Adjectives Ending In Ing: 251 Words With Sentences

Reviews of films, forecasts of weather, and portraits of people draw on the same ending. Adjectives ending in ing express the quality of an experience, a place, or a person.

Word class changes between sentences, since the same ending is used by verbs and nouns. Nouns nearby confirm the adjective.

Meaning and word class are therefore checked in each sentence. Adjectives with meanings and sentences are placed ahead of the senses, the polarity types, and the spelling.

Adjectives ending in ing are participle adjectives such as interesting and boring, and each is used to describe a noun or follows a linking verb. Gerunds and verbs share the ending, so word class is checked in each sentence.

Common Adjectives Ending In Ing

Common adjectives of this type are shown with a meaning and a sentence for each word.

Adjective	Meaning	Sentence
Interesting	Catching and keeping your attention.	Interesting questions filled the discussion after Maria finished her short talk on bees.
Amazing	Wonderfully good beyond expectation.	Amazing views opened up from the hilltop where Tom pitched his tent.
Exciting	Full of thrill and energy.	Exciting news came from school when Priya won the regional science fair.
Boring	Dull and lacking anything to hold attention.	Boring chores filled the rainy afternoon until Leo found a deck of cards.
Surprising	Unexpected and startling.	Surprising warmth lingered over the valley in late November.
Existing	Already in place or in use.	Existing pipes under the old kitchen floor were reused during the remodel.
Upcoming	About to happen soon.	Upcoming road work will close the bridge near Elm Street next week.
Ongoing	Still in progress.	Ongoing repairs kept the library closed through the summer.
Outstanding	Exceptionally good.	Outstanding service made the small diner popular with truck drivers passing through town.
Willing	Ready and glad to help.	Willing neighbors carried the heavy sofa up the narrow stairs for Denise.
Missing	Not where it belongs.	Missing keys delayed the trip until Carlos found them under the couch cushion.
Leading	Best or foremost in a field.	Leading chefs from the region gathered at the market to judge the tomato harvest.
Living	Alive, not dead.	Farmers in the valley keep living fences of hawthorn around every pasture.
Growing	Becoming larger over time.	Growing crowds filled the plaza as the parade drew near.
Increasing	Becoming greater in amount.	Increasing traffic slowed buses along Main Street each morning.
Remaining	Still left over.	Remaining soup went into jars for Ben to take to work.
Challenging	Difficult in a way that tests you.	Challenging trails wind up the ridge behind Lena’s cabin.
Terrifying	Causing great fear.	Terrifying shadows stretched across the wall in the old puppet play.
Disappointing	Falling short of hopes.	Disappointing weather ruined the picnic that Sam had planned for weeks.
Frightening	Making someone feel scared.	Nora found the thunderstorm frightening, so she hid under a quilt until dawn.
Shocking	Sudden and upsetting.	Dana thought the price of the concert ticket was shocking.
Confusing	Hard to follow or understand.	Road signs near the airport were confusing for travelers driving at night.
Annoying	Bothering you again and again.	Mia found the squeaky cart wheel annoying during the long trip to the store.
Tiring	Draining of energy.	After a tiring hike, the family ate pizza in the lodge.
Relaxing	Calming and restful.	On Sundays Grace takes a relaxing bath with lavender salts.
Satisfying	Pleasing because it feels complete.	Warm bread with butter is a satisfying lunch on cold days.
Promising	Showing signs of future success.	Coach Reyes called the young goalkeeper promising after the tryout.
Rewarding	Worthwhile and fulfilling.	Teaching kids to swim became a rewarding job for Omar.
Charming	Pleasant and attractive.	Behind the station stands a charming cottage with blue shutters.
Stunning	Extremely beautiful.	Sunset over the lake made a stunning scene for the wedding photos.
Lasting	Continuing for a long time.	Years of friendship left a lasting bond between Kim and Rosa.
Overwhelming	Too great to handle.	Jake felt the crowd noise at the stadium was overwhelming.
Fascinating	Capturing deep interest.	At the museum, Ava watched a fascinating film about deep sea fish.
Inspiring	Lifting spirits and encouraging effort.	Coach Dillon gave an inspiring speech before the final game.
Welcoming	Friendly to new arrivals.	At the inn, the hosts were warm and welcoming to late guests.
Demanding	Requiring much effort.	Pastry work is demanding because dough needs constant attention.
Developing	Gradually taking shape.	Forecasters watched a developing storm off the coast all evening.
Striking	Strongly catching the eye.	Ruth wore a striking red coat to the winter market.
Engaging	Pleasantly holding attention.	Mr. Park is an engaging teacher whose classes fill quickly.

Words Ending In Ing As Adjectives

Words ending in ing are adjectives when they are used to describe a noun, as in boring films, or follow a linking verb. Gerunds are nouns with the same ending, and each is used as a noun in a sentence.

Gerund	Sentence
Swimming	Swimming improves stamina and strengthens the shoulders of beginners at the pool.
Running	Jake loves running along the river before sunrise with his old dog.
Cooking	Cooking for friends relaxes Marta after long days at the hospital.
Shopping	Weekend shopping at the farmers market saves Deb money on vegetables.
Reading	Before bed, Oscar enjoys reading short stories under a small lamp.
Building	Building birdhouses gives the neighbors a project for rainy Saturdays.
Painting	Nina finds painting landscapes calming after a busy week at work.
Fishing	Walt spent summer mornings fishing on the quiet lake near his home.
Training	Marathon training starts for Lila in early spring on the hills.
Hiking	Daniel prefers hiking in the Rockies over driving to the coast.

