Word Building
Suffixes That Build Adjectives
Learning the meanings of suffixes that build adjectives can help you determine the definitions of many words. For example, if the word statuesque is unfamiliar to you, but you know that esque is a suffix meaning "like, in the manner or style of," then you can determine that statuesque means "like a statue."
In this section you'll find suffixes that build adjectives listed with their meanings and examples of words that use each suffix. If you find any unfamiliar words among the samples, grab your dictionary and look up their meanings.
able, ible
(able to, capable of being, fit to be)
Examples: breakable, desirable, lovable, suitable, tolerable, visible (capable of being seen), audlble (capable of being heard).
ac
(of, pertaining to)
Examples: cardiac (pertaining to the heart).
aceous
(pertaining to, like)
Examples: herbaceous (like an herb), rosaceous (of the rose family).
al
(of, belonging to, suitable to)
Examples: regal (suitable for a king), scriptural (of the bible), autumnal, natural, seasonal.
an, ane
(connected with, belonging to)
Examples: American (belonging to America), human (belonging to man), mundane (of the world, worldly).
ar
(relating to, like)
Examples: angular (like an angle), solar (relating to sun), lunar, globular (like a globe).
ary
(characterized by, pertaining to)
Examples: military (of the armed forces), disciplinary (characterized by discipline), voluntary (characterized by free choice).
en
(made of, resembling)
Examples: golden, ashen, wooden, oaken.
ern
(belonging to, in)
Examples: western, southern, northern.
esque
(like, in the manner or style of)
Examples: statuesque (like a statue), picturesque (like a picture).
ferous
(bearing, producing, giving)
Examples: auriferous (gold yielding), coniferous (having cones), vociferous (producing a clamor).
fold
(times multiplied by)
Examples: threefold, manifold, fourfold.
ful
(characterized by, full of)
Examples: fearful, careful, dreadful, truthful, etc.
ial
(of, or pertaining to)
Examples: editorlal. (pertaining to an editor), celestial (pertaining to heaven), tutorlal.
ic, ical
(pertaining to, belonging to, of)
Examples: magical (pertaining to magic), angelic (of the angels), theoretical, titanic (huge, pertaining to Titans).
il, ile
(capable of being, pertaining to, of)
Examples: versatile (capable of being turned in different directions), civil (pertaining to the people), docile (capable of being taught).
ine
(of the nature of, like)
Examples: feminine (like a woman), masculine (like a man), canine (dog-like), lupine.
ious
(full of)
Examples: ambitious (full of ambition), invidious (full of ill-feeling), religious (full of religion), seditious (full of treason).
ish
(characteristic of)
Examples: bookish, foolish, girlish, English.
ive
(having the nature of, tending to)
Examples: abusive, exclusive, creative, active.
ly
(having the qualities of, like)
Examples: friendly, manly, scholarly, really.
ory
(pertaining to)
Examples: laudatory, ambulatory (of walking), auditory (pertaining to hearing).
ose
(containing, full of, like)
Examples: bellicose (war-like), verbose (wordy), comatose (as if asleep).
vorous
(eating, feeding on)
Examples: carnivorous (meat-eating), omnivorous (eating everything), herbivorous (grass-eating).
y, ey
(abounding in, full of, like)
Examples: creamy, wiry, thorny, watery, guilty (full of guilt).