diff --git a/compiler/rustc_borrowck/src/diagnostics/conflict_errors.rs b/compiler/rustc_borrowck/src/diagnostics/conflict_errors.rs
index b2d72654a2a..262e093b0fa 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_borrowck/src/diagnostics/conflict_errors.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_borrowck/src/diagnostics/conflict_errors.rs
@@ -2135,7 +2135,7 @@ fn report_escaping_data(
     ) -> DiagnosticBuilder<'cx, ErrorGuaranteed> {
         let tcx = self.infcx.tcx;
 
-        let (_, escapes_from) = tcx.article_and_description(self.mir_def_id().to_def_id());
+        let escapes_from = tcx.def_descr(self.mir_def_id().to_def_id());
 
         let mut err =
             borrowck_errors::borrowed_data_escapes_closure(tcx, escape_span, escapes_from);
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_borrowck/src/diagnostics/region_errors.rs b/compiler/rustc_borrowck/src/diagnostics/region_errors.rs
index a2fa3018234..4baf1b6aa87 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_borrowck/src/diagnostics/region_errors.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_borrowck/src/diagnostics/region_errors.rs
@@ -660,10 +660,8 @@ fn report_escaping_data_error(
             errci.outlived_fr,
         );
 
-        let (_, escapes_from) = self
-            .infcx
-            .tcx
-            .article_and_description(self.regioncx.universal_regions().defining_ty.def_id());
+        let escapes_from =
+            self.infcx.tcx.def_descr(self.regioncx.universal_regions().defining_ty.def_id());
 
         // Revert to the normal error in these cases.
         // Assignments aren't "escapes" in function items.
@@ -757,8 +755,7 @@ fn report_general_error(
             ..
         } = errci;
 
-        let (_, mir_def_name) =
-            self.infcx.tcx.article_and_description(self.mir_def_id().to_def_id());
+        let mir_def_name = self.infcx.tcx.def_descr(self.mir_def_id().to_def_id());
 
         let err = LifetimeOutliveErr { span: *span };
         let mut diag = self.infcx.tcx.sess.create_err(err);
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir/src/def.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir/src/def.rs
index 0599ae04a90..8c58129c800 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir/src/def.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir/src/def.rs
@@ -124,6 +124,11 @@ pub enum DefKind {
 }
 
 impl DefKind {
+    /// Get an English description for the item's kind.
+    ///
+    /// If you have access to `TyCtxt`, use `TyCtxt::def_descr` or
+    /// `TyCtxt::def_kind_descr` instead, because they give better
+    /// information for generators and associated functions.
     pub fn descr(self, def_id: DefId) -> &'static str {
         match self {
             DefKind::Fn => "function",
@@ -166,6 +171,10 @@ pub fn descr(self, def_id: DefId) -> &'static str {
     }
 
     /// Gets an English article for the definition.
+    ///
+    /// If you have access to `TyCtxt`, use `TyCtxt::def_descr_article` or
+    /// `TyCtxt::def_kind_descr_article` instead, because they give better
+    /// information for generators and associated functions.
     pub fn article(&self) -> &'static str {
         match *self {
             DefKind::AssocTy
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/astconv/errors.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/astconv/errors.rs
index a68e0e0ac5b..499b51eef72 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/astconv/errors.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/astconv/errors.rs
@@ -304,10 +304,7 @@ pub(crate) fn complain_about_inherent_assoc_type_not_found(
             if let Some(did) = adt_did {
                 err.span_label(
                     tcx.def_span(did),
-                    format!(
-                        "associated item `{name}` not found for this {}",
-                        tcx.def_kind(did).descr(did)
-                    ),
+                    format!("associated item `{name}` not found for this {}", tcx.def_descr(did)),
                 );
             }
         };
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/astconv/mod.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/astconv/mod.rs
index c0cd54cc916..c5a5c9b649f 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/astconv/mod.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/astconv/mod.rs
@@ -1217,7 +1217,7 @@ fn add_predicates_for_ast_type_binding(
                     | (hir::def::DefKind::AssocConst, ty::TermKind::Const(_)) => (),
                     (_, _) => {
                         let got = if let Some(_) = term.ty() { "type" } else { "constant" };
-                        let expected = def_kind.descr(assoc_item_def_id);
+                        let expected = tcx.def_descr(assoc_item_def_id);
                         let mut err = tcx.sess.struct_span_err(
                             binding.span,
                             &format!("expected {expected} bound, found {got}"),
@@ -1552,7 +1552,7 @@ trait here instead: `trait NewTrait: {} {{}}`",
                         i.bottom().1,
                         E0038,
                         "the {} `{}` cannot be made into an object",
-                        tcx.def_kind(def_id).descr(def_id),
+                        tcx.def_descr(def_id),
                         tcx.item_name(def_id),
                     );
                     err.note(
@@ -2174,7 +2174,7 @@ pub fn associated_path_to_ty(
                             "`{}` could{} refer to the {} defined here",
                             assoc_ident,
                             also,
-                            kind.descr(def_id)
+                            tcx.def_kind_descr(kind, def_id)
                         );
                         lint.span_note(tcx.def_span(def_id), &note_msg);
                     };
@@ -2350,7 +2350,7 @@ fn check_assoc_ty(
         let kind = DefKind::AssocTy;
 
