IELTS Academic Words – Adjectives
Source: S. Reza Atashzamzam
Useful adjectives for task 2 (nearly 165 words)
| Low lexis / meaning | High lexis | Low lexis / meaning | High lexis |
| Bad | Abominable, deplorable | Relating to money | Financial |
| Good | Acceptable, palatable, satisfactory, reasonable | Imaginary | Fictional, fabulous |
| Harmful | Adverse, deleterious, detrimental, inimical, injurious, destructive | Showing that sth exists | Indicative, demonstrative |
| Useful | Effective, fruitful, advantageous, constructive, beneficial | Related to understanding or explaining | Interpretive, analytical |
| Busy | Active, engaged, involved, | More important | Major, significant, cardinal, main, focal, dominant |
| Crowded | Congested, replete, crammed, cramped, flooded | Needed | Vital, crucial, necessary |
| Empty | Blank, bare | Looking the same | Similar, akin, comparable |
| Hopeful | Life affirming, optimistic, sanguine, | Changing often | Variable |
| Sad | Bereft , disconsolate, desolate, despondent | Can be reached or done, possible | Achievable, attainable, feasible, manageable, potential |
| Happy | Blissful, charmed, cheerful, delighted | Right | Suitable, apropos, apt |
| Satisfied | Complacent, content, | Difficult to understand | Abstruse, complex, byzantine |
| Satisfactory | Palatable, acceptable | Certain | Conclusive |
| Having controlling ability | Authoritative, commanding | Limited | Restricted, ambit |
| Can be measured | Assessable | Related, connected with | Relevant |
| Possible | Susceptible | Having good organization | Coordinated, well- organized |
| Present | Available, accessible, obtainable | Done or said in a strong way | Emphatic, assertive |
| Not present | Unavailable, inaccessible | Having good reason for sth | Justifiable |
| Producing unusual ideas | Creative, stimulating, visionary | Morally correct | Righteous, principled, upstanding, virtuous |
| Can be seen, clear | Evident, apparent, conspicuous, distinct, noticeable | Of or at the beginning | Initial, introductory, primary |
| Different | Alternative, contrasting, discrepancy, disparate, distinctive | Happening a lot or all the time | Constant, frequent, endless |
| Trustable | Reliable | Enough | Adequate, fair |
| Loyal | Committed, dedicated | Essential or important part, basic | Fundamental, integral indispensable, requisite |
| Low lexis / meaning | High lexis | Low lexis / meaning | High lexis |
| Exact | Precise, accurate, correct, infallible | Around the world | Global, universal, world wide |
| Can do | Capable | In different order | Graded, arranged, categorized, classified |
| Completely new and effective | Revolutionary, avant- garde, emerging, innovative | Very near, next to | Adjacent, bordering, coterminous, neighboring |
| Great, extremely large | Enormous, colossal, immense, inordinate | Powerful | Prodigious, invulnerable, omnipotent, robust |
| Low lexis / meaning | High lexis | Low lexis / meaning | High lexis |
| About | Regarding, with regard to, in terms of, concerning, on the subject of, connected with | Before | prior to, preceding |
| After | Subsequent | By | Through, via |
| Under | Below, | Above | More |