96 Adjectives That Start With "S"
96 curated adjectives that start with "S".
Below are 96 adjectives that start with "S" in our curated English dictionary. Each entry includes a learner-friendly definition, IPA pronunciation, CEFR difficulty level, and example sentences. Words are sorted by frequency — the most common first. Click any word to view its full dictionary entry with synonyms, collocations, and common mistakes.
Most Common Adjectives That Start With "S" (Top 1k)
Less Common Adjectives That Start With "S" (Top 5k+)
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Safe /seɪf/adj A1
Not in danger; protected and able to be without worry about being hurt.
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Same /seɪm/adj A1
Exactly like another person or thing.
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Sharp /ʃɑːrp/adj A2
Having a fine edge or point that can cut or hurt; not dull or smooth.
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Short /ʃɔːrt/adj A1
Small in length, height, or time; the opposite of long or tall.
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Sick /sɪk/adj A1
Feeling ill or not healthy.
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Silly /ˈsɪli/adj A2
Foolish or not serious; acting in a funny, careless way.
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Slow /sloʊ/adj A1
Moving or happening without speed.
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Small /smɔːl/adj A1
Not big in size.
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Smart /smɑːrt/adj A2
Intelligent and clever.
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Smooth /smuːð/adj A2
Having a flat, even surface that is pleasant to touch.
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Soft /sɒft/adj A1
Not hard or rough; easy to press down; also means gentle or quiet.
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Solar /ˈsəʊlər/adj B1
Powered by or coming from the sun.
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Sole /səʊl/adj B1
The only one; no others.
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Solid /ˈsɒlɪd/adj A2
Something that is hard and keeps its shape.
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Spare /spɛr/adj B1
Extra or additional; kept for use in case of need.
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Spiritual /ˈspɪr.ɪ.tʃu.əl/adj B2
Related to inner feelings, beliefs, and connection to something beyond the physical world. Often about personal faith, not necessarily organized religion.
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Sure /ʃʊr/adj A1
Feeling confident that something is true or will happen.
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Sweet /swiːt/adj A1
Having the taste of sugar; tasting pleasant and sugary. Also means kind or lovable.
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Sacred /ˈseɪkrɪd/adj B2
Something that is holy, important, or special that should be treated with great respect.
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Salient /ˈseɪliənt/adj B2
Standing out and easy to notice; the most important or eye-catching part.
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Scarce /skɛrs/adj B2
Not enough of something; hard to get or find.
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Second /ˈsek.ənd/adj A1
Coming after the first; the next one in order.
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Secret /ˈsiː.krɪt/adj A2
Something that is hidden and not known by many people.
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Secure /sɪˈkjʊr/adj B1
Safe and firmly attached; not loose or in danger.
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Senior /ˈsiːnjə/adj B1
More important or advanced in position; or older than someone else in your workplace or school.
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Sensible /ˈsensəbl/adj B1
Having good sense and making practical, reasonable decisions; or able to notice or feel something.
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Separate /ˈsɛpərət/adj A2
Different from each other; not together or combined.
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Serious /ˈsɪəriəs/adj A2
Not joking or light; requiring attention and thought.
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Several /ˈsevərəl/adj A2
Some; more than two but not a lot.
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Severe /səˈvɪər/adj B1
Very serious; not gentle or mild.
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Silent /ˈsaɪlənt/adj B1
Making no sound; very quiet.
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Similar /ˈsɪmələr/adj B1
Almost the same but not exactly identical; alike in some ways.
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Simple /ˈsɪmpəl/adj A1
Not hard to do or understand; not needing much effort.
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Simultaneous /ˌsɪm.əlˈteɪ.ni.əs/adj B2
Happening together at the exact same moment.
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Single /ˈsɪŋɡəl/adj A1
Only one, or unmarried.
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Sleepy /ˈsliːpi/adj B1
Feeling very tired and wanting to sleep.
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Slight /slaɪt/adj A2
Not very big, not much, a little bit.
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Smoky /ˈsmoʊki/adj B1
Having smoke in it or tasting and smelling like smoke.
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Social /ˈsəʊʃəl/adj A2
About spending time with other people and being friendly in groups or communities.
