List of 100+ Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Adjectives help describe the qualities of nouns—how something looks, feels, or behaves. But when you compare those qualities, adjectives take different forms. Words like smaller, faster, and most beautiful show how one thing differs from another. These are known as comparative and superlative adjectives.

This article provides a complete comparative and superlative adjectives list to help you understand how adjectives change across degrees. You’ll see how to form each type correctly, recognize irregular forms, and use them naturally in sentences.

How the List Is Structured

The list below organizes adjectives by their formation patterns so you can easily identify how they change:

• One-syllable adjectives – usually add –er for the comparative and –est for the superlative (small → smaller → smallest).
• Two-syllable adjectives – some take –er/–est (happy → happier → happiest), while others use more/most (careful → more careful → most careful).
• Three or more syllables – always use more and most (beautiful → more beautiful → most beautiful).
• Irregular adjectives – change form completely (good → better → best).

Each section includes examples from real contexts, academic, personal, and everyday. Use this adjective comparison list as a reference whenever you need to describe differences or extremes accurately in English.

One-Syllable Adjectives

One-syllable adjectives usually form the comparative by adding –er and the superlative by adding –est. If the adjective ends with a single vowel followed by a consonant, double the final consonant before adding –er or –est (e.g., big → bigger → biggest).

Below is a list of common one-syllable adjectives with their comparative and superlative forms:

Two-Syllable Adjectives Ending in –y, –le, or –ow

Two-syllable adjectives can form comparatives and superlatives in two ways—either by adding –er/–est or by using more/most. The choice depends on the adjective’s ending and how it sounds in speech.

Adjectives ending in –y, –le, or –ow typically take –er and –est.

Two-Syllable Adjectives That Can Use “More” and “Most”

Some two-syllable adjectives can take either –er / –est or more / most. Both forms are correct, but more and most are often preferred in formal writing or when the –er / –est form sounds awkward.

Quick Note:
In modern English, more + adjective is often preferred for smoother, more natural expression—especially in academic or professional contexts. For example:

• She is more polite than her brother. (preferred)
• She is politer than her brother. (grammatically correct but less common)

Three or More Syllable Adjectives

Adjectives with three or more syllables always form their comparative and superlative with more and most, never with –er or –est.

Irregular Adjectives

Some adjectives don’t follow the regular rules for forming comparatives and superlatives. Instead, their forms change completely. These are irregular adjectives.

How to Use This List for Practice

Here are a few effective ways to make the most of this comparative and superlative adjectives list.

Write Sentences with Each Form

Choose any adjective from the list and write a short sentence using its positive, comparative, and superlative forms.
Example:

• bright → The lamp is bright.
• This bulb is brighter than the old one.
• That LED light is the brightest of all.

This exercise builds fluency and helps you recognize correct patterns.

Compare Things Around You

Look at your surroundings and describe them using comparatives and superlatives.
Examples:

• This road is wider than the side street.
• Our living room is the coziest space in the house.
• This coffee tastes better than yesterday’s.

Real-world use reinforces memory faster than memorization alone.

Practice Irregular Forms Separately

Irregular adjectives can be tricky because they don’t follow normal patterns. Make a mini list of good → better → best and bad → worse → worst, and test yourself frequently until they feel natural.

Notice Adjectives in Reading

When you read books, news articles, or blogs, pay attention to how writers use comparative and superlative grammar. Copying real examples can help you sound more natural in both writing and speech.

Using this list actively, rather than just memorizing it, will make your grasp of adjective comparison much stronger over time.

Final Note

This comparative and superlative adjectives list gives you an easy reference for understanding how adjectives change across degrees. The best way to learn them is through consistent use—reading, writing, and noticing patterns in everyday English.

Keep this list handy and revisit it often. Over time, you’ll find that forming comparisons becomes as natural as describing them.