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Last updated:
December 6, 2022
Are you tired of always saying “good”?
Looking forward to using more vivid and creative ways to describe people, places and experiences that you enjoy?
After reading the descriptions and examples we have below, you’ll be able to move beyond just describing everything as “good.”
Contents
- Cool
- Excellent
- Wonderful
- Perfect
- Fantastic
- Exceptional
- Terrific
- Outstanding
- Pleasant
- Awesome
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Cool
In addition to being used to describe temperature, “cool” also means very good or fashionable. For example, you might describe stylish clothes as “cool” or a performance by a musician that you really enjoy.
It can also be used to express acceptance when someone makes a suggestion. For example, if someone suggests meeting to go to a movie, you could say “Cool! I’ll see you at 6 p.m.” Like “awesome,” “cool” is a popular expression for younger people, and you shouldn’t use it in more formal conversations.
Excellent
“Excellent” is used to describe something very good or of high quality. Almost anything you can describe as “good,” you can also describe as excellent. It can be used when speaking to friends, family, or coworkers when you want to emphasize that something is not just ok or good, but very good.
If someone asks “how are you,” you can respond “excellent.” Or, similar to this restaurant review, you could say “Have you been to the new restaurant downtown? The food there is excellent.”
Wonderful
“Wonderful” means great or very good. People can be wonderful, experiences can be wonderful and things can be wonderful. You can use this word in both formal and casual settings.
For example, you could say “The paintings at the art exhibition last night were wonderful,” or “I think you’ll like her. She’s a wonderful person.”
Perfect
Perfect describes something that is flawless or exactly matching the need in a particular situation.
If you have a very good day and everything happens exactly as you want it to, you could describe it as a “perfect day.” A hotel could be “perfect for families” or an actor in a movie could be “perfect for the role.” If someone suggests an idea that you like, you can say “That’s perfect” or “That sounds perfect.”
Fantastic
The word “fantastic” is used to describe something very good or exciting. It can be used in both formal and informal situations. It’s a very enthusiastic, positive word, so you should say it with some emphasis or exclamation.
For example, if someone asks you about your trip to Thailand, you could say “It was fantastic!”
Exceptional
“Exceptional” means that someone or something is above average. This adjective has a slightly more formal tone, and it’s a good word to use when you want to sound a little more sophisticated.
For example, you could say “I think Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The scenery is exceptional.”
Terrific
“Terrific” means very good or great. You can use it the same way you use “good.” It’s another very enthusiastic adjective, so only use it if you’re describing something you really like a lot.
You could describe someone’s idea or performance as “terrific,” such as “I’m very happy with the results. She did a terrific job on this project.”
Keep in mind that “terrific” can also be used to describe something very bad depending on the noun it’s paired with. For example, you could also talk about a “terrific storm” or a “terrific explosion.”
Outstanding
“Outstanding” describes something that “stands out” or is noticeably better than the alternatives. An “outstanding” book is better than all the other books you’ve read recently, or an “outstanding” hotel is one of the nicest hotels you’ve ever stayed in. This adjective is appropriate to use in casual or formal conversations.
Note that “outstanding” can also mean “unpaid” depending on the situation. So if you have an “outstanding” bill, it means that you have a bill that needs to be paid, not a “very good” bill.
How do you know which meaning is being used? Context is super important for this. That’s why when you’re learning new words, you should try to learn them in sentences. You can also use immersion programs to see words in different scenarios. On FluentU, for example, you can search for specific words in the program’s library of authentic videos to see how they’re used by native English speakers.
Pleasant
“Pleasant” describes something that is enjoyable or likable. It can be used to describe people, places, or experiences. “Pleasant” is a little less strong than words like “outstanding,” “terrific” or “fantastic” and it can be a good word to use if something was nice, yet not the absolute best thing imaginable.
For example, you could say “We had a nice time at dinner. It was a very pleasant evening.”
Awesome
Technically, “awesome” describes something that inspires awe or wonder. Typically, however, “awesome” is used to describe people, experiences or places that are very good or impressive.
For example, you could say “I love your new watch. It looks awesome.” It’s an adjective that is particularly popular with younger people, and it’s not an expression that you would want to use in a formal or business situation.
Say goodbye to “good!” Now you have some awesome, terrific, wonderful synonyms to improve your English vocabulary way beyond the basics.
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
2 min
Updated: January 29th, 2023
Have you ever read a book and was impressed with the wide diversity of synonyms the author uses instead of “good?” Do you want to obtain a vocabulary as rich as the writers and poets have? Well, this task is quite challenging.
Probably, one of the most often-used words to describe the object or the process is “good.” Good weather, good movies, good essay writing service, good music, good life, good this, good that…And don’t convince yourself that you don’t do that.