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Sore /sɔr/adj B1
Experiencing pain or tenderness in a body part.
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Southern /ˈsʌðən/adj B1
Situated in or relating to the south direction or region.
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Special /ˈspeʃəl/adj A1
Not ordinary; unique or particularly important for a specific person or event.
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Specific /spɪˈsɪfɪk/adj A2
Clear and exact; referring to one particular thing, not general.
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Sporadic /spəˈrædɪk/adj B2
Happening sometimes but not regularly or predictably; scattered or scattered through time.
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Stable /ˈsteɪbəl/adj B2
Something that stays the same and doesn't change or break easily. Solid and reliable.
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State-of-the-art /ˌsteɪt əv ðə ˈɑːrt/adj C1
The most modern and advanced version available right now. Using the newest technology or methods.
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Stationary /stəˈʃɛnəri/adj B1
Standing still without any movement.
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Steady /ˈstɛdi/adj B1
Stable and not changing; moving smoothly without shaking.
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Straight /streɪt/adj B1
Without curves or bends; going in a direct line.
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Strange /streɪndʒ/adj A2
Unusual or odd; different from what you normally expect.
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Strict /strɪkt/adj A2
Following rules carefully; not allowing exceptions.
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Strong /strɔŋ/adj A1
Able to lift heavy things or have a lot of power.
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Stupid /ˈstjuːpɪd/adj A2
Not smart or showing poor decision-making.
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Subsequent /ˈsʌbsɪkwənt/adj B2
Coming after something else in time. If event A happens, then event B is subsequent to it.
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Substantial /səbˈstænʃəl/adj B2
Large in amount, size, or importance; considerable and meaningful.
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Sufficient /səˈfɪʃ.ənt/adj B2
Adequate or enough for what is needed; having as much as required.
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Superior /suːˈpɪəriər/adj B2
Better than, or higher in quality or status than, another thing or person.
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Sustainable /səˈsteɪnəbl̩/adj B1
A way of doing things that doesn't damage nature and can continue forever.
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Sagacious /səˈɡeɪʃəs/adj C2
Having sharp intelligence and wisdom. Able to understand situations deeply and make smart decisions. Often used for serious or important matters.
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Scientific /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk/adj B1
About or using science; based on careful study and testing rather than guessing.
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Scrupulous /ˈskruːpjuləs/adj C1
Honest and careful about doing the right thing, even when it is difficult or costs you something.
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Sensitive /ˈsensətɪv/adj B1
Noticing small details or changes; easily upset by criticism or unkind words; or reacting easily to physical things like heat or chemicals.
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Serverless /ˈsɜːrvərləs/adj B2
Cloud computing where you write code without worrying about managing actual servers or infrastructure maintenance.
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Shrewd /ʃruːd/adj C1
Smart and good at judging situations accurately. Someone who sees things clearly and makes wise, practical decisions.
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Singular /ˈsɪŋɡjələr/adj C1
Very unusual, remarkable, or impressive in a striking way. Something that stands out because it is exceptional or one-of-a-kind.
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So-called /ˌsoʊˈkɔːld/adj C1
Used when you doubt or question what something is called; it shows you think the name is not really correct or appropriate.
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Solvent /ˈsɑlvənt/adj C1
Having enough money or assets to pay back everything you owe. Financially healthy and able to pay debts.
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Spurious /ˈspjʊriəs/adj C2
Fake or false; appears to be real but is actually false or based on bad reasoning. Not genuine or authentic.
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Staggering /ˈstæɡərɪŋ/adj C1
So surprising and impressive that it shocks you. Used for big, unexpected facts or numbers that amaze people.
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Steadfast /ˈstedfɑːst/adj C1
Something or someone that is very solid and doesn't move or change. It shows strong loyalty and firm belief that doesn't waver.
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Straightforward /ˌstreɪtˈfɔːrwərd/adj B2
Easy to understand or do; simple and clear. Also means honest and direct without hiding anything.
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Strenuous /ˈstrɛnjuəs/adj C1
Requires a lot of physical effort and energy; exhausting and demanding; vigorous and intense.
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Sublime /səˈblaɪm/adj C1
Extremely beautiful or impressive in a way that affects you deeply and emotionally.
