71 Adjectives That Start with Q | List with Definitions and Examples

Adjectives that start with Q are not so abundant in English language and as you may have noticed, mostly they begin with “Qu”.

What are the most common adjectives starting with Q? I believe “quick” and “quiet” are the first ones coming to your mind. But then it seems kind of hard to think of other descriptive words that start with Q, right?

So do you want to learn some new adjectives that start with Q? Read below.

Adjectives That Start with Q – Full List (71 words)

Q may be one of least common letters used in English, but we managed to compile the following list of adjectives starting with Q below for you. Check how many of these Q adjectives are familiar to you.

• Qabalistic
• Qatari
• Quackish
• Quacky
• Quadrangular
• Quadraphonic
• Quadrasonic
• Quadrate
• Quadratic
• Quadrilateral
• Quadrillionth
• Quadripartite
• Quadriphonic
• Quadrisonic
• Quadruped
• Quadruple
• Quadruplicate
• Quaggy
• Quaint
• Quaky
• Qualified
• Qualitative
• Quality
• Quantal
• Quantifiable
• Quantitative
• Quantized
• Quarantined
• Quarrelsome
• Quartan
• Quarterly
• Quasi
• Quaternary
• Quaternate
• Queasy
• Quebecois
• Quechuan
• Queenlike
• Queenly
• Queer
• Quenchless
• Querulous
• Questionable
• Questioning
• Quick
• Quick-acting
• Quick-drying
• Quick-minded
• Quick-paced
• Quickset
• Quick-sighted
• Quicksilver
• Quick-tempered
• Quick-thinking
• Quick-witted
• Quiescent
• Quiet
• Quilted
• Quincentenary
• Quincentennial
• Quinquefoliate
• Quintessential
• Quintillionth
• Quintuple
• Quirky
• Quivering
• Quixotic
• Quizzical
• Quondam
• Quotable
• Quotidian

Positive Adjectives That Start with Q to Describe a Person

Although Q adjectives are kind of rare, some adjectives that start with Q to describe a person below are commonly used.

1. Qualified

Definition: meeting the proper standards and requirements and training for an office, or position

Synonyms: able, capable, competent, and fitted

Example: She is highly qualified for this job.

2. Quirky

Definition: characterized by peculiar, or unexpected traits, or aspects

Synonyms: eccentric, unconventional, unusual

Example: Her quirky sense of humor was apparent on the show, and she quickly became a fan favorite.

3. Quick-thinking

Definition: the act of making a sensible decision very quickly, especially in a dangerous, or difficult situation

Synonyms: intelligent, clever, quick-witted

Example: A major crash was avoided thanks to quick-thinking drivers.

4. Queenly

Definition: fit for or appropriate to a queen

Synonyms: kingly, monarchical, having royal rank

Example: She was one of the Nereids, and distinguishable from the others only by her queenly attributes.

5. Quintessential

Definition: representing the most perfect, or typical example of a class

Synonyms: typical, classic, model

Example: He was the quintessential tough guy and self-contained.

6. Quick-witted

Definition: quick in participation and understanding: mentally alert

Synonyms: intelligent, clever, keen, and quick

Example: He is lively and quick-witted despite his age.

7. Quotable

Definition: suitable for, or worth quoting

Synonyms: repeatable

Example: She remains highly quotable in my family.

Positive Adjectives That Start with Q to Describe an Event

Descriptive words that start with Q in this section all seem unfamiliar, but you can use them in essay writings or daily talks, you’ll surely impress others.

1. Quiescent

Definition: in a state, or period of inactivity, or dormancy

Synonyms: passive, inoperative, inactive

Example: It has been quiescent since 1566, and is now completely extinct.

2. Quotidian

Definition: of, or occurring every day; daily

Synonyms: ordinary, average, unmemorable

Example: Taking the dog on a walk is a quotidian event for the old couple.

3. Quadraphonic

Definition: relating to, or using four channels for the transmission, or reproduction of sound, or recording

Synonyms: quadrangle, quadrant

Example: He created a new quadraphonic performance space for his acoustic voice.

4. Quadruplex

Definition: being, or relating to a system of telegraphy by which two messages in each direction may be sent simultaneously over one wire

Synonyms: four-fold quadruple

Example: The first quadruplex system was invented by Edison in 1874, and in four years it saved more than half a million dollars.

5. Quarterly

Definition: done, produced or occurring once every quarter of a year

Synonyms: twice-yearly, bimonthly

Example: The quarterly council meeting is tonight.

6. Quantitative

Definition: relating to, measuring, or measured by the quantity of something rather than its quality

Synonyms: ratable, numerical, and computable

Example: This seminar starts from a purely quantitative concept of lexical collocation.

7. Quondam

Definition: that once was; former

Synonyms: former, sometimes

Example: He went back to Mrs. Howard and delivered an expurgated version of her quondam husband’s invitation to join the party.

8. Quadripartite

Definition: shared by or involving four parties

Synonyms: quadrivial, quadruple

Example: The vault is of a plain quadripartite arrangement.

Positive Adjectives That Start with Q to Describe a Place

Before writing this article and doing some searching, it is kind of hard for me to think of even two adjectives that start with the letter Q to describe a place. Because the only one that comes to mind is “Quiet”. What about you?

1. Quaint

Definition: pleasingly or strikingly old-fashioned or unusual

Synonyms: sweet, charming, attractive

Example:  He lived more than two hundred years ago in a quaint little town in Italy.

2. Quiet

Definition: making little or no noise

Synonyms: silent, hushed, noiseless, soundless

Example: The object was to keep the garden a quiet place.

