Adjectives that Start with P

Palatable: Pleasant to taste.

Pale: Lacking in color or intensity.

Palpable: Able to be touched or felt.

Panicky: Experiencing or displaying a sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety.

Parched: Extremely dry from lack of moisture.

Pardonable: Forgivable or excusable.

Particular: Specific or special.

Passionate: Showing or caused by strong feelings or a strong belief.

Passive: Accepting or allowing what happens without active response or resistance.

Past: Gone by in time and no longer existing.

Pastel: Soft and light in color.

Pathetic: Arousing pity, especially through vulnerability or sadness.

Patient: Able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.

Patriotic: Having or expressing devotion to and vigorous support for one's country.

Peaceable: Inclined to avoid conflict or violence.

Peaceful: Free from disturbance; tranquil.

Pearly: Resembling a pearl in luster or color.

Peccable: Liable to sin or error.

Peculiar: Strange or odd; unusual.

Pedagogical: Related to teaching methods.

Pedantic: Overly concerned with minute details or formalisms, especially in teaching.

Peerless: Unequaled; unrivaled.

Peeved: Annoyed or irritated.

Peevish: Easily irritated, especially by unimportant things.

Penetrable: Allowing things to pass through; permeable.

Penetrating: Able to make a way through or into something.

Penitent: Feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong.

Pensile: Hanging down loosely.

Pensive: Engaged in deep or serious thought.

Penultimate: Next to the last.

Peppy: Full of energy and high spirits.

Perceptible: Able to be seen or noticed.

Perceptive: Having or showing sensitive insight.

Perceptual: Related to the ability to interpret or become aware of something through the senses.

Percipient: Having a good understanding of things; perceptive.

Perennial: Lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time.

Perfect: Having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics.

Perfectible: Capable of becoming perfect.

Perforated: Having a hole or holes bored into something.

Performative: Relating to or of the nature of dramatic or artistic performance.

Perfumed: Scented with a pleasant fragrance.

Perilous: Full of danger or risk.

Peripheral: Relating to or situated on the edge or periphery of something.

Perishable: Likely to decay or go bad quickly.

Perky: Cheerful and lively.

Permanent: Lasting or intended to last or remain unchanged indefinitely.

Permissible: Allowed or permitted.

Pernicious: Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.

Perpetual: Never ending or changing.

Perplexed: Completely baffled; very puzzled.

Perquisite: A benefit which one enjoys or is entitled to on account of one's job or position.

Persecuted: Subjected to hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs.

Persecutory: Relating to the feeling of being persecuted.

Persistent: Continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.

Personal: Belonging to or affecting a particular person rather than anyone else.

Perspiring: Sweating.

Persuasive: Good at persuading someone to do or believe something through reasoning or the use of temptation.

Pert: Attractively lively or cheeky.

Pertinent: Relevant or applicable to a particular matter.

Perturbed: Anxious or unsettled; upset.

Pervasive: Spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people.

Perverse: Showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable.

Pesky: Causing trouble; annoying.

Pessimistic: Tending to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen.

Petite: Attractively small and dainty.

Petty: Of little importance; trivial.

Petulant: Childishly sulky or bad-tempered.

Phenomenal: Very remarkable; extraordinary.

Philanthropic: Seeking to promote the welfare of others, especially by donating money to good causes.

Philosophical: Relating or devoted to the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence.

Phlegmatic: Having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition.

Phonetic: Relating to speech sounds.

Phony: Not genuine; fraudulent.

Photographic: Relating to or resembling photographs.

Physical: Relating to the body as opposed to the mind.

Physiological: Relating to the branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts.

Pictorial: Relating to or consisting of pictures.

Picturesque: Visually attractive, especially in a quaint or charming way.

Piercing: Having a sharp or high-pitched sound.

Pious: Devoutly religious.

Piquant: Having a pleasantly sharp taste or appetizing flavor.

Pitiful: Deserving or arousing pity.

Pitiless: Showing no pity; cruel.

Pivotal: Of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else.

Placatory: Intended to make someone less angry or hostile.

Placid: Not easily upset or excited.

Plain: Not decorated or elaborate; simple or ordinary in character.

Plaintive: Sounding sad and mournful.

Plastic: Easily shaped or molded.

Platonic: Intimate and affectionate but not sexual.

