100 Irregular Adjectives: Your Complete Guide To English's Trickiest Comparisons

Table of Contents

Introduction

Learning English can feel like navigating a maze, especially when you encounter irregular adjectives. Unlike their well-behaved cousins that simply add “-er” and “-est” or use “more” and “most,” irregular adjectives march to their own drum, completely changing form when making comparisons. These linguistic rebels are among the most challenging aspects of English grammar, yet they’re absolutely essential for fluent communication.

Mastering irregular adjectives isn’t just about avoiding embarrassing mistakes—it’s about unlocking natural, confident expression. Native speakers use these forms instinctively, and understanding them will dramatically improve your comprehension of English literature, media, and everyday conversation. Whether you’re saying “better” instead of “more good” or choosing between “farther” and “further,” these irregular forms separate intermediate learners from advanced speakers.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover 100 irregular adjectives organized by categories, complete with their comparative and superlative forms. We’ll explore memory techniques, common pitfalls, and practical exercises to help you master these tricky transformations once and for all.

What Makes Adjectives Irregular?

Regular adjectives follow predictable patterns when forming comparatives and superlatives. Short adjectives typically add “-er” and “-est” (tall → taller → tallest), while longer adjectives use “more” and “most” (beautiful → more beautiful → most beautiful). Irregular adjectives, however, completely abandon these rules, creating entirely new words or following unexpected patterns.

These irregularities exist because English has absorbed words from multiple languages over centuries. Many irregular adjectives stem from Old English, Latin, or Germanic roots that maintained their original comparative forms. Others developed through common usage, where frequently spoken combinations gradually evolved into accepted irregular forms.

Consider these examples: “good” becomes “better” and “best”—completely different words with no resemblance to the original. “Far” splits into two different paths: “farther/farthest” for physical distance and “further/furthest” for abstract concepts. “Little” transforms into “less” and “least,” showing how these irregularities often reflect the language’s complex historical development.

The Complete List of 100 Irregular Adjectives

Category 1: Completely Different Forms

These adjectives transform into entirely new words:

Good → Better → Best
Example: This pizza is better than yesterday’s, but Mom’s is the best.

Bad → Worse → Worst
Example: Today’s weather is worse than expected, making it the worst week this month.

Little → Less → Least
Example: I need less sugar in my coffee, as I want the least amount possible.

Much/Many → More → Most
Example: She has more books than me, but he has the most in our class.

Far → Farther/Further → Farthest/Furthest
Example: The library is farther than the store, but the hospital is the farthest building.

Category 3: Double Comparatives (Both Forms Accepted)

Clever → Cleverer/More Clever → Cleverest/Most Clever
Common → Commoner/More Common → Commonest/Most Common
Gentle → Gentler/More Gentle → Gentlest/Most Gentle
Narrow → Narrower/More Narrow → Narrowest/Most Narrow
Pleasant → Pleasanter/More Pleasant → Pleasantest/Most Pleasant
Polite → Politer/More Polite → Politest/Most Polite
Quiet → Quieter/More Quiet → Quietest/Most Quiet
Simple → Simpler/More Simple → Simplest/Most Simple
Stupid → Stupider/More Stupid → Stupidest/Most Stupid
Subtle → Subtler/More Subtle → Subtlest/Most Subtle

Category 4: Ending Changes

Dry → Drier → Driest
Shy → Shyer → Shyest
Sly → Slyer → Slyest
Spry → Spryer → Spryest
Wry → Wryer → Wryest
Gay → Gayer → Gayest
Gray → Grayer → Grayest

Category 6: Adjectives with Multiple Meanings

Elder → Elder → Eldest (for family members)
Outer → Outer → Outermost
Inner → Inner → Innermost
Upper → Upper → Uppermost
Hind → Hinder → Hindmost
Fore → Former → Foremost

Category 7: Compound and Complex Forms

Well-known → Better-known → Best-known
Ill-defined → More Ill-defined → Most Ill-defined
Far-reaching → More Far-reaching → Most Far-reaching
Long-lasting → More Long-lasting → Most Long-lasting
Short-lived → More Short-lived → Most Short-lived

Category 8: Archaic and Formal Forms

Nigh → Nigher → Nighest
Worth → More Worth → Most Worth
Loath → More Loath → Most Loath

Memory Tips and Tricks

Mastering irregular adjectives requires strategic memorization techniques. Here are seven proven methods to help these forms stick in your memory:

1. Create Word Families: Group similar patterns together. All adjectives ending in “-y” change to “-ier/-iest” (happy → happier → happiest). Practice them as clusters rather than individual words.