What Adjectives Ending In Ing Are Called

Adjectives ending in ing are called participle adjectives, because each is formed from the present participle of a verb. Participle adjectives are covered on a separate page, and the base verb is shown for each spelling change in the spelling types.

Adjectives Ending In Ing By Sense

Words are placed here by the quality they name, and each is shown with a meaning and a sentence. Positive adjectives and negative adjectives are covered on separate pages.

Adjectives Ending In Ing For Feelings And Reactions

Feelings and reactions are named by adjectives such as disgusting and embarrassing.

Adjective	Meaning	Sentence
Disgusting	Very unpleasant to smell, taste, or see.	Disgusting odors drifted from the old fridge after the power failed overnight.
Embarrassing	Making a person feel awkward and ashamed.	Maya found it embarrassing when her phone rang loudly during the quiet school assembly.
Worrying	Causing a feeling of unease or concern.	Worrying news about the late train spread through the crowded platform.
Thrilling	Full of excitement and joy.	Thrilling rides at the fair kept the children laughing until sunset.
Irritating	Making a person annoyed or impatient.	Leo found the buzzing of the cheap desk fan irritating during his exam.
Depressing	Making people feel sad and low.	Gray drizzle made the empty parking lot look depressing on Monday morning.
Astonishing	Surprising a person very greatly.	Astonishing speed carried the young sprinter past every runner on the track.
Alarming	Causing sudden fear or worry.	Carla ran into the kitchen at the alarming sound of breaking glass.
Comforting	Giving a feeling of warmth and ease.	Comforting smells of cinnamon and baked apples filled Grandpa Walt’s small kitchen.
Soothing	Calming and gentle to body or mind.	In the evening, Priya played soothing piano music while the soup simmered.
Reassuring	Making someone feel less worried.	Coach Ramos gave a reassuring nod as the hikers checked their maps.
Exhausting	Making a person extremely tired.	Exhausting shifts at the bakery left Tom asleep on the couch before dinner.
Draining	Using up all of a person’s energy.	After a draining day of travel, the family ordered pizza at the hotel.
Tempting	Attractive and hard to turn down.	Rosa stopped at the bakery window because the pastries looked tempting.
Touching	Causing warm and gentle feelings.	Mr. Alvarez smiled at the touching card the whole class had signed.
Moving	Causing strong, tender feelings.	Ben gave a moving speech at his sister’s wedding about their childhood.
Heartbreaking	Causing deep sadness.	Heartbreaking scenes in the film had the whole theater reaching for tissues.
Puzzling	Hard to understand or explain.	Nora thought the missing sock in the dryer was truly puzzling.
Baffling	Confusing a person completely.	Baffling directions on the box left Jamal with extra screws and no shelf.
Bewildering	Very confusing and hard to follow.	Tourists wandered through a bewildering maze of narrow streets in old Fez.
Haunting	Beautiful yet sad and long remembered.	Late at night, a haunting melody from the flute echoed across the valley.
Unsettling	Making a person feel uneasy or disturbed.	Rain tapped on the tin roof with an unsettling rhythm all night.
Distressing	Causing worry and upset.	Distressing delays at the airport left Hugo stranded without his luggage.
Revolting	Extremely unpleasant and sickening.	Marcus tossed the stew because it tasted revolting after a week in the pot.

Words Ending In Ing For Looks And Sound

Looks and sound are named by adjectives such as shining and booming.

Adjective	Meaning	Sentence
Shining	Giving off or reflecting bright light.	Shining brass buttons caught the eyes of the children at the parade.
Glittering	Catching light in tiny bright flashes.	Maria wore a glittering necklace to her cousin’s wedding in Lisbon.
Sparkling	Bright with many tiny flashes of light.	In the early morning sun the lake looked sparkling.
Gleaming	Shining brightly with a smooth surface.	Hanging over the stove in the restaurant kitchen were gleaming new pans.
Glowing	Giving off a soft steady light.	Tom placed a glowing lantern on the porch before dinner.
Dazzling	So bright that it hurts the eyes.	Dazzling sunlight bounced off the snow on the mountain road.
Flashing	Lighting up and going dark again quickly.	Drivers slowed down at the flashing signal near the school.
Flickering	Shining unsteadily with quick changes in brightness.	Ruth read by the flickering candle during the power cut.
Blinding	Too bright to look at.	During the hike a blinding glare from the snow forced everyone to wear dark glasses.
Shimmering	Shining with a soft, wavering light.	Over the desert road hung a shimmering haze in the afternoon heat.
Booming	Making a deep, loud sound.	Kevin laughed in his booming voice across the crowded gym.
Roaring	Making a loud, deep, rolling noise.	Campers fell asleep beside the roaring river last night.
Buzzing	Making a low humming sound.	Buzzing bees filled the garden behind Grandma’s house all afternoon.
Rustling	Making soft sounds like moving leaves.	We heard rustling paper in the back of the quiet classroom.
Whispering	Speaking in a very soft voice.	Whispering students near the back shelves annoyed the librarian during exam week.
Crackling	Making sharp, short snapping sounds.	By the crackling fire, Dana dried her wet socks.
Thundering	Making a very loud, rumbling noise.	Along the track came thundering hooves as the horses raced past.
Piercing	Sharp and very loud in sound.	Piercing whistles from the referee stopped the match twice.

Adjectives That End In Ing For Movement And Change

Movement and change are named by adjectives such as flowing and shrinking.