Indeed:
It’s convenient and time-efficient to use one word over and over again, but is it what a good writer would do? Our team has put together this handy infographic containing 200 powerful words to use instead of “good.” With it, you’ll make your speech and writing more powerful and impactful.
What Words to Use Instead of Good?
The English language is undoubtedly diverse. To find an appropriate synonym for any word, you may have to open a thesaurus and spend time searching for alternatives. This is why you may need our list of other words to use instead of “good.”
Make sure you select carefully. Before picking or coming up with the synonym, examine the context thoroughly. What are you trying to describe? The book, the movie, the person, the place, the food?
For example:
You might say “a savory soup.” Can you use the word “savory” to describe a book? “A savory poem” – does it sound okay? Not really… Thus, the context matters a lot! Take this fact into consideration to avoid the confusing meanings and improperly inserted words.
Don’t wrack your brain looking for words instead of “good”—just choose the one you like from our infographic!
Thank you for visiting our page! We hope you won’t struggle with searching for alternatives because you have 200 powerful words to use instead of “good!” Improve your writing skills with us, and don’t forget to share our tips with your friends!
This might be interesting for you:
About Author
This article was developed by the editorial team of Custom-Writing.org, a professional writing service with 3-hour delivery.
The soul of writing is specificity, yet all too often, we lean on general-purpose words instead of choosing the most precise ones. Most of our daily communication probably depends on less than 1,000 words. Of course, that includes words such as you, I, is, are, of, and for, which are already the best words for the job. I admit that sometimes in conversation, I deliberately limit my vocabulary because I don’t want others to look at me quizzically: “Who does he think he is, anyway: one of the authors of a writing tips blog?” The result is vague, even boring, conversation, using words so general, they could fit almost everything in the world.
How was your trip? Fine.
How do you feel? Good.
Choosing other words is no improvement, if we always choose the same words. A world where everything is cool or awesome is not much more interesting than a world where everything is fine or good.
So let’s buck the trend. Here are 41 alternatives to good that can’t be used to describe everything in the world because they each have specific meanings, or at least, different connotations.
- breathtaking – amazing, surprising, astonishing, enough to make you gasp with pleasure, and almost enough to make you forget to breathe.
- choice – preferred, prized, specially selected. In New Zealand, the exclamation “Choice!” is used similarly to “Great!” in the United States.
- dazzling – amazing, splendid, brilliant, shining so bright that it’s hard to see it.
- delectable – highly delicious, usually describing food, from the Latin for “delight.”
- delightful – causing joy, delight or pleasure, producing positive emotion, with the same Latin root as “delectable.”
- deluxe – high quality, related to luxury, from the Latin for “excess.”
- enjoyable – pleasant, bringing pleasure and satisfaction – bringing joy.
- excellent – superior, best in its class, of the highest quality, making a person shout “Excelsior!”
- exceptional – uncommon, rare, and better for being so.
- exemplary – an example of high quality, a model for others.
- fine – delicate, exquisite, almost as good as it gets. Related to the French and Latin words for “finished” and “exact.” Overused until often it merely means “acceptable.”
- exquisite – exceptionally fine or rare, with the sense of extreme
- favorable – helpful, encouraging, positive, convenient, such as getting hoped-for results.
- first-rate – exceptionally good, in the highest class. Describing a British naval vessel with more than 100 guns.
- first-string – the starting players on a sports team; that is, the best of them. Many other expressions begin with the word first.
- five-star – from the hotel rating system in which a five-star hotel is among the world’s best.
- formidable – causing awe, respect, wonder or even fear, perhaps because it’s so large or strong.
- gilt-edged – high quality, from the practice of putting a thin layer of gold on the edges of a book.
- gratifying – pleasing, satisfying, making someone content.
- incredible – amazing, beyond belief, almost too good to be true.
- luxurious – fine or comfortable, such as an expensive hotel room. I use it to show gratitude for a gift that is too fancy for my tastes.
- magnificent – splendid, elegant, noble. From the Latin word for “great deeds.”
- opulent – showy, extravagant, magnificent, sumptuous – more than luxurious, with the sense of “more than you really need”
- pleasing – giving cheer, pleasure, or enjoyment – something that pleases you
- positive – certain, good, favorable. Currently used in expressions such as “positive energy” or “positive vibes.”
- precious – beloved, valuable, worthy, of high price. “Precious” writing is euphuistic: overly cute and takes itself too seriously.
- prime – first, as in first quality.
- rare – uncommon, scarce, and therefore valuable. The gravestone of an influential English playwright is inscribed with the (misspelled) tribute “O rare Ben Johnson”.
- satisfying – sufficient, pleasing, more than adequate.
- select – privileged, specially chosen, high-quality.