2. Use the “Three Bears” Method: For completely irregular forms like good/better/best, create memorable sentences using all three forms: “Goldilocks found good porridge, better porridge, and the best porridge.”

3. Visual Memory Palace: Associate each irregular adjective with a specific location in your home. Picture “worse” weather in your bedroom and the “worst” storm in your basement.

4. Rhyme and Rhythm: Create catchy phrases like “Good, better, best—never let it rest” or “Bad, worse, worst—avoid it at first.” The musical quality makes them unforgettable.

5. Physical Distance for Far: Remember “farther” for physical distance (sounds like “father” walking far) and “further” for abstract concepts (sounds like “furthermore” in discussions).

6. Opposite Pairs: Learn irregular adjectives in contrasting pairs: good/better/best vs. bad/worse/worst, or much/more/most vs. little/less/least.

7. Daily Usage Challenges: Set a goal to use five irregular comparative forms each day in conversation or writing. Active usage creates stronger neural pathways than passive memorization.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even advanced English learners stumble over these ten frequently misused irregular adjectives. Here are the most common errors and their corrections:

1. “More good” instead of “better”
Incorrect: This restaurant is more good than the last one.
Correct: This restaurant is better than the last one.

2. “More bad” instead of “worse”
Incorrect: Today’s weather is more bad than yesterday’s.
Correct: Today’s weather is worse than yesterday’s.

3. “Gooder” or “goodest”
Incorrect: She’s the goodest student in class.
Correct: She’s the best student in class.

4. Confusing “farther” and “further”
Incorrect: We need to discuss this further down the road.
Correct: We need to discuss this farther down the road. (physical distance) OR We need to discuss this further. (additional discussion)

5. “More fun” vs. “funner”
Questionable: This game is funner than that one.
Preferred: This game is more fun than that one.

6. Double comparatives
Incorrect: She’s more prettier than her sister.
Correct: She’s prettier than her sister.

7. “Worser” or “baddest”
Incorrect: That’s the baddest decision ever.
Correct: That’s the worst decision ever.

8. “Lesser” vs. “less”
Incorrect: I want lesser ice cream.
Correct: I want less ice cream.

9. “Most oldest” or “most best”
Incorrect: He’s the most oldest person here.
Correct: He’s the oldest person here.

10. Mixing up “elder” and “older”
Incorrect: My car is elder than yours.
Correct: My car is older than yours. (Use “elder” only for family relationships)

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding with these fill-in-the-blank sentences. Choose the correct comparative or superlative form:

This coffee tastes _______ than the coffee shop’s brew. (bad)
Among all my siblings, I am the _______ one. (old)
The mountain peak looks _______ away than it actually is. (far)
She felt _______ after taking the medicine. (good)
This puzzle is _______ than the previous one. (little) [referring to difficulty]
Of all the students, Maria studies the _______. (much)
The _______ we climbed, the _______ the air became. (high, thin)
This year’s harvest is _______ than last year’s drought-affected crop. (good)
I need _______ time to finish this project. (much)
She chose the _______ of two evils. (little)

Answer Key:

worse
oldest (or eldest if referring to birth order)
farther
better
less
most
higher, thinner
better
more
lesser

Conclusion

Mastering irregular adjectives represents a significant milestone in your English learning journey. These 100 irregular forms may seem overwhelming initially, but with consistent practice and the memory techniques outlined above, they’ll become second nature. Remember that even native speakers occasionally pause to consider the correct form, so be patient with yourself as you internalize these patterns.

Continue practicing by reading English literature, watching movies, and engaging in conversations where these comparative forms naturally occur. Consider keeping a vocabulary journal specifically for irregular adjectives, noting new ones you encounter and reviewing familiar ones regularly. Most importantly, don’t fear making mistakes—they’re an essential part of learning. With dedication and practice, you’ll soon navigate English’s irregular adjectives with confidence and precision.

100 Irregular Adjectives: Your Complete Guide to English’s Trickiest Comparisons