Adjective	Meaning	Sentence
Rising	Going up or climbing higher.	Rising temperatures melted the frost on the greenhouse windows before breakfast.
Falling	Dropping down toward the ground.	Falling leaves covered the path behind Marcus’s old cabin all afternoon.
Flowing	Moving along smoothly like water.	Priya filled her bottle from the flowing stream beside the campground.
Spinning	Turning round quickly on a center.	Spinning wheels kicked up mud as the truck climbed the hill.
Rolling	Gently going up and down in waves.	Tom walked across the rolling hills behind the farm every morning.
Swinging	Moving back and forth while hanging.	Dana pushed her little brother on the swinging seat at the park.
Soaring	Climbing quickly to a great height.	Soaring prices at the market made Grandma buy fewer peaches this week.
Shrinking	Getting smaller in size.	By lunchtime the shrinking puddle had vanished under the hot July sun.
Expanding	Growing larger in size or volume.	Expanding foam sealed the gap beneath the garage door in minutes.
Drifting	Moving slowly with no fixed course.	Lena watched the drifting clouds from a bench near the harbor.
Sliding	Moving smoothly along a surface.	Owen fixed the sliding door of the pantry with a drop of oil.
Bouncing	Springing back after hitting a surface.	Nora laughed at the bouncing ball as it rolled under the sofa.
Wandering	Moving about without a fixed route.	After dinner, Felix followed the wandering path through the orchard.
Fluctuating	Rising and falling in an uneven way.	Fluctuating fuel costs forced the bakery to adjust its delivery routes.
Changing	Becoming different over time.	Autumn brought changing colors to the maple trees along Elm Street.
Evolving	Developing gradually into a new form.	Kenji studied the evolving design of the bridge over several years of work.
Advancing	Moving forward toward a place.	Residents watched the advancing storm cloud darken the lake.
Receding	Moving back or away.	Hikers crossed the riverbed once the receding tide exposed the flat stones.

Adjectives Ending In Ing For Weather And Winter

Weather and winter are named by adjectives such as freezing and howling.

Adjective	Meaning	Sentence
Freezing	Cold enough to turn water into ice.	Freezing rain coated the highway outside Denver and slowed every commuter that morning.
Boiling	Extremely hot, like water on a stove.	Maya shed her sweater in the boiling classroom before the math quiz began.
Scorching	Painfully hot from strong sun.	Scorching sunlight forced the hikers to rest beneath a cliff until evening.
Sweltering	Uncomfortably hot and sticky.	Tourists in Bangkok drank iced tea all afternoon during the sweltering weeks of late summer.
Blazing	Shining with very strong heat and light.	Leo squinted under the blazing noon sun while he repaired the fence.
Pouring	Raining very hard.	We waited inside the bakery until the pouring rain eased off.
Howling	Making a long, loud wailing noise.	Howling gusts rattled the shutters of the old farmhouse all night long.
Raging	Violent and out of control.	Sailors tied down the cargo before the raging storm reached the harbor.
Biting	Sharp and painfully cold.	Priya pulled her scarf tighter against the biting wind off the lake.
Chilling	Cold enough to make you shiver.	Chilling fog drifted across the quiet valley just before dawn on Sunday.
Steaming	Giving off hot vapor.	Carlos carried a steaming bowl of noodle soup to the porch.
Sizzling	Very hot and hissing, as in a pan.	Sizzling bacon filled the little kitchen with a warm, salty smell on Saturday.
Blistering	Extremely hot and harsh.	Runners avoided the track during the blistering heat of the afternoon.
Shivering	Trembling from cold.	Shivering children lined up at the bus stop in the early dark.
Stinging	Causing a sharp, burning pain.	Stinging sleet hit our faces as we crossed the parking lot.

Words Ending In Ing For Time And Order

Time and order are named by adjectives such as lingering and approaching.

Adjective	Meaning	Sentence
Lingering	Staying for a long time.	Lingering smoke from the bakery made the street smell of bread.
Recurring	Happening again and again.	Mia has a recurring appointment at the dentist every spring.
Continuing	Going on without stopping.	Continuing rain over the valley delayed the soccer final until Saturday.
Enduring	Lasting for a very long time.	Locals in my hometown treat the old bridge as an enduring landmark.
Persisting	Lasting despite efforts to stop it.	Leo stayed home from school this week with a persisting cough.
Pending	Waiting to be decided or finished.	Online orders stay pending until the store confirms the payment.
Impending	About to happen soon.	Shoppers rushed to the grocery store because of the impending snow.
Approaching	Coming closer in space or time.	Carla saw approaching headlights and knew her ride had arrived.
Incoming	Arriving or coming in.	Incoming flights were delayed by fog at the airport.
Forthcoming	About to appear or be released.	Jonas is reading about the forthcoming novel by his favorite author.
Departing	Leaving a place.	Departing passengers waited at the gate with their suitcases.

Adjectives Ending In Ing For Work And Role

Work and role are named by adjectives such as ruling and visiting.

Adjective	Meaning	Sentence
Ruling	Holding authority and power.	Members of the ruling committee at the chess club voted to extend lunch.
Governing	Having authority to run an organization.	Parents joined the governing board of the elementary school last spring.
Managing	In charge of daily operations.	Kofi works as the managing editor of a small travel magazine.
Reigning	Currently holding a title or crown.	Reigning champion Elena defended her tennis trophy on Sunday afternoon.
Visiting	Coming to a place for a short stay.	Visiting players stretched on the sidelines before the soccer game began.
Operating	Relating to daily running costs.	Nadia reviewed the operating budget for the bakery before signing the lease.
Consulting	Giving expert advice as a job.	Tom hired a consulting engineer to inspect the old bridge.
Retiring	Quiet and shy around others.	Lucas, a retiring man, preferred reading in the library to attending parties.
Qualifying	Deciding who moves on to the finals.	Qualifying heats for the swim meet started early on Friday morning.
Acting	Temporarily doing another person’s job.	Ms. Carter served as acting principal while the school searched for a new leader.
Practicing	Working actively in a profession.	Dr. Lee is a practicing dentist who also teaches at the local college.

