Comparative form word list

Comparative Superlative and adjectives list from A to Z

Print the list of comparative superlative and adjectives from A to Z

To print the lesson on the list of comparative superlative and adjectives from A to Z. Right click on a white space and choose print. You can click on the printer icon just below and to the right of the contact us menu button at the top of the page.

Lessons that are related to this those that and these

Food adjectives for describing food A to Z list

Order of adjectives English grammar

Adjectives learning what are adjectives

Click on the following link for the Online English dictionary — English lesson

---

50+ Comparative and Superlative Adjectives List

What are Comparative and Superlative Adjectives? Comparative adjectives are used to compare two things, while superlative adjectives are used to compare three or more things. Generally, comparative adjectives are formed by adding -er to the base word, and superlative adjectives are formed by adding -est.

For example:

• tall → taller → tallest
• short → shorter → shortest

However, some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms. For example:

• good → better → best
• bad → worse → worst

Many adjectives can be used in both the comparative and superlative forms, depending on what you are comparing. For example:

• The new computer is faster than the old one. (comparative)
• The new computer is the fastest one I’ve ever seen. (superlative)
• She’s a better writer than he is. (comparative)
• She’s the best writer I know. (superlative)

Here are 50+ comparative and superlative adjectives to help you make comparisons between adjectives:

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
Bright	brighter	brightest
Easy	easier	easiest
Stingy	stingier	stingiest
Tasty	tastier	tastiest
Weak	weaker	weakest
Chewy	chewier	chewiest
Soft	softer	softest
Soon	sooner	soonest
Steep	steeper	steepest
Young	younger	youngest
Close	closer	closest
Fancy	fancier	fanciest
Likely	likelier	likeliest
Mad	madder	maddest
Near	nearer	nearest
Rude	ruder	rudest
Gentle	gentler	gentlest
Grand	grander	grandest
Rich	richer	richest
Ugly	uglier	ugliest
Bad	worse	worst
Bold	bolder	boldest
Flaky	flakier	flakiest
Humble	humbler	humblest
Kind	kinder	kindest
Foolish	more foolish	most foolish
Busy	busier	busiest
Dull	duller	dullest
Hairy	hairier	hairiest
Icy	icier	iciest
Smart	smarter	smartest
Crispy	crispier	crispiest
Flat	flatter	Flattest
New	newer	newest
Noisy	noisier	noisiest
Rough	rougher	roughest
Weird	weirder	weirdest
Curvy	curvier	curviest
Damp	damper	dampest
Funny	funnier	funniest
Risky	riskier	riskiest
True	truer	truest
Dense	denser	densest
Filthy	filthier	filthiest
Quick	quicker	quickest
Rare	rarer	rarest
Smoky	smokier	smokiest
Greedy	greedier	greediest
Gross	grosser	grossest
Plain	plainer	plainest
Slow	slower	slowest
Wet	wetter	wettest
Curly	curly	curliest
Fat	fatter	fattest
Little (amount)	less	least
Pretty	prettier	prettiest
Scary	scarier	scariest
Deadly	deadlier	deadliest
Proud	prouder	proudest
Ripe	riper	ripest
Shiny	shinier	shiniest
Warm	warmer	warmest
Angry	angrier	angriest
Clever	cleverer	cleverest
Green	greener	greenest
Lively	livelier	liveliest
Naughty	naughtier	naughtiest
Brief	briefer	briefest
Dark	darker	darkest
Happy	happier	happiest
Hot	hotter	hottest
Juicy	juicier	juiciest
Creepy	Creepier	creepiest
Fair	fairer	fairest
Raw	rawer	rawest
Rusty	rustier	rustiest
Tan	tanner	tannest
Chubby	chubbier	chubbiest
Dusty	dustier	dustiest
Fit	fitter	fittest
Friendly	friendlier	friendliest
Slimy	slimier	slimiest
Black	blacker	blackest