- shipshape – well-organized, fully prepared, meticulous, tidy. Before you embark on an ocean voyage, you want your ship to be in shape.
- sound – healthy, solid, secure, complete. If a floor is sound, you won’t fall through.
- sterling – of high, verifiable value, as in sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver. Originally referring to British coins, which had a star or a starling on them in the Middle Ages.
- striking – impressive, memorable, calling to mind the striking of a coin.
- sumptuous – costly, expensive, as in a meal with many courses of great variety. We’ve got a whole article about sumptuous.
- top-notch – belonging to the highest level, possibly from some 19th century game that used notches to keep score.
- subtle – clever and crafty, though that’s an older meaning. A subtle flavor is not overbearing, and the chef will be pleased if you tell him so.
- up to snuff – meeting the standard, adequate, sharp. Snuff is a more expensive powdered tobacco, which was sniffed by higher-class gentlemen as a stimulant in the 19th century.
- valuable – worthy of esteem, having high worth or value.
- welcome – anticipated, a pleasure to see, received with gladness, as in “welcome news.” From the Old English for “a wished-for guest.”
- well-made – built right, properly constructed, sound.
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Great, excellent, amazing, awesome (our personal favorite); these are just a few stale superlatives stymying your writing.
As the Wise, Ink team were working on our own book project, we were shocked to find the obscene number of “really greats” and “very goods” that peppered our precious book content. The overuse of words like terrific, amazing, and awesome are boring and pedestrian.
We’re among friends, so we’ll admit that it was not only embarrassing, but downright lazy on our part to rely so heavily on “great” and other past-its-prime word choices. Thus, we sought several resources to help eliminate this and developed a list of words we’re committed to using from now on.
Use powerful superlatives that enhance your blogs, tweets, press releases, and manuscripts. These 45 foolproof words will color your writing with punch and pizzazz. So get rid of that musty good and great and use these instead:
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Astounding
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Bedazzling
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Brilliant
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Breathtaking
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Classy
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Compelling
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Dazzling
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Eclipsing
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Elite
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Enriching
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Epic
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Flawless
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First-rate
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Gripping
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Groundbreaking
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Gut-wrenching
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Headline-worthy
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Iconic
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Impeccable
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Insightful
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Inspired
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Kick-Ass
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Laudable
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Legendary
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Luminous
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Masterful
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Notable
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Pioneering
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Pitch-Perfect
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Pivotal
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Prime
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Provocative
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Refined
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Rich
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Riveting
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Sensational
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Stellar
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To Die For
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Trailblazing
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Thought-Provoking
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Touching
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Transcendent
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Unforgettable
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Vibrant
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World class
Need more word ideas? Check out Better Than Great: A Plenitudinous Compendium of Wallopingly Fresh Superlatives by Arthur Plotnik. You won’t regret it!
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Published
March 28, 2012
- Related Content by Tag
- do and don’ts
- words
- writing
by Liz Walter
We often need to compare one person or thing with another, and in this post I am going to look at how we do this. This is a fairly basic topic, but one where I find that intermediate students still often make mistakes.
We make comparatives by adding -er to the end of an adjective or by putting more in front of the adjective: Your hair is longer than mine. It is more stylish.
We make superlatives by adding -est to the end of an adjective and the in front of it or by putting the most in front of the adjective: Everest is the highest mountain in the world. It is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.
There are some fairly simple rules for which form to use. If the adjective has one syllable, use -er/the -est: a louder noise/the fastest car. And if the adjective has three or more syllables, use more/the most: a more interesting book/the most expensive toy.
Adjectives with two syllables are a little more complicated. If they end in -y, -er, -le or -ow, you can use either form: He’s feeling happier/more happy now. The narrowest/most narrow roads are in the city centre.
All other two-syllable adjectives can only use more/the most: She is more patient than my old teacher. That was the most boring movie I’ve ever seen.
So if you’re not sure, the safest thing is to use more/the most with all two-syllable words.
There are a few other things you need to remember. The most important one is: never use -er/the -est and more/the most together. You may sometimes hear native speakers do this, but it is not correct standard English.
Another important rule is that when one-syllable adjectives end with a single short vowel and a consonant, you need to double the consonant before -er/est: It is hotter today. It’s the biggest lake in the world.
Also, when adjectives end with the suffix -y, you need to change the y to an i before you add the -er/est endings: I was lonelier than before. It’s the funniest movie I’ve ever seen.
A common mistake for students of English is to write ‘then’ rather than ‘than’ in sentences such as: He is older than me. Make sure that you always write ‘than’ between two things or people you are comparing.
Finally, there are three very common adjectives that have very irregular comparative and superlative forms. They are good > better > best, bad > worse > worst and far > further > furthest: His laptop is better than mine. We climbed the furthest hill.