Words Used to Describe Theatre Performances
Have your students found it difficult to come up with words other than “effective” or “lame” when evaluating aspects of a theatre show? Here’s a list of 250+ adjectives to use in that essay!
| abhorrent | handsome | proficient |
| absorbing | hard-hitting | profound |
| abysmal | heartwarming | purposeful |
| accessible | heavy | purposeless |
| accomplished | helpful | qualified |
| adequate | hilarious | questionable |
| admirable | historical | radiant |
| adverse | hollow | rank |
| airy | humble | ravishing |
| alarming | humourous | reasonable |
| amazing | immaculate | refined |
| ambitious | immersive | refreshing |
| amusing | important | regretful |
| appealing | impressive | relevant |
| appropriate | inadequate | remarkable |
| arresting | inappropriate | repugnant |
| astonishing | incompetent | repulsive |
| attractive | incredible | revolting |
| awful | ineffective | rotten |
| bad | ineffectual | satisfactory |
| barren | inept | satisfying |
| beautiful | inferior | scenic |
| boring | ingenious | seamless |
| breathtaking | insufficient | second-class |
| brilliant | intelligent | second-rate |
| broken | intense | self-indulgent |
| capable | intolerable | serious |
| captivating | irrelevant | serviceable |
| clever | irresistible | shabby |
| cogent | jolly | shaky |
| coherent | kindhearted | sharp |
| colourful | lacklustre | sheepish |
| commendable | lame | shocking |
| common | larger-than-life | skilful |
| compelling | lavish | skilled |
| competent | lazy | slow |
| conclusive | light | sluggish |
| convincing | lighthearted | snappy |
| dazzling | likeable | solid |
| decent | listless | sombre |
| deep | lively | sophisticated |
| demanding | loveable | sound |
| depressing | lovely | spectacular |
| direct | magentic | spirited |
| disgraceful | magical | standout |
| distasteful | magical | sterile |
| distinguished | majestic | sterling |
| divine | manic | striking |
| dramatic | marvellous | strong |
| dynamic | masterful | stunning |
| dysfunctional | masterly | sublime |
| effective | mediocre | subpar |
| elaborate | memorable | substandard |
| electric | mesmerising | successful |
| empty | mild-mannered | sufficient |
| encouraging | miserable | suitable |
| energising | modest | superb |
| engaging | moving | superior |
| enjoyable | multiskilled | suspenseful |
| entertaining | musical | sweet |
| enthralling | nauseating | talented |
| enticing | negative | tasteful |
| eventful | noteworthy | tasteless |
| excellent | obscure | telling |
| exceptional | off-putting | terrific |
| excessive | offensive | tremendous |
| exciting | optimistic | trite |
| exemplary | outstanding | triumphant |
| exhilarating | overpowering | trivial |
| extraordinary | painful | unbefitting |
| eye-popping | pathetic | unproductive |
| fantastic | pedestrian | unsuccessful |
| far-fetched | perfect | unsuitable |
| fast | personable | unusable |
| feasible | persuasive | useful |
| feeble | petty | useless |
| fine | picturesque | valid |
| first-class | pitiful | valuable |
| flawless | plausible | viable |
| focused | pleasant | weak |
| forceful | pleasing | weighty |
| frivolous | pointless | well-constructed |
| fruitless | polished | well-defined |
| functional | poor | well-made |
| futile | potent | well-rounded |
| gentle | powerful | wholesome |
| gifted | practical | wicked |
| good | presentable | woeful |
| grand | pretentious | wonderful |
| great | pretty | worthless |
| grim | professional | worthwhile |
Not sure of a word definition? Click here