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Substandard /ˌsʌbˈstændərd/adj C1
Not good enough compared to what is expected or required. It does not meet the necessary standard.
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Succinct /səkˈsɪŋkt/adj C1
Short and clear, with no extra or wasted words; saying everything important briefly.
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Superficial /ˌsuːpərˈfɪʃl/adj C1
Something that is only on the outside and doesn't go deep; not thorough or complete.
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Supine /suːˈpaɪn/adj C1
Lying flat on your back facing up. Can also mean weak and not fighting back.
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Saccharine /ˈsækərɪn/adj C2
Excessive artificial sweetness
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Sanctimonious /ˌsæŋk.tɪˈmoʊ.ni.əs/adj C2
Acting like you are morally better than others; pretending to be very virtuous while actually lacking real moral conviction; self-righteous.
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Sanguine /ˈsæŋɡwɪn/adj C2
Having an optimistic and hopeful attitude even when things are difficult or uncertain.
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Saturnine /ˈsætərnaɪn/adj C2
Having a gloomy, slow, brooding personality, often with sarcastic or dark humor.
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Sedulous /ˈsedʒʊləs/adj C2
Showing dedication and great care over a long period when working on something difficult.
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Slothful /ˈsləʊθfəl/adj C2
Deliberate avoidance of exertion
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Sonorous /ˈsɑːnərəs/adj C2
Having a deep, rich, impressive quality of sound that resonates powerfully; or using grand, impressive language.
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Sophistic /səˈfɪstɪk/adj C2
Clever deception masking falsity
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Sophisticated /səˈfɪstɪkeɪtɪd/adj C2
Having complex tastes, knowledge, or design that shows refinement and worldly experience.
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Specious /ˈspeɪʃəs/adj C2
False appearance of truthfulness
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Splendiferous /splɛnˈdɪfərəs/adj C2
Magnificently impressive in an exaggerated or humorous way; grand and splendid but somewhat ironically or overdone.
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Stoic /ˈstəʊɪk/adj C2
Describing someone who bears pain or difficulty without complaining and shows no emotion, or relating to the ancient philosophy of Stoicism.
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Strident /ˈstraɪdənt/adj C2
Making a loud, harsh, piercing sound; or being forcefully insistent and aggressive in manner or tone.
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Sumptuous /ˈsʌmptʃuəs/adj C2
Very luxurious, expensive, and splendid in appearance; showing rich abundance and refined taste in luxury.
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Surreptitious /ˌsɜːrəpˈtɪʃəs/adj C2
Secretive and sneaky; done in a hidden way so that others won't notice or know.
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Sycophantic /ˌsɪkəˈfæntɪk/adj C2
Flattering someone in an insincere way in order to gain advantage; showing false praise to please a powerful person.
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Synthetic /sɪnˈθetɪk/adj C2
Related to statements that are true based on facts about the world, not just word meanings, like "snow is white."
How to Use Adjectives That Start With "S"
Adjectives that start with "S" let you describe nouns with precision. Use comparative forms ("-er than" or "more …") when comparing two things, and superlative forms ("the …-est" or "the most …") when ranking three or more. Short adjectives usually take "-er/-est"; longer ones use "more/most". Several adjectives in this list are also gradable — modify them with "very", "quite", or "extremely" to fine-tune meaning.
Longest Adjective That Start With "S"
The most modern and advanced version available right now. Using the newest technology or methods.
Frequently Asked Questions About Adjectives That Start With "S"
- How many adjectives that start with "S"?
- Our curated dictionary lists 96 adjectives that start with "S", each with a definition, IPA, CEFR level, and example sentences. The list grows as new entries are reviewed.
- What are the most common adjectives that start with "S"?
- Some of the most frequent adjectives that start with "S" include SAD, SUCCESSFUL. These appear in everyday English and are useful for both beginners (A1-A2) and intermediate learners.
- What is adjective?
- An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun, telling us about its qualities, quantity, or condition. Adjectives usually appear before the noun or after a linking verb.
- What is the longest adjective that start with "S"?
- The longest adjective that start with "S" in our dictionary is "STATE-OF-THE-ART" (16 letters). Tap the word to see its full entry.