         if !tcx.visibility(item).is_accessible_from(def_scope, tcx) {
-            let kind = kind.descr(item);
+            let kind = tcx.def_kind_descr(kind, item);
             let msg = format!("{kind} `{name}` is private");
             let def_span = tcx.def_span(item);
             tcx.sess
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/check.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/check.rs
index 04396c883d3..5717afdc05e 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/check.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/check.rs
@@ -1460,7 +1460,7 @@ fn visit_ty(&mut self, t: Ty<'tcx>) -> ControlFlow<Self::BreakTy> {
                                     span,
                                     format!(
                                         "{} captures itself here",
-                                        tcx.def_kind(closure_def_id).descr(closure_def_id)
+                                        tcx.def_descr(closure_def_id)
                                     ),
                                 );
                             }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/dropck.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/dropck.rs
index c84e3461226..2bb724138f5 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/dropck.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/dropck.rs
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ fn ensure_drop_params_and_item_params_correspond<'tcx>(
 
     let drop_impl_span = tcx.def_span(drop_impl_did);
     let item_span = tcx.def_span(self_type_did);
-    let self_descr = tcx.def_kind(self_type_did).descr(self_type_did);
+    let self_descr = tcx.def_descr(self_type_did);
     let mut err =
         struct_span_err!(tcx.sess, drop_impl_span, E0366, "`Drop` impls cannot be specialized");
     match arg {
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ fn ensure_drop_predicates_are_implied_by_item_defn<'tcx>(
 
         if !assumptions_in_impl_context.iter().copied().any(predicate_matches_closure) {
             let item_span = tcx.def_span(self_type_did);
-            let self_descr = tcx.def_kind(self_type_did).descr(self_type_did.to_def_id());
+            let self_descr = tcx.def_descr(self_type_did.to_def_id());
             let reported = struct_span_err!(
                 tcx.sess,
                 predicate_sp,
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/coherence/orphan.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/coherence/orphan.rs
index f0a0e7e3e92..73bb3adb541 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/coherence/orphan.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/coherence/orphan.rs
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@ fn lint_auto_trait_impl<'tcx>(
         }),
         |lint| {
             let item_span = tcx.def_span(self_type_did);
-            let self_descr = tcx.def_kind(self_type_did).descr(self_type_did);
+            let self_descr = tcx.def_descr(self_type_did);
             match arg {
                 ty::util::NotUniqueParam::DuplicateParam(arg) => {
                     lint.note(&format!("`{}` is mentioned multiple times", arg));
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/structured_errors/wrong_number_of_generic_args.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/structured_errors/wrong_number_of_generic_args.rs
index 560ffc620e0..2cb0d430ee3 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/structured_errors/wrong_number_of_generic_args.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/structured_errors/wrong_number_of_generic_args.rs
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ fn get_unbound_associated_types(&self) -> Vec<String> {
 
