183 Best Words to Describe a Forest (Curated & Ranked)

Woman sitting in a forest looking at the trees

Forests are not only beautiful but an essential part of life on Earth. They serve as home to more than 80% of land animals[1] and cover nearly a third of the world.[2]

Trees can reduce air pollution, cool the air, and provide renewable energy.[3][4]

Many life-saving medications even come from rainforest trees and plants.[5]

Finding the right words to describe a forest can really bring your story to life, whether you’re writing a novel or sharing an anecdote about a recent hiking trip.

We have the list of words to describe the forest below, plus an activity to help you discover more about the forest.

Words to Describe a Forest

  1. Up
    72
    Down
    ::

    Overgrown

  2. Up
    62
    Down
    ::

    Dense

  3. Up
    22
    Down
    ::

    Lively

  4. Up
    43
    Down
    ::

    Flourishing

  5. Up
    33
    Down
    ::

    Moonlit

  6. Up
    13
    Down
    ::

    Gorgeous

  7. Up
    26
    Down
    ::

    Blossoming

  8. Up
    18
    Down
    ::

    Untrodden

  9. Up
    12
    Down
    ::

    Fragrant

  10. Up
    25
    Down
    ::

    Ethereal

  11. Up
    9
    Down
    ::

    Magnificent

  12. Up
    23
    Down
    ::

    Damp

  13. Up
    15
    Down
    ::

    Lush

  14. Up
    14
    Down
    ::

    Diverse

  15. Up
    23
    Down
    ::

    Beautiful

  16. Up
    14
    Down
    ::

    Calm

  17. Up
    22
    Down
    ::

    Majestic

  18. Up
    20
    Down
    ::

    Evergreen

  19. Up
    11
    Down
    ::

    Picturesque

  20. Up
    17
    Down
    ::

    Hushed

  21. Up
    12
    Down
    ::

    Vivid

  22. Up
    9
    Down
    ::

    Foreboding

  23. Up
    8
    Down
    ::

    Sun-dappled

  24. Up
    8
    Down
    ::

    Mysterious

  25. Up
    6
    Down
    ::

    Tropical

  26. Up
    12
    Down
    ::

    Enchanted

  27. Up
    9
    Down
    ::

    Peaceful

  28. Up
    11
    Down
    ::

    Misty

  29. Up
    16
    Down
    ::

    Ominous

  30. Up
    9
    Down
    ::

    Colorful

  31. Up
    4
    Down
    ::

    Pathless

  32. Up
    4
    Down
    ::

    Noble

  33. Up
    4
    Down
    ::

    Pure

  34. Up
    8
    Down
    ::

    Uninterrupted

  35. Up
    7
    Down
    ::

    Dusky

  36. Up
    5
    Down
    ::

    Stunning

  37. Up
    6
    Down
    ::

    Dynamic

  38. Up
    8
    Down
    ::

    Wild

  39. Up
    6
    Down
    ::

    Shadowy

  40. Up
    4
    Down
    ::

    Mystical

  41. Up
    5
    Down
    ::

    Wooded

  42. Up
    5
    Down
    ::

    Open

  43. Up
    6
    Down
    ::

    Grand

  44. Up
    5
    Down
    ::

    Earthy

  45. Up
    5
    Down
    ::

    Breathtaking

  46. Up
    4
    Down
    ::

    Isolated

  47. Up
    4
    Down
    ::

    Dazzling

  48. Up
    4
    Down
    ::

    Mangrove

  49. Up
    5
    Down
    ::

    Shady

  50. Up
    5
    Down
    ::

    Captivating

  51. Up
    5
    Down
    ::

    Temperate

  52. Up
    5
    Down
    ::

    Quiet

  53. Up
    4
    Down
    ::

    Boreal

  54. Up
    4
    Down
    ::

    Silent

  55. Up
    4
    Down
    ::

    Enormous

  56. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Sodden

  57. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Verdant

  58. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Northern

  59. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Devastated

  60. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Dark

  61. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Green

  62. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Secluded

  63. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Ancient

  64. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Romantic

  65. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Giant

  66. Up
    2
    Down
    ::

    Primeval

  67. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Enchanting

  68. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Primitive

  69. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Snow-covered

  70. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Formidable

  71. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Nocturnal

  72. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Tangled

  73. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Desolate

  74. Up
    3
    Down
    ::

    Bewildering

  75. Up
    2
    Down
    ::

    Daunting

  76. Up
    2
    Down
    ::

    Dewed

  77. Up
    2
    Down
    ::

    Hostile

  78. Up
    2
    Down
    ::

    Vegetated

  79. Up
    2
    Down
    ::

    Shaggy

  80. Up
    2
    Down
    ::

    Sprawling

  81. Up
    2
    Down
    ::

    Dormant

  82. Up
    1
    Down
    ::

    Vast

  83. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Shaded

  84. Up
    1
    Down
    ::

    Spooky

  85. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Moist

  86. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Undisturbed

  87. Up
    1
    Down
    ::

    Thick

  88. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Huge

  89. Up
    1
    Down
    ::

    Solemn

  90. Up
    1
    Down
    ::

    Humid

  91. Up
    -4
    Down
    ::

    Coniferous

  92. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Eerie

  93. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Untouched

  94. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Pristine

  95. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Dry

  96. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Pristine

  97. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Stately

  98. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Splendid

  99. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Remarkable

  100. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Lonely

  101. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Distant

  102. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Bustling

  103. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Heavenly