Playful: Fond of games and amusement; lighthearted.

Pleasant: Giving a sense of happy satisfaction or enjoyment.

Pleasing: Satisfying or appealing.

Plenteous: Existing in large amounts; abundant.

Plentiful: Existing in or yielding great quantities; abundant.

Pleonastic: Using more words than necessary.

Pliable: Easily bent; flexible.

Plodding: Slow-moving and unexciting.

Plucky: Having or showing determined courage in the face of difficulties.

Plump: Having a full rounded shape.

Pluralistic: Relating to or advocating a system in which two or more states, groups, principles, sources of authority, etc., coexist.

Plush: Richly luxurious and expensive.

Poetic: Having an imaginative or sensitively emotional style of expression.

Poignant: Evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret.

Pointed: Having a sharpened or tapered tip.

Pointless: Having little or no sense, use, or purpose.

Polished: Shiny as a result of being rubbed.

Polite: Having or showing behavior that is respectful and considerate of other people.

Political: Relating to the government or public affairs of a country.

Polluted: Contaminated with harmful or poisonous substances.

Polyglot: Knowing or using several languages.

Polyhedral: Having many faces.

Polymorphic: Occurring in several different forms.

Pompous: Affectedly grand, solemn, or self-important.

Pontifical: Relating to the Pope or the papacy.

Poor: Lacking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in a society.

Popular: Liked or admired by many people or by a particular person or group.

Porous: Having minute spaces or holes through which liquid or air may pass.

Portable: Able to be easily carried or moved.

Portentous: Of or like a portent; ominous.

Portly: Having a stout body; somewhat fat.

Positional: Relating to the position something occupies.

Positive: Consisting in or characterized by the presence rather than the absence of distinguishing features.

Possessive: Demanding someone's total attention and love.

Possible: Able to be done or achieved.

Posthumous: Occurring, awarded, or appearing after the death of the originator.

Postoperative: Relating to the period following a surgical operation.

Potent: Having great power, influence, or effect.

Potentate: A monarch or ruler, especially an autocratic one.

Potential: Having or showing the capacity to develop into something in the future.

Potholed: Marked by holes or pits, especially in a road surface.

Potted: Preserved in a pot, jar, or can.

Powerful: Having great power or strength.

Powerless: Without ability, influence, or power.

Practical: Concerned with the actual doing or use of something rather than with theory and ideas.

Pragmatic: Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.

Praiseworthy: Deserving approval and admiration.

Precarious: Not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse.

Precautious: Taking precautions; careful.

Precedent: An earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.

Preceding: Existing, happening, or coming before in time, order, or position.

Precinctual: Relating to a precinct or district.

Precious: Of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly.

Precipitous: Dangerously high or steep.

Precise: Marked by exactness and accuracy of expression or detail.

Preclusive: Preventing something from happening.

Predatory: Seeking to exploit or oppress others.

Predicative: Stating or asserting something.

Predictable: Able to be predicted.

Predominant: Present as the strongest or main element.

Preeminent: Surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way.

Prefabricated: Manufactured in sections to enable quick or easy assembly on-site.

Preferable: More desirable or suitable.

Pregnant: Having a child or young developing in the uterus.

Prehistoric: Relating to or denoting the period before written records.

Prejudiced: Having or showing a dislike or distrust that is derived from prejudice; bigoted.

Preliminary: Denoting an action or event preceding or done in preparation for something fuller or more important.

Preliterate: Relating to a society that has not developed the use of writing.

Premier: First in importance, order, or position; leading.

Preoccupied: Engrossed in thought; distracted.

Prepared: Made ready for use.

Preposterous: Contrary to reason or common sense; utterly absurd or ridiculous.

Prescient: Having or showing knowledge of events before they take place.

Prescriptive: Relating to the imposition or enforcement of a rule or method.

Present: Existing or occurring now.

Presentable: Clean, well-dressed, or decent enough to be seen in public.

Preserved: Maintained in its original or existing state.

Presidential: Relating to a president or presidency.

Prestigious: Inspiring respect and admiration; having high status.

Pretentious: Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed.

Pretty: Attractive in a delicate way without being truly beautiful.

Previous: Existing or occurring before in time or order.

Priceless: So precious that its value cannot be determined.

Prickly: Having or causing an itching or tingling sensation.

Primary: Of chief importance; principal.

