several, sundry, many, and various

severe, stern, stiff, and stringent

shameless, corrupt, depraved, and vicious

shock, surprise, terror, and forlornness

simple, hearty, joyous, and affectionate

sin, injustice, grievance, and crime

skill, courage, prowess, and attractiveness

sleepy, soporific, sluggish, and dull [soporific = induces sleep]

slim, slender, slight, and scraggy

slow, dilatory, slack, and procrastinating [dilatory = postpone]

solemn, profound, serious, and difficult

solicit, urge, implore, and importune [importune = insistent requests]

sorrow, disaster, unhappiness, and bereavement

spontaneity, freedom, ease, and adequacy

stately, stern, august, and implacable

steady, reliable, dependable, and well-balanced

stern, severe, abrupt, and unreasonable

stories, pictures, shows and representations

strength, agility, violence, and activity

strong, inventive, daring, and resourceful

sublime, consoling, inspiring, and beautiful

substantial, solid, strong, and durable

suffering, regret, bitterness, and fatigue

superficial, shallow, flimsy, and untrustworthy

superfluous, excessive, unnecessary, and redundant

suspicious, cynical, crafty, and timid

symmetry, proportion, harmony, and regularity

T

tact, courtesy, adroitness, and skill

talents, opportunities, influence, and power

talkative, selfish, superstitious, and inquisitive

tastes, appetites, passions, and desires

tease, tantalize, worry, and provoke

tenacious, stubborn, pertinacious, and obstinate [pertinacious = perversely persistent]

tendency, drift, scope, and disposition

tests, trials, temptations, and toils

theatrical, ceremonious, meretricious, and ostentatious [meretricious = plausible but insincere]

theory, assumption, speculation, and conjecture

think, reflect, weigh, and ponder

tortuous, twisted, sinuous, and circuitous

tractable, gentle, pliant, and submissive

traditional, uncertain, legendary, and unverified

traffic, trade, commerce, and intercourse

tricky, insincere, wily, and shifty

trite, ordinary, commonplace, and hackneyed

trivial, petty, frivolous, and insignificant

true, upright, real, and authentic

tumultuous, riotous, disorderly, and turbulent

U

ugly, evil, hateful, and base

uncertain, questionable, erroneous, and mistaken

unctuous, shrill, brisk, and demonstrative [unctuous = exaggerated, insincere]

unhappy, unfortunate, distressed, and disastrous

uninteresting, lifeless, obscure, and commonplace

unity, aggressiveness, efficiency, and force

unkind, severe, oppressive, and callous

unpractical, childish, slipshod, and silly

unreasonable, foolish, excessive, and absurd

unrivaled, unequaled, incomparable, and matchless

upright, high-minded, brave, and liberal

urgent, important, immediate, and imperative

usage, custom, habit, and practise

V

vain, useless, unproductive, and unavailing

vanities, envies, devices, and jealousies

vast, scattered, various, and incalculable

versatile, eloquent, sagacious, and talented [sagacious = wise]

vigorous, upright, dignified, and imperative

vile, mean, debased, and sordid

violent, impetuous, intense, and ungovernable

virtuous, upright, honest, and moral

visionary, dreamy, pensive, and sensitive

vulgar, heavy, narrow, and obtuse

W

want, lack, poverty, and paucity

warm, soft, clear, and serene

waste, devastate, pillage, and destroy

watched, tendered, fostered, and pruned

weak, inefficient, stupid, and futile

wealth, position, influence, and reputation

well-being, happiness, prosperity, and distress

wild, restless, aimless, and erring

wisdom, judgment, understanding, and far-sightedness

wit, purity, energy, and simplicity

wonderful, interesting, active, and delightful

works, sorrows, visions, and experiences

worry, annoyance, awkwardness, and difficulty

See also these useful collections of phrases, similes and word groups:

• Prepositional Phrases - Sets of paired adjectives that together add up to more than the sum of their parts.


• Significant Phrases - aired nouns, adjectives and adverbs, which together create an impactful and vivid image of the thought you want to convey.


• Public Speaking Sample Phrases - huge collection of examples and phrases are designed to make your oral presentations and debates more impactful and clear.


• Business Phrases - These phrases will help you say what you mean with emphasis and let you stand out from the usual corporate memo and report.


• Conversational Phrases - parts of sentences that you can use as building blocks for larger conversations.


• Striking Similes - similes and figures of speech that you can use to make your writing more emphatic and vivid.


• Literary Expressions - a vast collection of literary phrases, allusions and similes that you can use to spice up your writing and make it more impactful and noteworthy.


• Impressive Phrases - These phrases and groups of related adjectives are meant to make an impact on the reader or listener.


• Felicitous Phrases - Groupings of three words that fit perfectly together and use repetition to create emphasis and striking imagery.