Our list of aesthetic words will help you transport your readers to the world your characters are experiencing, one sentence at a time.

The term aesthetic is a buzzword among influencers, but the concept isn’t just for those taking artsy photos of lattes or filming TikTok dances. As a writer, aesthetic words give you the power to help your reader imagine themselves in your describing setting. If you’re working on describing a vibe emulated by a place, person, or object, you’ll want to check out our list of 50 aesthetic words to help you paint a picture for your reader. 

What Are Aesthetic Words?

Aesthetic words are generally used to describe a positive emotion, scene, object, setting, or character. In addition to painting a picture for your reader, aesthetic words also allow you to set a mood that can help your Readers understand the energy of your story. While these words can be used in any narrative, they’re especially helpful in the speculative fiction, science fiction, and fantasy genres. 

Trendy Aesthetic Words

On-trend words come and go, and using aesthetic words that are popular right now can help you connect with your audience. These aesthetic words will give your writing a modern feel and help readers imagine your story happening in real time. 

1. Addictive

Paula had to stop at the bakery when she smelled the freshly-risen donuts–the blueberry lemon glazed pastries were downright addictive, and she couldn’t have them often enough.

2. Aurora

They gazed out over the rail of the balcony on their cruise ship, enjoying the aurora of the sunrise.

3. Chic

Paris is known as the most chic city in Europe, so Pam was surprised by the vibrant, up-to-date fashion culture she experienced when she spent a weekend in Budapest, Hungary. 

4. Contemporary

As Linda walked into the worship service, she was surprised to hear that the music was contemporary, as she was used to hearing old-world hymns when she went to church with her grandmother. 

5. Ebullience

The preschool class was bubbling with excitement; their ebullience was clear as soon as the puppy entered the room.

6. Eclectic

The coffee shop’s decor was eclectic; the paintings, license plates, and Christmas ornaments didn’t quite go together but went perfectly with the energy of the Misfits-Fit-Here Café. 

7. Evocative

Listening to the poem, Mallory felt that the words of the second stanza were evocative, as the poet’s voice seemed to transport her mind to stress-free summers on the lake.

8. Flawless

Monica’s performance on stage was flawless, and her voice instructor marveled as she hit every note with ease and a smile.

9. Grungy

“This place gives a pretty grungy vibe,” said Lucas as he and Christie walked into the small restaurant entrance off of the alleyway.

10. Lithe

Erika’s recent weight loss left her looking lithe, like a ballerina; she was willowy yet healthy, and it was clear that she prioritized taking care of herself. 

11. Modern

Victoria’s home had a surprisingly modern aesthetic, with black, white, and silver decor; it seemed at odds with her super-traditional, country-raised personality.

12. Provocative

The party was trying too hard to be provocative with their double-entendre-dubbed custom drink blends and ultra-stylish decor.

13. Restorative

The waterfall seemed to have restorative properties, and as Alicia sat behind it and watched it fall, she felt a sense of youth, purpose, and renewed energy.

14. Showstopping

You won’t be able to miss her; she’s showstopping, and not just because she towers over most people in the room at a statuesque six feet tall.

Classic Aesthetic Words

Looking to create an old-fashioned piece that will give your readers a touch of nostalgia? These aesthetic words are timeless classics that will transport your readers to whatever time and place you choose.

15. Adorable

There was no other way to put it; Alicia’s apartment was downright adorable, from her hand-stitched curtains to the photos of her and her sister from their travels around the world. 

16. Affable

Stella rested her head on the center console and stretched out her four legs on the passenger’s seat; Otto couldn’t help but realize she was the most affable, easygoing road trip partner he’d ever had. 

17. Alluring

While the Florida beaches were beautiful, Loretta couldn’t help but notice the alluring wetlands on the other side of her resort.

18. Arresting

The sheer size of the lion was arresting, and even though Gary knew he was safe inside the confines of the safari vehicle, he felt his adrenaline kick in as the massive cat began to make his way toward the snack offered by the safari guide.

19. Captivating

Rachel was nervous about standing on the stage and sharing her story about cancer treatment, but the crowd found her captivating; they hung on her every word.

20. Cozy

Mary-Ann’s home was distinctively cozy, and her daughter, Amy, instantly felt transported back to her childhood when she saw the fireplace burning.

21. Cunning

Delilah’s cunning nature made it easier for her to trick the C-suite executives into funding her latest project, despite not having the research to back up her proposal. 

22. Distinguished

Sam’s office had a distinguished feel, as the walls were decorated with years of accolades from various respected universities and colleges and plaques denoting his company’s sizable charitable contributions.

23. Exquisite

The jewelry shop Michael took Holly to was exquisite; from the ornate chandeliers to the glasses of champagne and sparkling cider, the staff had to wait at the entrance; it felt like they were stepping into a fairy tale.

24. Eye-catching

Carly’s beauty wasn’t the only thing about her that was eye-catching, as her graceful confidence drew people to her just as much as her good looks.