Positive Adjectives Ending In Ing

Positive adjectives express praise or a pleasant quality, and each word is shown with a meaning and a sentence.

Adjective	Meaning	Sentence
Caring	Showing kindness and concern for others.	Nurse Alvarez gave the frightened child a caring smile.
Loving	Showing deep affection toward others.	Maria wrote a loving note and tucked it in her daughter’s lunch box.
Uplifting	Making people feel cheerful and hopeful.	Choir music filled the hall with an uplifting mood after the long rain.
Enchanting	Delightful in a magical way.	Evening at the lakeside cottage felt enchanting once the fireflies appeared.
Captivating	Holding attention with great charm.	Mr. Brooks gave a captivating talk about sailing to a hall full of students.
Compelling	Hard to ignore or resist.	Compelling photographs convinced the town council to repair the old footbridge.
Refreshing	Cool and bringing new energy.	Refreshing lemonade cooled the soccer team after practice in the August heat.
Enlightening	Giving new understanding or knowledge.	Sam found the museum tour enlightening and took notes throughout.
Entertaining	Amusing and enjoyable to watch.	Entertaining stories from the sailor kept the children awake past bedtime.
Flattering	Making a person look attractive.	Jorge bought a flattering blue jacket at the shop on Main Street.
Encouraging	Giving hope and confidence.	Encouraging remarks from the coach lifted Tasha before the final race.
Empowering	Giving people strength and confidence.	Workshop leaders at the library offered an empowering class on starting small businesses.
Gratifying	Pleasing and satisfying to receive.	After months of practice, hearing the applause was gratifying for Lucy.
Nourishing	Providing the food needed for health.	Grandpa cooked a nourishing soup of beans, carrots and barley.
Healing	Helping the body recover.	Bella rubbed a healing balm on her sore hands after gardening.
Enriching	Making life fuller and more rewarding.	Teenagers found the exchange year in Spain an enriching experience.
Engrossing	Holding all your attention.	Evan finished the engrossing novel on the train to Chicago.
Riveting	Completely holding your interest.	Over the weekend, Hana watched a riveting documentary about ocean tides.
Gripping	Holding attention with strong excitement.	Gripping mystery novels kept Ruth up late on the porch.
Spellbinding	Fascinating enough to silence an audience.	Visitors left the planetarium after a spellbinding show about distant stars.
Mesmerizing	Fascinating enough to hold your gaze.	Waves made a mesmerizing rhythm against the pier at dusk.
Rejuvenating	Making you feel young and fresh again.	Carlos took a rejuvenating nap by the pool before the evening party.
Invigorating	Filling you with energy.	Cold morning air felt invigorating to the runners on Pine Ridge trail.
Stimulating	Exciting thought and interest.	Stimulating conversation filled the cafe where the professors met on Fridays.
Pleasing	Giving enjoyment or satisfaction.	Pleasing aromas drifted from the bakery as Amir unlocked the front door.
Appealing	Attractive and inviting.	Appealing prices drew shoppers to the new fruit stand near the station.
Endearing	Causing warm and loving feelings.	Toby’s endearing habit of humming while he cooked amused his roommates.
Winning	Successful in a contest.	Winning tickets were drawn from the glass bowl at the school fair.
Flourishing	Growing strongly and healthily.	Rosa tended a flourishing herb garden behind the bakery.
Thriving	Growing and doing very well.	Thriving farms line the valley road outside Fresno for miles.

Negative Adjectives Ending In Ing

Negative adjectives express a fault or an unpleasant quality, and each word is shown with a meaning and a sentence.

