Intensifiers & Degree Adjectives
Replace basic degree words like good, bad, big, and small with stronger, more expressive adjectives.
How do you want to practice?
Flashcards
Flip each card and rate how well you remembered it. That is how we learn when to show it to you again.
Learn
A quiz that adapts to your pace: multiple choice that progresses to typing the answer.
Write
Listen to the word and type it. Great for practicing spelling and pronunciation.
Match
Match the words against the clock. A fun, low-pressure way to review.
Terms in this deck
- outstandingextremely good
- exceptionalunusually good
- superbexcellent, of very high quality
- remarkableworthy of attention because it is unusual or special
- phenomenalextremely impressive
- awfulvery bad or unpleasant
- dreadfulvery bad, causing fear or unhappiness
- appallingshockingly bad
- atrociousextremely bad or unpleasant
- abysmalextremely bad, the worst possible
- enormousextremely large
- massivevery large and heavy
- immenseextremely large in size or degree
- colossalextremely large, like a giant
- giganticextremely large, like a giant
- tinyextremely small
- minusculeextremely small, tiny
- microscopicextremely small, almost invisible
- diminutivevery small in size, often formal
- scorchingextremely hot
- swelteringuncomfortably hot
- boilingextremely hot, used for weather or liquid
- bitterextremely cold and unpleasant, used for weather
- frigidextremely cold and unpleasant
- chillyslightly cold
- rapidhappening very quickly
- swiftmoving or happening quickly
- briskquick and energetic
- sluggishslow and lacking energy
- gradualhappening slowly over time
- challengingdifficult in a way that tests your ability
- demandingrequiring a lot of effort or skill
- gruelingextremely tiring and difficult
- effortlessdone without difficulty
- straightforwardsimple and easy to understand
- crucialextremely important
- vitalabsolutely necessary
- paramountmore important than anything else
- significantimportant enough to be noticed
- deafeningextremely loud
- hazardousdangerous, likely to cause harm
- perilousextremely dangerous
- robuststrong and well-built
- scarcerare and hard to find
- spotlessperfectly clean
- filthyextremely dirty
How to study this deck
These strong adjectives replace "very + adjective": instead of "very good" you say outstanding and instead of "very bad", awful. With strong adjectives you do not use "very": you do not say "very enormous". You use other intensifiers such as absolutely, completely or simply the adjective alone. Practice replacing basic adjectives with these.
The trickiest words
- awful: it means terrible. It does not mean awesome even though they look similar.
- massive / enormous: they already mean very big, so you do not say "very massive". You can say "absolutely massive".
- appalling: it means shockingly bad. It is very strong and used for things that cause horror or outrage.
Examples in context
She gave an outstanding performance.
The weather was awful all weekend.
A massive rock blocked the road.
The crack was almost microscopic.
The wind was frigid that morning.
The internet connection was sluggish.
The instructions were straightforward.
The chemicals are hazardous to your health.
Mini dialogue
- A: How was the concert?
- B: Superb! The singer was phenomenal.
- A: And the sound?
- B: Awful, and the crowd was massive. The traffic was abysmal.