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
Bloody	bloodier	Bloodiest
Short	shorter	shortest
Spicy	spicier	spiciest
Tough	tougher	toughest
Grave	graver	gravest
Heavy	heavier	heaviest
Many	more	most
Nice	nicer	nicest
Strong	stronger	strongest
Bitter	bitterer	bitterest
Firm	firmer	Firmest
Handy	handier	Handiest
Hungry	hungrier	hungriest
Messy	messier	messiest
Early	earlier	earliest
Few	fewer	fewest
Odd	odder	oddest
Sincere	sincerer	sincerest
Sore	sorer	sorest
Big	bigger	biggest
Empty	emptier	emptiest
Large	larger	largest
Salty	saltier	saltiest
Sunny	sunnier	sunniest
Wide	wider	widest
Hip	hipper	hippest
Little	littler	littlest
Loud	louder	loudest
Oily	oilier	oiliest
Shy	shyer	shyest
Sleepy	sleepier	sleepiest
Fine	finer	finest
Healthy	healthier	healthiest
Sad	sadder	saddest
Wise	wiser	wisest
Worldly	worldlier	worldliest
Dear	dearer	dearest
Deep	deeper	deepest
Popular	more popular	most popular
Narrow	narrower	narrowest
Poor	poorer	poorest
Bland	blander	blandest
Coarse	coarser	coarsest
Crazy	crazier	craziest
Dirty	dirtier	dirtiest
Neat	neater	neatest
Sharp	sharper	sharpest
Faint	fainter	faintest
Fresh	fresher	freshest
Difficult	more difficult	most difficult
Tiny	tinier	tiniest
Windy	windier	windiest
Clear	clear	clearest
Guilty	guilter	guiltiest
Hard	harder	hardest
Light	lighter	lightest
Sane	saner	sanest
Bossy	bossier	bossiest
Crunchy	crunchier	crunchiest
Full	fuller	fullest
Skinny	skinnier	skinniest
Sweaty	sweatier	sweatiest
Broad	broader	broadest

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
Cheap	cheaper	Cheapest
Classy	classier	classiest
Clean	cleaner	cleanest
Renowned	more renowned	most renowned
Tall	taller	tallest
Lovely	lovelier	loveliest
Mild	milder	mildest
Cruel	more cruel	most cruel
Strange	stranger	strangest
Thin	thinner	thinnest
Creamy	creamier	creamiest
Lonely	lonlier	loneliest
Roomy	roomier	roomiest
Smelly	smellier	smelliest
Thick	thicker	thickest
Thirsty	thirstier	thirstiest
Brave	braver	bravest
Dry	drier	driest
Pure	purer	purest
Small	smaller	smallest
Sour	sourer	sourest
Wild	wilder	wildest
Calm	calmer	calmest
Dumb	dumber	dumbest
Late	later	latest
Low	lower	lowest
Sorry	sorrier	sorriest
Shallow	shallower	shallowest
Simple	simpler	simplest
Strict	stricter	strictest
Sweet	sweeter	sweetest
Worthy	worthier	worthiest
Cloudy	cloudier	cloudiest
Harsh	harsher	harshest
Beautiful	more beautiful	most beautiful
Safe	safer	safest
Slim	slimmer	slimmest
Cold	colder	coldest
Fierce	fiercer	fiercest
Itchy	itchier	itchiest
Long	longer	longest
Polite	politer	politest
Clumsy	clumsier	clumsiest
Cool	cooler	coolest
Great	greater	greatest
Famous	more famous	most famous
Smooth	smoother	smoothest

About The Author

We have a tabular representation of original adjective words, along with the forms that these adjectives take in comparative and superlative mode.

You should know how to use these adjective forms if you want to  improve your English writing and speaking skills, because they give you a way to compare objects.

Now, let’s look at some words and see they are modified in their other forms.

Following are list of adjectives with their two different forms, I could find after scouring the web. If you see any missing or want to suggest some, let me know in the comments.