     fn create_error_message(&self) -> String {
         let def_path = self.tcx.def_path_str(self.def_id);
-        let def_kind = self.tcx.def_kind(self.def_id).descr(self.def_id);
+        let def_kind = self.tcx.def_descr(self.def_id);
         let (quantifier, bound) = self.get_quantifier_and_bound();
         let kind = self.kind();
         let provided_lt_args = self.num_provided_lifetime_args();
@@ -990,7 +990,7 @@ fn show_definition(&self, err: &mut Diagnostic) {
         };
 
         let msg = {
-            let def_kind = self.tcx.def_kind(self.def_id).descr(self.def_id);
+            let def_kind = self.tcx.def_descr(self.def_id);
             let (quantifier, bound) = self.get_quantifier_and_bound();
 
             let params = if bound == 0 {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/callee.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/callee.rs
index 06b2b2451f0..02f2baba2bc 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/callee.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/callee.rs
@@ -671,7 +671,7 @@ fn report_invalid_callee(
                 && !self.type_is_sized_modulo_regions(self.param_env, output_ty, callee_expr.span)
             {
                 let descr = match maybe_def {
-                    DefIdOrName::DefId(def_id) => self.tcx.def_kind(def_id).descr(def_id),
+                    DefIdOrName::DefId(def_id) => self.tcx.def_descr(def_id),
                     DefIdOrName::Name(name) => name,
                 };
                 err.span_label(
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/expr.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/expr.rs
index 08cbfffdd17..5a00e996b34 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/expr.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/expr.rs
@@ -2448,7 +2448,7 @@ fn ban_private_field_access(
         return_ty: Option<Ty<'tcx>>,
     ) {
         let struct_path = self.tcx().def_path_str(base_did);
-        let kind_name = self.tcx().def_kind(base_did).descr(base_did);
+        let kind_name = self.tcx().def_descr(base_did);
         let mut err = struct_span_err!(
             self.tcx().sess,
             field.span,
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/fn_ctxt/checks.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/fn_ctxt/checks.rs
index 6a33826ea28..355eeca2b35 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/fn_ctxt/checks.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/fn_ctxt/checks.rs
@@ -1938,8 +1938,7 @@ fn label_fn_like(
                 spans.push_span_label(param.span, "");
             }
 
-            let def_kind = self.tcx.def_kind(def_id);
-            err.span_note(spans, &format!("{} defined here", def_kind.descr(def_id)));
+            err.span_note(spans, &format!("{} defined here", self.tcx.def_descr(def_id)));
         } else if let Some(hir::Node::Expr(e)) = self.tcx.hir().get_if_local(def_id)
             && let hir::ExprKind::Closure(hir::Closure { body, .. }) = &e.kind
         {
@@ -1952,10 +1951,9 @@ fn label_fn_like(
             };
             err.span_note(span, &format!("{} defined here", kind));
         } else {
-            let def_kind = self.tcx.def_kind(def_id);
             err.span_note(
                 self.tcx.def_span(def_id),
-                &format!("{} defined here", def_kind.descr(def_id)),
+                &format!("{} defined here", self.tcx.def_descr(def_id)),
             );
         }
     }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/fn_ctxt/suggestions.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/fn_ctxt/suggestions.rs
index 3539202d1ca..dc80d717aa1 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/fn_ctxt/suggestions.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/fn_ctxt/suggestions.rs
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ pub(crate) fn suggest_fn_call(
                 DefIdOrName::DefId(def_id) => match self.tcx.def_kind(def_id) {
                     DefKind::Ctor(CtorOf::Struct, _) => "construct this tuple struct".to_string(),
                     DefKind::Ctor(CtorOf::Variant, _) => "construct this tuple variant".to_string(),
-                    kind => format!("call this {}", kind.descr(def_id)),
+                    kind => format!("call this {}", self.tcx.def_kind_descr(kind, def_id)),
                 },
                 DefIdOrName::Name(name) => format!("call this {name}"),
             };
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ pub fn suggest_deref_ref_or_into(
                     CtorOf::Variant => "an enum variant",
                 }));
             } else {
-                let descr = kind.descr(def_id);
+                let descr = self.tcx.def_kind_descr(kind, def_id);
                 err.span_label(sp, format!("{descr} `{name}` defined here"));
             }
             return true;
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/method/probe.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/method/probe.rs
index 8b0473b7454..2bc506c3b3b 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/method/probe.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/method/probe.rs
@@ -1366,8 +1366,8 @@ pub fn maybe_emit_unstable_name_collision_hint(
             span,
             format!(
                 "{} {} with this name may be added to the standard library in the future",
-                def_kind.article(),
-                def_kind.descr(self.item.def_id),
+                tcx.def_kind_descr_article(def_kind, self.item.def_id),
+                tcx.def_kind_descr(def_kind, self.item.def_id),
             ),
             |lint| {
                 match (self.item.kind, self.item.container) {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/method/suggest.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/method/suggest.rs
index 4f3dbe03c05..4a88bf4d792 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/method/suggest.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/method/suggest.rs
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ pub fn report_method_error(
             }
 