Adjective	Meaning	Sentence
Appalling	Shockingly bad in quality.	Appalling service at the diner left Marcus waiting an hour for cold toast.
Devastating	Causing great damage or loss.	Farmers in Georgia lost their peach crop to a devastating late frost.
Excruciating	Extremely painful or hard to bear.	Standing in line for tickets all afternoon was excruciating for Ines.
Infuriating	Making a person very angry.	Infuriating delays at the airport kept Paul from boarding until midnight.
Maddening	Making you feel very annoyed.	Sofia found the slow internet at the cabin maddening.
Nagging	Constant and slightly irritating.	Walt had a nagging worry that he had left the stove on.
Insulting	Rude and disrespectful.	Customers complained about the insulting tone of the store’s email reply.
Degrading	Causing a loss of dignity.	Workers called the cramped, filthy break room at the plant degrading.
Demeaning	Treating people as unworthy of respect.	Rosa quit the job after her boss assigned her demeaning chores each day.
Humiliating	Causing deep embarrassment.	Humiliating losses in the playoffs left the team quiet on the bus.
Menacing	Looking ready to cause harm.	Dark, menacing clouds gathered over the soccer field before the game.
Threatening	Suggesting that harm is near.	Threatening skies forced the crew to cancel the outdoor concert in Austin.
Unnerving	Making a person feel uneasy.	Silence in the empty hallway was unnerving to the night janitor.
Agonizing	Very painful or hard to endure.	Choosing between the job in Denver and the job in Dallas was an agonizing decision for Mei.
Crushing	Overwhelming and hard to recover from.	Brandon felt crushing disappointment when the picnic was canceled again.
Grueling	Very tiring and demanding.	After a grueling shift at the warehouse, Dolores fell asleep on the couch.
Punishing	Harsh and exhausting to endure.	Cyclists struggled up the punishing hill in the afternoon heat.
Grinding	Tiring, dull, and seemingly endless.	Owen grew weary of the grinding routine at the cannery.
Deafening	So loud it hurts the ears.	Deafening applause filled the gym when the home team scored.
Sickening	Causing a feeling of disgust.	Sickening odors of spoiled milk drifted out when Grace opened the fridge.
Nauseating	Making the stomach feel unsettled.	Passengers found the ferry’s nauseating rocking worse after lunch.
Damaging	Causing harm to something.	Damaging hail dented cars across the parking lot of the mall.
Misleading	Giving a false impression.	Pedro found the label on the juice misleading since it held little fruit.
Declining	Getting smaller in number or strength.	Declining enrollment forced the small school to merge classes.
Dwindling	Slowly getting smaller.	Hikers rationed their dwindling water supply on the long desert trail.
Worsening	Growing steadily poorer.	Beth blamed the worsening traffic on the bridge for her late arrival.
Ailing	In poor health or condition.	Lena drove to Ohio to care for her ailing grandmother.
Suffering	Experiencing pain or hardship.	Volunteers brought blankets to the suffering families after the flood.
Dying	Close to ceasing to live.	Fran watered the dying fern daily, hoping it would turn green again.
Horrifying	Causing intense fear and shock.	Jessie found the haunted house at the fair horrifying.
Upsetting	Causing worry or sadness.	News of the canceled trip was upsetting to the whole class.
Cutting	Sharp and unkind in tone.	Ravi winced at the cutting remark about his handwriting.

Adjectives Ending In Ing To Describe A Person

Adjectives to describe a person denote manner and character, and each word is shown with a meaning and a sentence.

Adjective	Meaning	Sentence
Outgoing	Friendly and fond of meeting people.	Priya is outgoing and makes friends at every new school.
Daring	Willing to take bold chances.	Climbers who were daring crossed the ridge before the weather turned.
Forgiving	Ready to pardon mistakes.	Mr. Ortiz is a forgiving coach who lets players try again.
Trusting	Ready to believe others are honest.	Customers in the village are trusting and leave their bikes unlocked outside the shop.
Understanding	Kind and ready to share another’s feelings.	Ben thanked his understanding teacher for the extra week.
Accommodating	Willing to help and meet others’ needs.	Hotel staff in Denver were accommodating and found us a quiet room.
Grasping	Greedy for money or goods.	Landlords in that town were grasping and raised rents every year.
Scheming	Making secret, clever plans for gain.	Fiona played a scheming cousin in the school play.
Conniving	Secretly planning tricks for personal gain.	Characters in that detective novel are conniving and fill the plot with lies.
Domineering	Bossy and controlling toward others.	Carlos quit the team because of a domineering captain.
Overbearing	Bossy in an annoying, forceful way.	Overbearing managers made the busy shop a tense workplace.
Bragging	Boasting loudly about oneself.	Sam’s bragging cousin told everyone about his new bike.
Mocking	Making fun of someone in a cruel way.	Mocking laughter from the back row upset the new speaker.
Sneering	Showing scorn with the face or voice.	Alex ignored the sneering remarks about his old jacket.
Scowling	Frowning with an angry face.	Nina handed the scowling toddler a cracker at the picnic.
Smiling	Showing a happy look with the mouth.	Smiling waiters greeted every guest at the restaurant door.
Laughing	Making sounds of amusement.	Laughing children ran through the sprinklers in the park all afternoon.
Hesitating	Pausing because of doubt.	After a hesitating start, Omar sang the whole song.
Wavering	Unsure and changing course.	Nick gave a wavering answer when asked about the trip.
Persevering	Continuing despite difficulty.	Persevering students finished the long hike despite the rain.
Unassuming	Modest and not showy.	Mr. Lee is an unassuming baker who never boasts about his prizes.
Obliging	Eager to do favors for others.	Everyone liked the obliging clerk who carried our bags to the car.
Unfeeling	Showing no kindness or sympathy.	Rosa found the email unfeeling and wrote back politely.
Uncaring	Not showing concern for others.	Uncaring drivers sped through the puddles beside the crowded sidewalk.
Unyielding	Firm and unwilling to give way.	Marcus sat on an unyielding wooden bench for hours.
Unflinching	Not showing fear or pain.	Hana met the dentist’s needle with calm and an unflinching stare.
Unwavering	Steady and never changing.	Unwavering support from her family helped Tara finish the marathon.

Compound Adjectives Ending In Ing

Compound adjectives of this type are hyphenated before a noun, as in good-looking actors and long-lasting batteries, and each word is shown with a meaning and a sentence.