Original form	Comparative Form	Superlative Form
Fast	faster	Fastest
Bold	bolder	Boldest
Cruel	crueler	Cruelest
calm	calmer	calmest
Clear	clearer	clearest
Deep	deeper	deepest
dark	darker	darkest
Dumb	dumber	dumbest
Fierce	fiercer	fiercest
fat	fatter	fastest
Grave	graver	gravest
Gross	grosser	grossest
Humble	humbler	humblest
Harsh	harsher	harshest
High	higher	highest
Lazy	lazier	laziest
Mean	meaner	meanest
Proud	prouder	proudest
Plain	plainer	plainest
Raw	rawer	rawest
Rude	ruder	rudest
Ripe	riper	ripest
Sharp	sharper	sharpest
Sad	Sadder	Saddest
Safe	safer	safest
Simple	simpler	simplest
Short	shorter	shortest
Wild	wilder	wildest
Wise	wiser	wisest
Angry	angrier	angriest
Funny	funnier	funniest
Bloody	bloodier	bloodiest
Dirty	dirtier	dirtiest
Deadly	deadlier	deadliest
Hungry	hungrier	hungriest
Juicy	juicier	juiciest
Lively	livelier	liveliest
Silly	sillier	silliest
Sunny	sunnier	sunniest
Milky	milkier	milkiest
Noisy	noisier	noisiest
Naughty	naughtier	naughtiest
Rusty	rustier	rustiest
Spicy	spicier	spiciest
Worthy	worthier	worthiest

Apart from the adjectives we discusses above we have some different types too. Those adjectives which take the word ‘most’ before it’s superlative form and the original word remains the same.

Original Form	Comparative Form	Superlative form
Clever	more clever	most clever
Polite	more polite	most polite
Beautiful	more beautiful	most beautiful
Sexy	more sexy	most sexy
Difficult	more difficult	most difficult
Modern	more modern	most modern
Interesting	more interesting	most interesting

Look how we are using the same original word in the comparative and superlative from. To understand how these adjectives take different form you must understand the formation rules.

Download the following image to help you quickly revise some of the words and their comparative and superlative adjective forms.

How about sharing this resource with others ?, Let other users also know about it.

Quick Links

1. 3 Degrees of Adjectives for Comparison

Intro

Are you having problems understanding the comparative and superlative in English? Don’t worry – even native speakers make mistakes with these! In this study guide, we will explain each type of adjective and give you a list of the 35 most common. You will improve your understanding with our native examples and can test your knowledge with the exercises at the end of the guide. Ready? Let’s get cracking!

What are comparative adjectives?

Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify (e.g. larger, smaller, faster, higher). They are used in sentences where two nouns are compared:

Noun + verb + comparative adjective+ than + noun.

E.g. The cat ran faster than the dog.
 

How do I make comparative adjectives?

The way we form comparative adjectives depends on the adjective!

For one-syllable adjectives, we add ‘-er’ to the end to make the comparative form (e.g. old – older, hard – harder). With short vowels, we double the final consonant before adding the ‘-er’ (e.g. big – bigger, hot – hotter). With adjectives ending in ‘-y’, we add an ‘i’ before the ‘-er’ (e.g. dry – drier, happy – happier).

For two-syllable (or longer) adjectives, we keep the adjective the same but add ‘more’ in front (e.g. boring – more boring). Most of these adjectives end in ‘-ly’, for example: carefully, efficiently, recently, etc.

There are also some irregular forms that don’t follow these rules. You will have to learn these separately! For example, the comparative form of far is further, the comparative form of bad is worse and of good is better.

Examples of comparative adjectives

Trains are more expensive than buses in London.
(We are comparing two forms of transport: trains and buses. Expensive is a three-syllable adjective so we keep the adjective the same and add ‘more’ before it)

Hannah is taller than Jane.
(We are comparing Hannah and Jane’s height. Tall is a one-syllable adjective so we add -er to the end)

Fruit is healthier than chocolate.
(We are comparing two different types of food. Healthy ends in -y so we add -ier to the end of the adjective)

Max is better at maths than David, but is worse at maths than Sarah.
(We are comparing Max’s ability at maths to David’s and then to Sarah’s. As good and bad are both irregular forms, we use better and worse)

With some one-syllable adjectives we double the final consonant before adding –er or -est. For example: big – bigger – biggest, fat – fatter – fattest, thin – thinner – thinnest. If a one-syllable adjective ends in -e, then we simply add –r or –st. For example: fine – finer – finest. This brings us to the topic of ‘superlatives’.

Superlative adjectives

What are superlative adjectives?

Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object that is at the upper or lower limit of a quality (e.g. the tallest, the smallest, the fastest, the highest).

In other words, they describe extremes. They are used in sentences to compare three or more nouns:

Noun + verb + the + superlative adjective + noun.
E.g. Parrots are the noisiest birds in the jungle.

How do I make superlative adjectives?