3. Quadrilateral

Definition: a one-dimensional space that has four sides, each of which is straight.

Synonyms: rectangle, parallelogram

Example: Legnago is one of the famous quadrilateral fortresses.

4. Qualifying

Definition: denoting someone, or something that qualifies for something

Synonyms: certified, licensed, trained

Example: He had finished the qualifying round in fifth place.

Positive Adjectives That Start with Q to Describe Emotions, Personality, and Feelings

There are always some more common adjectives and others not. But don’t underestimate the latter, because they will make your writing more impressive. If you don’t believe, incorporate the following adjectives with letter Q into your future essays, presentations, and you’ll see the difference.

1. Quick

Definition: moving quickly and lightly

Synonyms: fast, swift, speedy, brisk

Example: His quick thinking saved her life.

2. Quemeful

Definition: merciful, showing kindness to others

Synonyms: kind, merciful

Example: She was very quemeful with others.

3. Queen-like

Definition: having the rank of resembling, or befitting a queen

Synonyms: princely, monarchal, or exercised by a queen

Example: The laying workers functioned in a queen-like manner, they were unable to suppress ovarian development as effectively as a queen. 

4. Questioning

Definition: showing an interest in learning new things

Synonyms: interrogate, cross-examine, asking

Example: His tone was genuinely questioning, and she felt grateful that he was giving her the choice to opt-out.

Negative Adjectives That Start with Q to Describe a Person

To build a strong vocabulary, besides common adjectives, you have to acquire some uncommon ones as well, such as adjective words that start with Q below.

1. Quack

Definition: medical practitioners who do not know what they are doing; unconventional medical treatments not likely to work

Synonyms: swindler, fraud, mountebank

Example: The quack doctors who used to sell bogus or out-of-date medicines no longer come to the village.

2. Quarrelsome

Definition: given to or characterized by quarreling

Synonyms: argumentative, disputatious, contentious, captious

Example: He was quarrelsome and unruly.

3. Querulous

Definition: inclined to find fault; full of complaint.

Synonyms: pettish, testy, and tetchy

Example: She became querulous and demanding.

4. Quick-tempered

Definition: easy to anger

Synonyms: irritable, fiery, short-tempered, touchy

Example: She is quick-tempered and prone to screeching when she is upset.

5. Quizzical

Definition: indicating mild or amused puzzlement

Synonyms: puzzled, perplexed, baffled, inquiring

Example: She gave me a quizzical look.

6. Quagmire

Definition: an awkward, complex, or hazardous situation

Synonyms: entanglement, morass, bog, marsh

Example: I stumbled into a quagmire of my own making.

7. Quixotic

Definition: extremely idealistic; unrealistic and impractical

Synonyms: extravagant, starry-eyed, romantic, visionary

Example: He has always lived his life by a hopelessly quixotic code of honor.

8. Qualmish

Definition: of relating to, or producing qualms

Synonyms: anxious, groggy, uneasy, restless

Example: I felt myself growing pale and qualmish, but grieved in silence and said nothing.

Negative Adjectives That Start with Q to Describe an Event

I am wondering if you have found out already that most describing words beginning with Q start with “Qu”, right?

1. Queasy

Definition: nauseous; feeling sick

Synonyms: nauseous, sick, carsick, seasick

Example: Travelling by boat makes me queasy.

2. Queer

Definition: strange; odd

Synonyms: unusual, curious, odd, weird

Example: His behavior seemed queer at the party.

3. Questionable

Definition: doubtful as regards truth or validity

Synonyms: controversial, contentious

Example: It is questionable whether any of these exceptions is genuine.

Negative Adjectives That Start with Q to Describe a Place

Adjectives that start with Q to describe a place are sincerely rare. Are you able to add more to list below?

1. Quaggy

Definition: (of soil) soft and watery

Synonyms: spongy, squashy, pulpy

Example: This is a hospitable house, but the ground must be quaggy underneath, for every step the building quakes.

Negative Adjectives That Start with Q to Describe Emotions, Personality, and Feelings

To develop a fancy writing style, you must incorporate some uncommon yet proper and advanced adjectives. Can you find some from own list of adjectives that start with Q below?

1. Quavery

Definition: (of a person’s voice) shaky or unsteady, typically through nervousness, or emotion

Synonyms: tremulous, wobbling, trembly

Example: Margaret’s voice was still quavery.

2. Quenchless

Definition: unable to be stifled or held back

Synonyms: insistent, crying, demanding, desiring

Example: The star was burning in his heart with quenchless ardors.

3. Qabalistic

Definition: having a secret or hidden meaning

Synonyms: cryptic, sibylline esoteric

Example: Qabalistic magicians who think they are contributing towards this progression should think again.

4. Querulous

Definition: complaining in a rather petulant or whining manner.

Synonyms: petulant, complaining, touchy

Example: He passed into the next room, and the deep, querulous sounds of his voice were at once heard from there.

5. Quavering

Definition: (of the voice) quivering as from weakness or fear

Synonyms: tremble, shake, quiver

Example: He squinted up at me, then spoke in a high quavering voice.

Final Thoughts on Adjectives That Start with Q

Now you’ve finished the list of adjectives that start with the letter Q. To help understand these adjectives that start with Q more easily, we divided them into 8 categories for positive and negative uses with definitions, synonyms and examples. Are they helpful? We hope you’ve learnt something useful from this article.

Ps. See also positive words that start with Q, nouns that start with Q and verbs that start with Q.