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The English language truly has an abundance of words. It has its roots as a Germanic language but received significant French influence during the Norman invasion of England, giving it two variants for many words (e.g., Germanic “have” and Latinate “possess”). In this way, English has a richer vocabulary than most other languages. And nonetheless, there is a tendency to forgo the rich vocabulary available and simply preface adjectives with “very.” “Very good.” “Very bad.” “Very hot.” “Very cold.” Can you say “very boring”? Why not “excellent”? “Awful”? “Sweltering”? “Freezing”? Not satisfied with those? It’s okay, English still has more words. “Superb”? “Terrible”? “Scorching”? “Frigid”? These descriptive words paint a much more vibrant picture and render your writing more sophisticated. Not only do they elevate your vocabulary level, but they also tend to be stronger than the “very” version. “Scorching” sounds hotter than “very hot.” This chart offers expressive alternatives to 128 plain words. Whether you’re a native speaker or an English learner, these terms are sure to enhance your vocabulary and improve your writing.

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