To form superlatives, you need to follow similar rules to those above for making comparative adjectives.

For one-syllable adjectives and two-syllable adjectives ending in ‘-y’, we add –est to the end of the adjective (e.g. old – oldest). With short vowels, we double the final consonant before adding the –est (e.g. big – biggest), and with adjectives ending in ‘-y’ we add an ‘i’ before the –er (e.g. friendly – friendliest).

For two-syllable (or longer) adjectives, we keep the adjective the same but add ‘the most’ in front (e.g. boring – the most boring).

The irregular forms in comparative adjectives are the same for superlative adjectives. So the superlative form of far is (the) furthest, bad becomes the worst and good is the best.
 

Examples of superlative adjectives

Trains are the most expensive transport in London.
(We are comparing trains vs. all other forms of transport. Expensive is a three-syllable adjective so we keep the adjective the same and add ‘the most’ before it)

Hannah is the tallest person in her family.
(We are saying Hannah is taller than everyone else in her family. Tall is a one-syllable adjective so we add -est to the end)

Grapefruit is the healthiest fruit.
(We are comparing grapefruit to all other types of fruit. Healthy ends in ‘-y’ so we add -iest to the end of the adjective)

Max is the best at maths in his class, but is the worst at science.
(We are saying that Max is better at maths than everyone in his class, but is worse at science than everyone in his class. As good and bad are both irregular forms, we use the best and the worst).

Table: How to form comparative and superlative adjectives

	Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
One-syllable adjectives and adjectives ending in -y		adjective + -er	the + adjective + -est
	old	older	the oldest
	big	bigger	the biggest
	friendly	friendlier	the friendliest
Two-syllable or longer adjectives		more + adjective	the most + adjective
	interesting	more interesting	the most interesting
	boring	more boring	the most boring
	narrow	more narrow	the narrowest
Irregular forms
	good	better	the best
	bad	worse	the worst
	far	farther	the farthest
	little	less	the least

A-Z list of 35 comparative and superlative adjectives with examples

1. angry – angrier – the angriest
   He was angrier yesterday than he was last week.
   He is the angriest man I have ever seen met!
2. bad – worse – the worst (irregular)
   I think the weather’s worse than last winter as it’s rained nearly every day!
   This is the worst weather in December since records began!
3. big – bigger – the biggest
   Your desk is bigger than mine.
   You have the biggest desk in the whole office.
4. boring – more boring – the most boring
   The film was a bit more boring than I thought it would be.
   That film was the most boring thing I’ve seen for ages!
5. cheap – cheaper – the cheapest
   Your car was cheaper than mine by about two grand (£2,000).
   Our package deal to Spain was by far the cheapest holiday I’ve ever been on!
6. clever – cleverer – cleverest
   I was cleverer when I was younger.
   Sarah is the cleverest student in our year. 

Note that some native English speakers also use the forms ‘more clever’ and ‘most clever’. These forms appear to follow the rules more closely, but they are less popular when it comes to real usage in the UK.

1. cute – cuter – the cutest
   Your new dog is cuter than your old one.
   That is the cutest dog I’ve ever seen!
2. clean – cleaner – the cleanest
   The house is looking a lot cleaner than it was this morning.
   The house is the cleanest it has ever been.
3. comfort – more comfortable – the most comfortable
   I would be more comfortable wearing jeans.
   These are my most comfortable trousers.
4. dirty – dirtier – the dirtiest
   That seat looks a bit dirtier than this one.
   After our walk, my little brother had the dirtiest pair of shoes.
5. expensive – more expensive – the most expensive
   It’s more expensive to go to France in the summer (than in the winter).
   Switzerland is the most expensive country in Europe.
6. far – further – the furthest (irregular)
   From London, Liverpool is further than Oxford.
   Leeds is one of the furthest big cities from London (in England).
7. fast – faster – the fastest
   It’s faster to use the self-service checkout at the supermarket.
   That was the fastest journey I’ve ever been on.
8. fat – fatter – the fattest
   She was fatter when she was younger, but she’s lost weight recently.
   She used to be the fattest girl at school.
9. funny – funnier – the funniest
   Dave is funnier when he’s drunk!
   Apparently, Americans are some the funniest people in the world.
10. good – better – the best (irregular)
    Baan Thai has got better reviews than the other restaurants in the area.
    It has by far the best reviews we’ve read so far.
11. happy – happier – the happiest
    I’m always happier in the summer.
    John is the happiest I’ve seen him in years.
12. hard-working – more hard-working – the most hard-working
    Michael is more hard-working than Harry.
    He’s the most hard-working student I’ve ever taught.
13. healthy – healthier – the healthiest
    It is healthier to eat vegetables than meat.
    The Mediterranean diet is the healthiest in the world.
14. high – higher – the highest
    The Himalayas is a higher mountain range than The Alps.
    Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
15. interesting – more interesting – the most interesting
    I found the book more interesting than the film.
    It was the most interesting film we’d seen this year.

