The writers and editors on our editorial staff naturally have strong opinions about language, from grammar pet peeves to bad writing habits. But we’re not outspoken just about things we don’t like. While we examine text with a critical eye, we also appreciate how certain words can vastly improve the quality of a written piece.
For instance, think of the many adjectives with fascinating spellings, pleasing sounds, or interesting definitions, all of which go a long way toward making a sentence more compelling. I asked my colleagues for their favorite such adjectives, whether based on the sound and spelling of the word, the etymology, or its descriptive powers.
The word “twee” is a favorite for Mike Newman, the SVP of Editorial Strategy. It’s defined as “affectedly or excessively dainty, delicate, cute, or quaint,” and it originated in 1905 as a childish pronunciation of the word “sweet,” according to the Online Etymology Dictionary. When asked what makes “twee” his favorite, Mike said, “It’s mostly due to how fun it is to say, but it’s also one of those words that somehow sounds like the thing it’s describing.”
Jennifer Freeman is the senior editor of not only this site, but also Word Daily. Her favorite adjective is “Brobdingnagian,” defined as “marked by tremendous size.” Jennifer’s affinity for this term is due to the fact that “it was one of the earliest words I researched and selected for Word Daily.” She added, “It’s from Gulliver’s Travels, and it relates to the Brobdingnag people, who were gigantic.”
Some adjectives aren’t necessarily unusual or eye-catching, but are still quite gratifying to say. Just ask Meg Neal, editor of History Facts, who said her favorite adjective is the word “preposterous” — defined as “contrary to nature, reason, or common sense.” Meg said that the word is “somehow more satisfying than ‘crazy’ or ‘strange’ or other similar adjectives in truly confounding situations.”
The word “spooky” is formally defined as “strange, unsettling, or frightening in a way that suggests or relates to the supernatural.” But to Michael Nordine — editor of Movie Brief — it’s his favorite adjective because of the mixed messages it sends. “I like when things are kind of scary but also kind of silly,” Michael said, adding that “spooky” is the perfect way to convey that combined meaning.
Kelsey Morrison is the editor of House Outlook and a self-professed fan of the adjective “stupendous,” defined as “causing astonishment or wonder.” Kelsey was reminded of how much she likes it after hearing the word during an Olympic figure skating broadcast; a commentator used it to describe a world-class performance. Kelsey thinks “we’re not using it enough” and “we need to bring it back” with greater frequency.
Senior managing editor Allie Takeda is a fan of the adjective “quixotic,” particularly due to its literary origins. The word means “foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals,” and it comes from the 17th-century Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra novel Don Quixote. The adjective describes the title character from that piece, who was known to act foolishly in pursuit of his various goals.
Brooke Robinson is the editor of Interesting Facts, and Peter Vanden Bos edits Daily Passport. In a serendipitous coincidence, they both selected “resplendent” as their favorite adjective. The term is defined as anything “characterized by a glowing splendor.” Brooke laments not having the chance to use the term often, and said, “I love when I do because it just sounds like the most glorious word. It always brings to mind the image of light pouring through a stained glass window.” As for Peter, he mentioned how he’s “always looking for new ways to describe landscapes or landmarks. This adjective really paints a picture and gives a strong sense of place.”
Last but not least, my own selection comes from my all-time favorite television show: The Simpsons. The word “cromulent” is defined as “acceptable, or satisfactory,” and it was first coined as an intentionally silly, nonsensical word in the 1996 episode “Lisa the Iconoclast.” But the adjective was used so frequently by fans of the show that it transcended the fandom and entered society’s collective lexicon. “Cromulent” achieved lexicographical immortality when it was added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 2023.
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