Adjectives That Start With O | List & Examples
There are many adjectives (words that describe a noun) that start with O (especially neutral ones). A few of the most common adjectives that start with O are:
- Optimal
- Orderly
- Obsolete
- Obtuse
- Overcritical
- Overdue
- Old
- Omniscient
- Only
- Orthopedic
- Overhead
- Overweight
If you can’t think of the exact word you need, how about using QuillBot’s free AI Chat to ask for suggestions?
Positive adjectives that start with O
This is a list of adjectives that start with O that have a positive connotation:
- Objective: Fair; unbiased; based on facts
- Observant: Quick to notice; attentive; perceptive
- Open: Not closed; accessible; honest
- Open-hearted: Kind; emotionally generous; sincere
- Open-minded: Receptive to new ideas; tolerant; flexible
- Opportune: Favorable; appropriate; fortunate
- Optimal: Best or most favorable; ideal
- Optimistic: Hopeful; expecting good outcomes; positive-thinking
- Orderly: Neat; organized; well-behaved
- Original: First of its kind; inventive; not derived from something else
- Outstanding: Exceptional; excellent; superior
- Outgoing: Friendly; sociable; extroverted
- Overjoyed: Extremely happy; delighted; elated
Zena was an outstanding colleague—outgoing, optimistic, and open-minded.
Although I wasn’t overjoyed at the change of plans, I was open to any ideas that were as close to the original details as possible.
Negative adjectives that start with O
These adjectives that start with O have a negative connotation. If these were applied to a person, they would almost always be considered insults.
- Obnoxious: Very unpleasant; rude; annoying
- Obsessive: Excessively preoccupied; fixated; controlling
- Obsolete: No longer produced or used; out of date
- Obtuse: Slow to understand; an angle between 91 and 179 degrees; dull-witted
- Offensive: Insulting; hurtful; inappropriate
- Old-fashioned: Outdated; behind the times; no longer current
- Oppressive: Cruel; harsh; unjustly controlling
- Ostentatious: Characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress
- Overbearing: Domineering; bossy; arrogantly controlling
- Overcritical: Excessively fault-finding; harsh in judgment
- Overdue: Not having arrived on time; late
- Overemotional: Excessively emotional; melodramatic; lacking control
- Overrated: Given too much praise; not as good as claimed
Social media, unfortunately, gives way too much attention to overbearing, obnoxious, offensive, and overemotional people, and it’s all getting rather too much!
I’m very particular about paying bills, to the point of being obsessive about not letting them go overdue.
Neutral adjectives that start with O
Here is a list of neutral adjectives starting with O:
- Obese: Very overweight; having excessive body fat
- Obligatory: Required by a legal, moral, or other rule; compulsory
- Oblong: Rectangular; longer than wide
- Obscure: Not discovered or known about; uncertain; hidden
- Odd: Unusual; strange; peculiar; not even (of numbers)
- Official: Authorized; formal; relating to an office or position
- Off-white: Nearly white; a pale shade with a tint
- Old: Having lived or existed for a long time; not new
- Omnipotent: Having unlimited power
- Omniscient: Knowing everything
- One: Single in number; unique
- Only: Sole; exclusive; unique
- Opaque: Not transparent; hard to understand; dense
- Operational: In working condition; functional; active
- Opposite: Completely different; facing or placed across from
- Oral: Spoken; related to the mouth
- Ordinary: Common; unremarkable; regular
- Organic: Derived from living matter; grown without chemicals
- Oriental: Of or relating to the East or Asia (note: use with cultural sensitivity)
- Ornate: Elaborately decorated
- Orthodox: Traditional; normal; established
- Orthopedic: Relating to the correction of bones or muscles
- Other: Different from one already mentioned or known
- Outer: Situated on the outside; external
- Outlying: Distant; remote; on the edge
- Outside: External; outer; not inside
- Overall: General; all-encompassing; total
- Overhead: Located above; higher in position
- Overnight: Happening during the night; very quick
- Overseas: Across the sea; foreign; international
- Overweight: Weighing more than is considered healthy or normal
- Own: Belonging to a particular person or thing; personal
Steve was captivated with oriental art from the moment he first saw it: the beautiful, ornate carvings; spectacular old paintings; and too many other artifacts to remember.
Outside, the overnight snow lay thick and untouched, except for the house opposite, where tire tracks were the only blemish to be seen.
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 N | 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 O
- What are some adjectives starting with O to describe a person?
-
Some adjectives that start with O to describe a person include:
- Optimistic
- Outstanding
- Outgoing
- Overjoyed
- Obnoxious
- Overbearing
- Old
- Overweight
You can use the free QuillBot Grammar Checker to make sure you have the correct adjective for your meaning.
Cite this Quillbot article
We encourage the use of reliable sources in all types of writing. You can cite this article using the citation below.
Marshall, T. (2025, June 11). Adjectives That Start With O | List & Examples. Quillbot. Retrieved July 20, 2025, from https://quillbot.com/blog/word-finder/adjectives-that-start-with-o/