Prime: Of first importance; main.

Primitive: Relating to, denoting, or preserving the character of an early stage in the evolutionary or historical development of something.

Primordial: Existing at or from the beginning of time; primeval.

Principal: First in order of importance; main.

Prior: Existing or coming before in time, order, or importance.

Pristine: In its original condition; unspoiled.

Private: Belonging to or for the use of one particular person or group of people only.

Privileged: Having special rights, advantages, or immunities.

Proactive: Creating or controlling a situation rather than just responding to it after it has happened.

Probable: Likely to be the case or to happen.

Prodigal: Spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.

Prodigious: Remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree.

Productive: Producing or able to produce large amounts of goods, crops, or other commodities.

Profane: Not relating to that which is sacred or religious; secular.

Professed: (Of a quality, feeling, or belief) claimed or asserted openly but often falsely.

Professional: Relating to or connected with a profession.

Proficient: Competent or skilled in doing or using something.

Profitable: (Of a business or activity) yielding profit or financial gain.

Profound: (Of a state, quality, or emotion) very great or intense.

Profuse: (Especially of something offered or discharged) exuberantly plentiful; abundant.

Prognostic: Serving to predict the likely outcome of a disease or ailment; relating to a medical prognosis.

Programmatic: Of the nature of or according to a program, schedule, or method.

Progressive: Happening or developing gradually or in stages.

Prohibitive: (Of a price or charge) excessively high; difficult or impossible to pay.

Prolific: Producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring.

Prolonged: Continuing for a long time or longer than usual; lengthy.

Prominent: Important; famous.

Promiscuous: Having or characterized by many transient sexual relationships.

Promising: Showing signs of future success.

Promotional: Relating to the publicizing of a product, organization, or venture so as to increase sales or public awareness.

Prompt: Done without delay; immediate.

Pronounced: Very noticeable or marked; conspicuous.

Proof: Able to withstand something damaging; resistant.

Propagative: Able to multiply or reproduce.

Proper: Truly what something is said or regarded to be; genuine.

Prophetic: Accurately describing or predicting what will happen in the future.

Proportional: Corresponding in size or amount to something else.

Prosaic: Having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty.

Prospective: Expected or expecting to be something particular in the future.

Prosperous: Successful in material terms; flourishing financially.

Protective: Intended or adapted to protect something or someone.

Prototypical: Relating to a first, typical or preliminary model of something.

Proud: Feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one's own achievements.

Provable: Capable of being proved.

Proverbial: Referred to in a proverb or idiom.

Provident: Making or indicative of timely preparation for the future.

Provincial: Of or concerning a province of a country or empire.

Provisional: Arranged or existing for the present, possibly to be changed later.

Provocative: Causing annoyance, anger, or another strong reaction, especially deliberately.

Prudent: Acting with or showing care and thought for the future.

Psychical: Relating to the human soul or mind; mental (distinct from physical).

Psychological: Relating to the mental and emotional state of a person.

Public: Relating to or affecting all the people or the whole area of a nation or state.

Puckish: Playful, especially in a mischievous way.

Pudgy: Slightly fat.

Puerile: Childishly silly and trivial.

Puffed: Swollen or bloated.

Puffy: Soft, round, and swollen-looking.

Pugilistic: Relating to boxing.

Pugnacious: Eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.

Pulchritudinous: Beautiful.

Pulpy: Of, like, or containing pulp.

Punctilious: Showing great attention to detail or correct behavior.

Punctual: Happening or doing something at the agreed or proper time.

Pungent: Having a sharply strong taste or smell.

Punitive: Inflicting or intended as punishment.

Puny: Small and weak.

Pure: Not mixed or adulterated with any other substance or material.

Puritanical: Practicing or affecting strict religious or moral behavior.

Purple: Of a color intermediate between red and blue.

Purposeful: Having or showing determination or resolve.

Purring: Making a low continuous vibratory sound.

Pursuant: Following; going in pursuit.

Pushy: Excessively or unpleasantly self-assertive or ambitious.

Puzzled: Unable to understand; perplexed.

Puzzling: Difficult to understand; perplexing.

Pygmy: Very small.

Pyramidal: Shaped like a pyramid.

Pyrotechnic: Relating to fireworks.

Pyrrhic: Achieved at too great a cost to have been worthwhile for the victor.