More specific:
* Adjective: This is the most common and direct term for a word that describes a noun.
* Modifier: This is a broader term that includes adjectives, adverbs, and phrases that modify other words.
* Attribute: This emphasizes the quality or characteristic being described.
* Epithet: This refers to a descriptive phrase that is often used to characterize a person or thing.
More general:
* Descriptive word: This is a simple and straightforward alternative to "describing word".
* Qualifying word: This emphasizes that the word adds information or specifies a quality.
* Descriptive term: Similar to "descriptive word", but can also refer to phrases or clauses.
Figurative:
* Image: This refers to a word that creates a mental picture in the reader's mind.
* Metaphor: This refers to a word that describes something by comparing it to something else.
* Simile: This refers to a word that compares something to something else using "like" or "as".
The best word to use will depend on the specific situation and what you want to emphasize.