Adjective	Meaning	Sentence
Good-looking	Pleasing to look at.	Aisha rode a good-looking bicycle with a red frame to school.
Hard-working	Putting steady effort into tasks.	Hard-working farmers rose early to pick the ripe peaches.
Time-consuming	Taking a long while to finish.	Sewing the tiny buttons by hand proved time-consuming for Grace.
Mind-blowing	Amazing beyond what was expected.	Mind-blowing views from the summit left the hikers speechless.
Awe-inspiring	Causing deep wonder and respect.	Standing beside the awe-inspiring waterfall, Kenji took photos for hours.
Heart-warming	Bringing gladness and gentle joy.	Heart-warming stories about neighbors sharing meals filled the local newsletter.
Record-breaking	Better than any earlier mark.	In July, record-breaking heat settled over the city, and schools opened their pools.
Far-reaching	Having effects over a wide space.	Lena’s plan had far-reaching benefits for every store in the region.
Long-lasting	Staying good for a long time.	Dana bought a long-lasting battery for her camera before the trip.
Ever-changing	Always becoming different.	Ever-changing clouds drifted over the lake while Oscar sketched the shore.
Fast-growing	Getting bigger very quickly.	Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that shoots up in the garden.
Well-meaning	Having good intentions.	Uncle Raj gave well-meaning advice about the car, though it did not help.
Free-flowing	Moving smoothly without blocks.	Free-flowing water filled the ditch after the spring rain.
Never-ending	Going on without stopping.	At the airport, a never-ending line of travelers wound around the corner.
Law-abiding	Obeying the rules of the community.	Mr. Chen is a law-abiding citizen who always stops at red lights.
Hair-raising	Very scary and thrilling.	Wind howled during the hair-raising ride down the steep mountain road.
Eye-catching	Drawing attention at once.	Eye-catching posters covered the school hallway before the spring fair.
Mouth-watering	Looking or smelling very tasty.	Julia served mouth-watering lasagna to her guests on Sunday.
Breath-taking	Very beautiful and astonishing.	From the cliff, Mateo admired the breath-taking view of the sea.
Nerve-racking	Causing great worry and tension.	Nerve-racking minutes passed while Eli waited for his test results.
Money-making	Bringing in profit.	Selling lemonade became a money-making hobby for the twins that summer.
Life-changing	Greatly altering how a person lives.	Moving abroad was a life-changing choice for Hana and her family.
Thought-provoking	Making people think deeply.	Rita watched a thought-provoking documentary about oceans on Friday night.
Forward-looking	Planning well for the future.	Forward-looking managers at the mill bought new machines to prepare for growth.
Best-selling	Bought by very many people.	Carlos signed copies of his best-selling cookbook at the downtown store.
Ear-splitting	Painfully loud.	Ear-splitting thunder rattled the cabin windows during the summer storm.

Spelling Of Adjectives Ending In Ing

Spelling follows the base verb, and the change is stated for every row.

Adjectives Ending In Ing After A Dropped E

Verbs ending in e lose the e before ing, as in excite and exciting.

Base verb	Adjective	Change
Surprise	Surprising	Drop e, add ing
Tire	Tiring	Drop e, add ing
Bore	Boring	Drop e, add ing
Inspire	Inspiring	Drop e, add ing
Encourage	Encouraging	Drop e, add ing
Shine	Shining	Drop e, add ing
Freeze	Freezing	Drop e, add ing
Rise	Rising	Drop e, add ing
Welcome	Welcoming	Drop e, add ing
Promise	Promising	Drop e, add ing
Challenge	Challenging	Drop e, add ing
Amaze	Amazing	Drop e, add ing
Excite	Exciting	Drop e, add ing
Confuse	Confusing	Drop e, add ing

Words Ending In Ing With A Doubled Consonant

Short verbs that end in a vowel and a consonant repeat the final consonant, as in stun and stunning.

Base verb	Adjective	Change
Stun	Stunning	Repeat n, add ing
Spin	Spinning	Repeat n, add ing
Win	Winning	Repeat n, add ing
Compel	Compelling	Repeat l, add ing
Upset	Upsetting	Repeat t, add ing
Cut	Cutting	Repeat t, add ing

Adjectives That End In Ing After Y Is Kept

Verbs ending in y keep the y before ing, as in annoy and annoying.

Base verb	Adjective	Change
Annoy	Annoying	Keep y, add ing
Worry	Worrying	Keep y, add ing
Satisfy	Satisfying	Keep y, add ing
Terrify	Terrifying	Keep y, add ing
Horrify	Horrifying	Keep y, add ing

Adjectives Ending In Ing And Ed

Adjectives ending in ing are used to name the cause of a feeling, as in a boring film. Adjectives ending in ed denote the person who has it, as in a bored viewer. Pairs are shown here.

Ing form	Ed form
Boring	Bored
Exciting	Excited
Interesting	Interested
Tiring	Tired
Confusing	Confused
Annoying	Annoyed
Surprising	Surprised
Shocking	Shocked
Frightening	Frightened
Disappointing	Disappointed

Adjectives Ending In Ing Compared With More And Most

Adjectives ending in ing take more and most, as in most interesting, and never er and est. Comparison of adjectives is covered on a separate page, and each phrase here is shown in a sentence.

Adjective	Superlative	Sentence
Interesting	Most interesting	Of all the exhibits, Lena found the pottery wheel the most interesting.
Exciting	Most exciting	Tom says the last lap was the most exciting moment of the race.
Boring	Most boring	Pedro thought the long lecture on tax forms was the most boring part of school.
Surprising	Most surprising	In the old photo, the most surprising sight is a goat standing on the roof.
Challenging	Most challenging	Among the trail runs, Hiro rated the mountain loop the most challenging.
Charming	Most charming	Visitors voted this seaside village the most charming stop on the whole coastal road.
Demanding	Most demanding	Chef Alma runs the most demanding kitchen in the city, with orders arriving nonstop.
Rewarding	Most rewarding	Gardening gives Walt the most rewarding hours of his week.
Fascinating	Most fascinating	Students found the beetle collection the most fascinating display in the science hall.
Promising	Most promising	Scouts called Eli the most promising pitcher in the district league.
Stunning	Most stunning	Autumn light made the canyon the most stunning place Rosa had ever photographed.
Amazing	Most amazing	For Kofi, the most amazing meal was grandma’s stew after the long hike.