25. Graceful

Her teacher worked hard to help her learn to move gracefully, allowing her to shine as she seemed to float across the stage at her recital.

26. Lovelorn

The heavy feeling of a lovelorn heart hung in the air as he finally realized she wouldn’t call. 

27. Luxurious

When Holly allowed her body to sink into the luxurious fabric, she felt her investment was worth every penny.

28. Magnetic

Melanie was magnetic, and anyone who enjoyed listening to her speak felt captivated.

29. Nostalgic

Hearing the crack of the bat hitting the ball made Clarissa feel nostalgic for her days of playing high school softball. 

30. Ornate

Suzanne was enchanted as she drove up the hill to the old Irish castle, amazed by the detail of the ornate and intricate design of each pointed tower.

31. Opulence

The old-world palace embodied opulence, from the detail in the pillars to the beauty of the stained glass in the entryway.

32. Ravishing

Juanita looked ravishing in her gown and couldn’t wait to walk on stage and accept her Volunteer of the Year award. 

33. Refreshing

Gabe threw his head back as he gulped down his refreshing Gatorade to rehydrate his body after crossing the finish line of the New York Marathon. 

34. Splendid

“We had a splendid time,” Allison said of her first date with Ryan, “we planned a hike and it rained for most of the day, but we were still able to enjoy each other’s company.”

35. Sublime

The flan was sublime, and Mrs. Stevens enjoyed every bite as she looked around the table and saw the students in her Spanish class doing the same during their annual field trip to her favorite Spanish restaurant.

36. Zingy

Marvin didn’t usually like musicals, but this show was zingy and fun and held his attention until the final scene.

Ethereal Aesthetic Words

An Ethereal Aesthetic (think The Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis or Life of Pi by Yann Martel) can help your readers become enveloped in the mystical world you’ve created for your characters. Whether your protagonists are time-traveling, living in the supernatural realm, or meeting mythical characters, ethereal aesthetic words can help bring your world to life. 

37. Angelic

The sounds from the church bells were positively angelic and made Warren feel one step closer to God whenever he could walk by the cathedral on Sunday morning. 

38. Ambrosial

The icing on Marley’s birthday cake was ambrosial, perfectly sweet with hints of vanilla and orange, reminiscent of a summer creamsicle.

39. Cosmic

When Ruth spent time stargazing in the desert, she realized just how small she was in comparison to the cosmic wonder of the universe.

40. Dreamy

Hannah was so happy to be adopted by her foster family that she hardly noticed they made her room dreamy; she had unicorn figures on the walls, a canopy bed, and a sound machine that let her drift off to sleep to the sweet noises of the rainforest.

41. Earthy

The tea wasn’t bad, but it did have an earthy taste, and the odd flavors of dirt and grass reminded Walter of how the air smelled after it rained.

42. Effervescent

Laura’s energy was effervescent, and her friends noticed that they always felt happier and more energetic after they got the chance to enjoy some time with her. 

43. Elfin

The elfin fairies danced at the end of the rainbow, singing an enchanting, otherworldly song that was impossible to forget.

44. Enchanting

The flower garden was enchanting, and the twinkling lights woven throughout the foliage made the cool autumn night the perfect place to enjoy an hour of quiet at the end of a long workday. 

45. Glorious

After spending all day cooped up in the office dealing with her supervisor’s ridiculous spreadsheet demands, Marie was relieved to finally feel the glorious warm sun on her skin.

46. Heavenly

After spending a year abroad, coming home to North Carolina and digging into a plate of her barbeque ribs at her favorite restaurant felt heavenly.

47. Idyllic

While some fellow travelers warned the couple that chain resorts are tourist traps, denying that their accommodations were idyllic, with a perfect view of the sunrise over the water was impossible.

48. Majestic

Elizabeth knew that the Grand Canyon would be beautiful, but she had no idea the space would be majestic; she’d never seen anything so glorious. 

49. Otherworldly

As Jane and her son hiked on the trail to the swimming hole, they came across a lagoon with water so blue and clear that it seemed otherworldly.

50. Radiant

The sun seemed to shine directly from Debbie’s skin after she finished her week at the spa; she looked healthy and radiant when she returned home.

51. Serendipity

A surprising stroke of serendipity resulted in the two college roommates sitting next to each other in the office of the Fortune 500 company they’d always dreamed of running. 

52. Supernatural

Connie knew that yetis weren’t real, but as she found herself hiking deeper into the Himalayas, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was some truth to the supernatural legend.

53. Surreptitious 

Martha never expected to get caught; she traded her stocks surreptitiously and thought she had a foolproof plan that would keep her from ever being held accountable. 

54. Whimsical

The candy shop was whimsical, and vanilla-flavored treats wafting through the air only added to the carefree, creative environment.

55. Wistful

Charlie felt wistful as he visited his wife’s gravesite–even though she was battling cancer when she died, he wished she could hang on a bit longer. 

56. Zephyr

She loved the feeling of the warm, dry zephyr in her hair as she walked along the side of the ocean. 

Looking for more? Check out our descriptive words list!