1. little – less – the least (irregular)
   I did less work than Hannah this term.
   Simon has done the least work in the whole team, but has got all the credit!
2. long – longer – the longest
   The Nile is longer than the River Thames.
   The Amazon is the longest river in the world.
3. loud – louder – the loudest
   You should give the speech because your voice is louder than mine.
   Jane has the loudest voice I’ve ever heard!
4. nice – nicer – the nicest
   The pasta is nicer than the pizza in this restaurant.
   The Margherita is the nicest pizza on the menu.
5. old – older – the oldest
   As a nation, Italy is older than America.
   Damascus is thought to be the oldest city in the world.
6. poor – poorer – the poorest
   Financially speaking, Greece is poorer than Sweden.
   Ukraine is one of the poorest countries in Europe.
7. popular – more popular – the most popular
   Spain is a more popular holiday destination for Brits than Croatia.
   Mauritius is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations.
8. pretty – prettier – the prettiest
   That dress is prettier than the other one you tried on.
   I think this is the prettiest dress in the shop.
9. rich – richer – the richest
   If you hadn’t wasted your money on fancy cars, then you’d be richer now.
   Bill Gates is the second richest person in the world.
10. slow – slower – the slowest
    The bus is slower than the train.
    Walking would be the slowest option.
    
11. small – smaller – the smallest
    Peru is smaller than Brazil.
    Out of Peru, Panama and Brazil, Peru is by far the smallest country.
12. tall – taller – the tallest
    The Empire State Building is taller than the Shard.
    The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world.
13. ugly – uglier – the ugliest
    That hat is uglier than anything else in your wardrobe!
    Julie bought the ugliest bag in the shop!
14. young – younger – the youngest
    I don’t have any cousins who are younger than me.
    I am the youngest member of my family.

Quantifiers for comparatives

We can use quantifiers with comparative adjectives to show if there is a big or small difference between the two things we are comparing.

For a big difference use…

A lot
The US is a lot bigger than Ireland.

Much
Sarah has much longer hair than Anna.

A great deal
It is a great deal more polluted in London than Cornwall.

Far
It’s far healthier to eat a salad than a burger.

Significantly
The company’s sales have been significantly better this year.

Considerably
Siberia is considerably colder than Australia.

Way (informal)
This week’s homework is way easier than I thought it would be.
For a small difference use…

A little
The chocolate cake was a little more popular than the lemon sponge.

A bit (informal)
First class train tickets are always a bit more expensive than standard ones.

A little bit
The UK is a little bit further north than France.

Slightly
France is slightly bigger than Spain.

Marginally
My hotel room is only marginally bigger than yours.

Some comparative quantifiers are more informal than others so it’s important to know when to use each one. You will find a lot, way and a bit are very common in spoken English. However, you generally wouldn’t write way or use it in more formal contexts. In these formal situations, you would be more likely to use a great deal, considerablyor marginally.

Superlative phrases

We don’t use quantifiers with superlative adjectives but there are common phrases that are used with superlatives. These are useful to know as they are very commonly used by native speakers and you will likely hear them a lot!

One of the…

Aramaic is one of the oldest languages in the world.
(We are not saying it is necessarily the oldest. Often used when we don’t know something for sure)

The second/third…
According to Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index, London is the second most visited city in the world.

By far the…
In England, the bus is by far the cheapest mode of transport.
(Meaning by a long way or by a significant margin)
 

Exercises: Comparative vs. superlative adjectives

Alex Jude —
ESL Specialist & CEO at Online Teachers UK.

Find this post useful? Share it with friends!