Adjectives Ending In Ing By Syllable

Words are placed by syllable count, and a filled circle marks the stressed syllable in each word.

Adjectives Ending In Ing With 2 Syllables

Stress falls on syllable 1 in 2 syllable adjectives such as living and missing.

Adjective	Stress
Living	● ○
Missing	● ○
Moving	● ○
Leading	● ○
Winning	● ○
Growing	● ○
Acting	● ○
Changing	● ○
Willing	● ○
Falling	● ○
Dying	● ○
Cutting	● ○
Laughing	● ○
Rising	● ○

Words Ending In Ing With 3 Syllables

Stress falls on syllable 2 in 3 syllable adjectives such as hard-working and amazing.

Adjective	Stress
Good-looking	● ○ ○
Hard-working	○ ● ○
Amazing	○ ● ○
Existing	○ ● ○
Life-changing	● ○ ○
Increasing	○ ● ○
Remaining	○ ● ○
Exciting	○ ● ○
Outstanding	○ ● ○
Visiting	● ○ ○
Annoying	○ ● ○
Managing	● ○ ○
Upcoming	● ○ ○
Ongoing	● ○ ○

Adjectives Ending In Ing With 4 Or More Syllables

Stress falls on syllable 3 in adjectives of 4 or more syllables such as understanding and never-ending.

Adjective	Stress
Understanding	○ ○ ● ○
Operating	● ○ ○ ○
Developing	○ ● ○ ○
Never-ending	○ ○ ● ○
Continuing	○ ● ○ ○
Embarrassing	○ ● ○ ○
Encouraging	○ ● ○ ○
Fascinating	● ○ ○ ○
Entertaining	○ ○ ● ○
Overwhelming	○ ○ ● ○
Disappointing	○ ○ ● ○
Qualifying	● ○ ○ ○
Terrifying	● ○ ○ ○
Satisfying	● ○ ○ ○

Adjectives Ending In Ing By Starting Letter

Words are placed by starting letter, and each row names the sense.

Words Ending In Ing That Begin With A

Words starting with A are placed here, as in accommodating and acting.

Word	Sense
Accommodating	Person
Acting	Work And Role
Advancing	Movement And Change
Agonizing	Negative
Ailing	Negative
Alarming	Feelings And Reactions
Amazing	Common
Annoying	Common
Appalling	Negative
Appealing	Positive
Approaching	Time And Order
Astonishing	Feelings And Reactions
Awe-inspiring	Compound

Words Ending In Ing That Start With B

Words that begin with B include baffling and best-selling.

Word	Sense
Baffling	Feelings And Reactions
Best-selling	Compound
Bewildering	Feelings And Reactions
Biting	Weather And Winter
Blazing	Weather And Winter
Blinding	Looks And Sound
Blistering	Weather And Winter
Boiling	Weather And Winter
Booming	Looks And Sound
Boring	Common
Bouncing	Movement And Change
Bragging	Person
Breath-taking	Compound
Buzzing	Looks And Sound

Adjectives That End In Ing Starting With C

Words starting with C are placed by sense, as in captivating and caring.

Word	Sense
Captivating	Positive
Caring	Positive
Challenging	Common
Changing	Movement And Change
Charming	Common
Chilling	Weather And Winter
Comforting	Feelings And Reactions
Compelling	Positive
Confusing	Common
Conniving	Person
Consulting	Work And Role
Continuing	Time And Order
Crackling	Looks And Sound
Crushing	Negative
Cutting	Negative

Adjectives Ending In Ing Starting With D

Words starting with D are placed here, as in damaging and daring.

Word	Sense
Damaging	Negative
Daring	Person
Dazzling	Looks And Sound
Deafening	Negative
Declining	Negative
Degrading	Negative
Demanding	Common
Demeaning	Negative
Departing	Time And Order
Depressing	Feelings And Reactions
Devastating	Negative
Developing	Common
Disappointing	Common
Disgusting	Feelings And Reactions
Distressing	Feelings And Reactions
Domineering	Person
Draining	Feelings And Reactions
Drifting	Movement And Change
Dwindling	Negative
Dying	Negative

Adjectives Ending With Ing Starting With E

Words that begin with E include ear-splitting and embarrassing.

Word	Sense
Ear-splitting	Compound
Embarrassing	Feelings And Reactions
Empowering	Positive
Enchanting	Positive
Encouraging	Positive
Endearing	Positive
Enduring	Time And Order
Engaging	Common
Engrossing	Positive
Enlightening	Positive
Enriching	Positive
Entertaining	Positive
Ever-changing	Compound
Evolving	Movement And Change
Exciting	Common
Excruciating	Negative
Exhausting	Feelings And Reactions
Existing	Common
Expanding	Movement And Change
Eye-catching	Compound

Words Ending In Ing That Begin With F

Words starting with F are placed by sense, as in falling and far-reaching.

Word	Sense
Falling	Movement And Change
Far-reaching	Compound
Fascinating	Common
Fast-growing	Compound
Flashing	Looks And Sound
Flattering	Positive
Flickering	Looks And Sound
Flourishing	Positive
Flowing	Movement And Change
Fluctuating	Movement And Change
Forgiving	Person
Forthcoming	Time And Order
Forward-looking	Compound
Free-flowing	Compound
Freezing	Weather And Winter
Frightening	Common

Words Ending In Ing That Start With G

Words starting with G are placed here, as in gleaming and glittering.

