Adjectives That Start With N | List & Examples

There are a fair few adjectives (words that describe a noun) that start with N. A few of the most common adjectives that start with N are:

  • Nifty
  • Novel
  • Nimble
  • Nocturnal
  • Noisy
  • Noteworthy
  • Nuanced
  • Numb
  • Nervous

You can use the free QuillBot Paraphrasing Tool to suggest new and interesting ways of expressing your ideas.

Positive adjectives that start with N

This is a list of adjectives that start with N with a positive connotation:

  • Necessary: Required; essential; indispensable
  • Neat: Tidy; well-organized; elegant
  • Needed: Necessary; required
  • Neighborly: Friendly; helpful; considerate to others nearby
  • Nice: Pleasant; kind; precise
  • Nifty: Clever; useful; stylish
  • Nimble: Quick and light in movement; agile; mentally sharp
  • Noble: Aristocratic; dignified; of high moral character
  • Nonchalant: Calm and relaxed; casually confident
  • Nonjudgmental: Accepting; open-minded; not critical
  • Notable: Worthy of attention; remarkable; distinguished
  • Noteworthy: Significant; deserving of attention
  • Nourishing: Providing what is needed for growth
  • Novel: New and original; fresh; unusual
  • Nurturing: Caring; supportive; encouraging growth
Positive adjectives that start with N examples
Although Heather tried to be nonjudgmental about Liv’s nonchalant attitude and consequent untidiness, her own neat mindset made it difficult.

The most notable release that year had been the novel album by one of the town’s local bands.

Gurvinder and Andy were the most neighborly folks you could hope to meet, with a beautiful, nurturing attitude toward our growing children.

Negative adjectives that start with N

Here’s a list of adjectives that start with N with a negative connotation. If these were applied to a person, they would almost always be considered insults.

  • Naive: Lacking experience; overly trusting [sometimes spelled naïve]
  • Nagging: Constantly complaining or criticizing; irritating; persistent
  • Nameless: Having no name; anonymous; obscure
  • Narcissistic: Excessively interested in oneself; self-absorbed
  • Narrow-minded: Intolerant; unwilling to consider other views
  • Nasty: Unpleasant; mean; offensive
  • Nationalistic: Patriotic to an excessive degree
  • Nauseous: Feeling sick or queasy; causing nausea; revolting
  • Negative: Not positive; pessimistic
  • Neglectful: Failing to care for properly; inattentive
  • Negligent: Careless; failing to take proper responsibility
  • Nefarious: Wicked; criminal; immoral
  • Needy: Emotionally dependent; requiring constant attention
  • Nervous: Anxious; scared; apprehensive
  • Neurotic: Anxious; overly worried; emotionally unstable
  • Niggling: Nagging; causing persistent annoyance
  • Nihilistic: Rejecting all beliefs;
  • Nihilistic: Rejecting all beliefs; extremely negative
  • Noncommittal: Evasive; unwilling to decide; vague
  • Nonexistent: Not existing; imaginary
  • Nonsensical: Illogical; absurd; lacking meaning
  • Nosy: Overly inquisitive; not respecting of privacy
  • Notorious: Known for something bad; infamous
  • Novice: Inexperienced; new
  • Numb: Lacking in physical sensation or emotion
Negative adjectives that start with N examples
It seemed that some nameless bureaucrat had decided to allow their narrow-minded attitude to dream up nonsensical solutions to nonexistent problems.

I had a nagging feeling that the nauseous sensation I was experiencing was because I had been negligent or neglectful about an important step in the process.

From his early days as a novice performer, Luke had been notorious for his nefarious off-stage activities and his obviously narcissistic behavior.

Neutral adjectives that start with N

Here is a list of neutral adjectives starting with N.

  • Narrative: In the form of a story
  • Narrow: Limited in width or scope; confined
  • Nascent: Just beginning to develop; at an early stage
  • National: Relating to a nation; countrywide
  • Native: Originating in a particular place; innate
  • Natural: Found in nature; instinctive; not artificial
  • Naturist: Pertaining to the nudist movement
  • Nautical: Pertaining to ships, navigation, or the sea
  • Nearby: Close in distance; neighboring
  • Nebulous: Vague; unclear; ill-defined
  • Neighboring: Nearby; in the area
  • Neon: Brightly colored; fluorescent; related to the gas neon
  • Net: Final after deductions; overall
  • Neutral: Unbiased; not taking sides; neither positive nor negative
  • New: Recently created or discovered; unfamiliar
  • Next: Immediately following; adjacent in order
  • Nil: Zero; nonexistent
  • Nippy: Quick and nimble; agile
  • Nocturnal: Active at night; nighttime-related
  • Noiseless: Making no noise; silent
  • Noisy: Causing a lot of noise
  • Nomadic: Wandering tent-dwelling; constantly moving
  • Nominal: In name only; minimal; symbolic
  • Non-fiction: Literature that is factual
  • Nonverbal: Without words; communicated through gestures or behavior
  • North: Situated toward or in the direction of the north
  • Northern: Of or relating to the north
  • Normal: Conforming to a standard; typical; usual
  • Nostalgic: Looking back to or evoking the past
  • Nuanced: With subtle differences; sophisticated
  • Nuclear: Related to atomic energy; central or core; extreme
  • Numerical: Expressed in numbers; quantifiable
  • Numerous: Many; existing in large numbers
  • Nuptial: Relating to marriage or weddings
  • Nutritional: Relating to nutrition; providing nourishment
Neutral adjectives that start with N examples
Nocturnal wanderings in a strange city, discovering new sights down narrow cobbled streets, is one of Prague’s charms.

The net result of the policy was that anyone with even a nominal stake in the business experienced a nebulous fear of impending failure.

As a nocturnal animal, the owl’s almost noiseless flight is one of numerous adaptations that make it such an effective natural hunter.

Tip
If you can’t think of the right word in English, you can try QuillBot Translate—it’s free!

Adjectives with other letters

If you’re looking for adjectives that start with another letter, you can visit one of our other articles.

Adjectives with A Adjectives with F Adjectives with K Adjectives with Q Adjectives with V
Adjectives with B Adjectives with G Adjectives with L Adjectives with R Adjectives with W
Adjectives with C Adjectives with H Adjectives with M Adjectives with S Adjectives with X
Adjectives with D Adjectives with I Adjectives with O Adjectives with T Adjectives with Y
Adjectives with E Adjectives with J Adjectives with P Adjectives with U Adjectives with Z

Frequently asked questions about adjectives with N

What are some adjectives starting with N to describe a person?

Some adjectives that start with N to describe a person include:

  • Neighborly
  • Nonchalant
  • Nurturing
  • Naive
  • Narrow-minded
  • Needy
  • Nosy
  • Noisy

You can use the free QuillBot Grammar Checker to make sure you have the correct adjective for your meaning.

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Trevor Marshall, MSc

Trevor has a BA in English Literature & Language and an MSc in Applied Social Studies. He has been a teacher for 25 years, with 15 years experience teaching ESL alongside 1st language students.