What are "powerful adjectives"?

[Hathor]

I know that adjectives are describing words, but what exactly are "powerful adjectives"?
I am sure we never had them when I was at school.

describing words that are a bit more inventive I would imagine. It's not a technical term, as such; it's a suggestion for more effective language.

e.g. instead of the "blue sea" it might be described as the "unruly sea", etc.

fucking? As in 'I'm fucking pissed off?'

Aah, I see we're talking homework. Maybe not appropriate...

the bath was hot
or the bath was scalding,

This cake is nice or this cake is delicious, scrumptious, delectable etc etc

sort of thing

Instead of 'the cat' it would be 'the bloody cat.'

so you could say happy, but powerful would be ecstatic, delighted, overjoyed etc

So, for example if I say "a big house"
"a big, cold house"
"an enormous, freezing cold house"
"a drafty, chilly house"
aren't these just different adjectives.

What makes an adjective "powerful" - or does it actually mean one that is less common? (e.g not "nice" but "delightful").
So it actually means "unusual adjectives"?

Am confused.

well, it's just that some adjectives are more powerful than others. It's an attempt to get children to use their imagination and increase their vocab.
Nice is a great example. Nice is a perfectly nice adjective, but it's not that it is common, just weak as an adjective. If someones says I had a nice party, it doesn't tell us much.
There wouldn't be a 'wrong' powerful adjective to use instead of nice, it would just make it more interesting to read, wouldn't it?
I had a stupendous party, a thrilling party, an exciting party, a glorious party, all tell us more and engage us as the reader.

Thank you for all your nice replies

None of them are particularly exciting. The way to make writing powerful is often to make better use of verbs. But I have given up explaining this to teachers. And I do 'get' that teachers have to teach children what adjectives are.

how old is your child Hathor?

9 in Y4

Are you Queen of the Teacher-Teachers then Bride1?

No, I'm a professional writer. And have taught creative writing.

well why don't you explain to poor Hathor then, so she can help her 9-year-old?

If you explain this to teachers in the same tone as you've used here then they're probably ignoring you . For Hathor's purposes I think our explanations will probably suffice.

I didn't mean that YOUR adjectives in your post weren't exciting, fumf! I was responding to the OP. Sorry if that wasn't clear. Your examples are good ones.

I think, from talking to teachers I have worked with in schools, they want to get away from big,small, nice, etc. (Not saying that the OP's child was using these.)

A boy I was working with used 'squelchy' when describing a monster. I liked that. It was more informative than the generic 'scary'.

oh bride, I didn't think you were dissing my adjectives , but I did think you sounded a little dismissive. As I am neither a professional writer or a teacher, I wondered if you had some constructive help for Hathor (and I am a little if I am honest....)

It's a bit of a bete noire with me, sorry. Especially adverbs. But I do appreciate that children have to know the parts of speech.

Here are some more I liked when I was working with a Year 2 class:

The princess had 'silky' hair (not just blonde).

The car was nippy and zippy (not just fast).

The dinner was scrumptious (not just nice or even delicious). I think she spelled it scrumshus but we could work on that.

The giant was grotesk. I gave that a big tick despite the spelling!

I think even a teacher might get that those are good choices though bride.

Did I say otherwise, childrenofthecornsilk? I was responding to a post asking what I thought and I have done that.

'The way to make writing powerful is often to make better use of verbs. But I have given up explaining this to teachers.'
Yes you did.

But that's not what you claimed I said in your 16.21 message. You were referring to my list of adjectives, not verbs. I never claimed that teachers wouldn't know powerful nouns.