Word	Sense
Gleaming	Looks And Sound
Glittering	Looks And Sound
Glowing	Looks And Sound
Good-looking	Compound
Governing	Work And Role
Grasping	Person
Gratifying	Positive
Grinding	Negative
Gripping	Positive
Growing	Common
Grueling	Negative

Adjectives That End In Ing Starting With H

Words that begin with H include hair-raising and hard-working.

Word	Sense
Hair-raising	Compound
Hard-working	Compound
Haunting	Feelings And Reactions
Healing	Positive
Heart-warming	Compound
Heartbreaking	Feelings And Reactions
Hesitating	Person
Horrifying	Negative
Howling	Weather And Winter
Humiliating	Negative

Adjectives Ending In Ing Starting With I

Words starting with I are placed by sense, as in impending and incoming.

Word	Sense
Impending	Time And Order
Incoming	Time And Order
Increasing	Common
Infuriating	Negative
Inspiring	Common
Insulting	Negative
Interesting	Common
Invigorating	Positive
Irritating	Feelings And Reactions

Adjectives Ending With Ing Starting With L

Words starting with L are placed here, as in lasting and laughing.

Word	Sense
Lasting	Common
Laughing	Person
Law-abiding	Compound
Leading	Common
Life-changing	Compound
Lingering	Time And Order
Living	Common
Long-lasting	Compound
Loving	Positive

Words Ending In Ing That Begin With M

Words that begin with M include maddening and managing.

Word	Sense
Maddening	Negative
Managing	Work And Role
Menacing	Negative
Mesmerizing	Positive
Mind-blowing	Compound
Misleading	Negative
Missing	Common
Mocking	Person
Money-making	Compound
Mouth-watering	Compound
Moving	Feelings And Reactions

Words Ending In Ing That Start With P

Words starting with P are placed by sense, as in pending and persevering.

Word	Sense
Pending	Time And Order
Persevering	Person
Persisting	Time And Order
Piercing	Looks And Sound
Pleasing	Positive
Pouring	Weather And Winter
Practicing	Work And Role
Promising	Common
Punishing	Negative
Puzzling	Feelings And Reactions

Adjectives That End In Ing Starting With R

Words starting with R are placed here, as in raging and reassuring.

Word	Sense
Raging	Weather And Winter
Reassuring	Feelings And Reactions
Receding	Movement And Change
Record-breaking	Compound
Recurring	Time And Order
Refreshing	Positive
Reigning	Work And Role
Rejuvenating	Positive
Relaxing	Common
Remaining	Common
Retiring	Work And Role
Revolting	Feelings And Reactions
Rewarding	Common
Rising	Movement And Change
Riveting	Positive
Roaring	Looks And Sound
Rolling	Movement And Change
Ruling	Work And Role
Rustling	Looks And Sound

Adjectives Ending In Ing Starting With S

Words that begin with S include satisfying and scheming.

Word	Sense
Satisfying	Common
Scheming	Person
Scorching	Weather And Winter
Scowling	Person
Shimmering	Looks And Sound
Shining	Looks And Sound
Shivering	Weather And Winter
Shocking	Common
Shrinking	Movement And Change
Sickening	Negative
Sizzling	Weather And Winter
Sliding	Movement And Change
Smiling	Person
Sneering	Person
Soaring	Movement And Change
Soothing	Feelings And Reactions
Sparkling	Looks And Sound
Spellbinding	Positive
Spinning	Movement And Change
Steaming	Weather And Winter
Stimulating	Positive
Stinging	Weather And Winter
Striking	Common
Stunning	Common
Suffering	Negative
Surprising	Common
Sweltering	Weather And Winter
Swinging	Movement And Change

Adjectives Ending With Ing Starting With T

Words starting with T are placed by sense, as in tempting and terrifying.

Word	Sense
Tempting	Feelings And Reactions
Terrifying	Common
Thought-provoking	Compound
Threatening	Negative
Thrilling	Feelings And Reactions
Thriving	Positive
Thundering	Looks And Sound
Time-consuming	Compound
Tiring	Common
Touching	Feelings And Reactions
Trusting	Person

Words Ending In Ing That Begin With U

Words starting with U are placed here, as in unassuming and uncaring.

Word	Sense
Unassuming	Person
Uncaring	Person
Understanding	Person
Unfeeling	Person
Unflinching	Person
Unnerving	Negative
Unsettling	Feelings And Reactions
Unwavering	Person
Unyielding	Person
Upcoming	Common
Uplifting	Positive
Upsetting	Negative

Words Ending In Ing That Start With W

Words that begin with W include wandering and wavering.

Word	Sense
Wandering	Movement And Change
Wavering	Person
Welcoming	Common
Well-meaning	Compound
Whispering	Looks And Sound
Willing	Common
Winning	Positive
Worrying	Feelings And Reactions
Worsening	Negative

FAQs

Do adjectives end in ing?

Yes, adjectives such as interesting and boring end in ing. Words ending in ing are adjectives when they are used to describe a noun.

What are adjectives ending in ing called?

They are called participle adjectives, formed from the present participle of a verb, as in boring and exciting.

When do we use adjectives ending in ing?

Adjectives ending in ing are used when a noun causes the feeling, as in boring lectures and exciting games. Adjectives ending in ed denote the person who has the feeling.

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