  104. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Luxuriant

  105. Up
    -3
    Down
    ::

    Old-growth

  106. Up
    -3
    Down
    ::

    Lofty

  107. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Mighty

  108. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Primal

  109. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Abundant

  110. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Foggy

  111. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Terrible

  112. Up
    -6
    Down
    ::

    Equatorial

  113. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Willowy

  114. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Wind-blown

  115. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Decayed

  116. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Sturdy

  117. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Bleak

  118. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Glorious

  119. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Grim

  120. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Amazonian

  121. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Rolling

  122. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Wondrous

  123. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Celestial

  124. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Autumnal

  125. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Deserted

  126. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Murky

  127. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Sacred

  128. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Dreary

  129. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Gloomy

  130. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Leafless

  131. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Cold

  132. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Humming

  133. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Deep

  134. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Haunted

  135. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Scary

  136. Up
    -3
    Down
    ::

    Leafy

  137. Up
    -4
    Down
    ::

    Coastal

  138. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Solitary

  139. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Immense

  140. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Prehistoric

  141. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Grassy

  142. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Warm

  143. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Strange

  144. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Inland

  145. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Chilly

  146. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Somber

  147. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Large

  148. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Barren

  149. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Alpine

  150. Up
    0
    Down
    ::

    Jagged

  151. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Idyllic

  152. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Wet

  153. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Bushy

  154. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Crowded

  155. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Western

  156. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Eastern

  157. Up
    -3
    Down
    ::

    Brown

  158. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Wide

  159. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Sweltering

  160. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Swampy

  161. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Alive

  162. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Brittle

  163. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Unending

  164. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Spectacular

  165. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Native

  166. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Arboraceous

  167. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Southern

  168. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Undeveloped

  169. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Powerful

  170. Up
    -9
    Down
    ::

    Petrified

  171. Up
    -9
    Down
    ::

    Wildlife-filled

  172. Up
    -3
    Down
    ::

    Inaccessible

  173. Up
    -3
    Down
    ::

    Bare

  174. Up
    -3
    Down
    ::

    Rough

  175. Up
    -3
    Down
    ::

    Deciduous

  176. Up
    -3
    Down
    ::

    Unspoiled

  177. Up
    -3
    Down
    ::

    Cool

  178. Up
    -7
    Down
    ::

    Natural

  179. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Mature

  180. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Young

  181. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Subtropical

  182. Up
    -1
    Down
    ::

    Valuable

  183. Up
    -2
    Down
    ::

    Inhospitable

Activity: Forest Discovery Scavenger Hunt

Knowing how to describe a forest is great, but genuinely discovering and understanding the forest is even better!

You can visit a local wooded park or nearby national forest to complete this activity.

Look for and take photos of the following things:

  • A fallen leaf
  • A fallen branch
  • The bark of a tree
  • Three plants other than trees
  • A bird that lives in the forest
  • A mammal that lives in the forest
  • A bug that lives in the forest

After finding and collecting photos of all of the items on the list, research them. Write captions for your photos that explain the plant or animal species and how/why it thrives in a forest environment.

You can use simple identification if completing this activity with children or create in-depth captions explaining the forest ecosystem.

Be sure to bring water and snacks, choose a trail suitable to your fitness and experience levels, and wear appropriate clothes when visiting the woods!


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