             MethodError::PrivateMatch(kind, def_id, out_of_scope_traits) => {
-                let kind = kind.descr(def_id);
+                let kind = self.tcx.def_kind_descr(kind, def_id);
                 let mut err = struct_span_err!(
                     self.tcx.sess,
                     item_name.span,
@@ -1062,8 +1062,8 @@ trait bound{s}",
                         span,
                         &format!(
                             "there is {} {} with a similar name",
-                            def_kind.article(),
-                            def_kind.descr(similar_candidate.def_id),
+                            self.tcx.def_kind_descr_article(def_kind, similar_candidate.def_id),
+                            self.tcx.def_kind_descr(def_kind, similar_candidate.def_id)
                         ),
                         similar_candidate.name,
                         Applicability::MaybeIncorrect,
@@ -1172,7 +1172,7 @@ fn note_candidates_on_method_error(
                             path,
                             ty,
                             item.kind,
-                            item.def_id,
+                            self.tcx.def_kind_descr(item.kind.as_def_kind(), item.def_id),
                             sugg_span,
                             idx,
                             self.tcx.sess.source_map(),
@@ -1208,7 +1208,7 @@ fn note_candidates_on_method_error(
                             path,
                             rcvr_ty,
                             item.kind,
-                            item.def_id,
+                            self.tcx.def_kind_descr(item.kind.as_def_kind(), item.def_id),
                             sugg_span,
                             idx,
                             self.tcx.sess.source_map(),
@@ -2853,7 +2853,7 @@ fn print_disambiguation_help<'tcx>(
     trait_name: String,
     rcvr_ty: Ty<'_>,
     kind: ty::AssocKind,
-    def_id: DefId,
+    def_kind_descr: &'static str,
     span: Span,
     candidate: Option<usize>,
     source_map: &source_map::SourceMap,
@@ -2886,7 +2886,7 @@ fn print_disambiguation_help<'tcx>(
         span,
         &format!(
             "disambiguate the {} for {}",
-            kind.as_def_kind().descr(def_id),
+            def_kind_descr,
             if let Some(candidate) = candidate {
                 format!("candidate #{}", candidate)
             } else {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/error_reporting/need_type_info.rs b/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/error_reporting/need_type_info.rs
index cf2f6ef33be..e242900fd23 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/error_reporting/need_type_info.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_infer/src/infer/error_reporting/need_type_info.rs
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ fn for_parent_def_id(
             tcx.def_key(parent_def_id).disambiguated_data.data.get_opt_name()?.to_string();
 
         Some(InferenceDiagnosticsParentData {
-            prefix: tcx.def_kind(parent_def_id).descr(parent_def_id),
+            prefix: tcx.def_descr(parent_def_id),
             name: parent_name,
         })
     }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/middle/stability.rs b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/middle/stability.rs
index 0836f236e24..354c84e2209 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/middle/stability.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/middle/stability.rs
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ fn late_report_deprecation(
     let method_span = method_span.unwrap_or(span);
     tcx.struct_span_lint_hir(lint, hir_id, method_span, message, |diag| {
         if let hir::Node::Expr(_) = tcx.hir().get(hir_id) {
-            let kind = tcx.def_kind(def_id).descr(def_id);
+            let kind = tcx.def_descr(def_id);
             deprecation_suggestion(diag, kind, suggestion, method_span);
         }
         diag
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ pub fn eval_stability_allow_unstable(
                     let lint = deprecation_lint(is_in_effect);
                     if self.lint_level_at_node(lint, id).0 != Level::Allow {
                         let def_path = with_no_trimmed_paths!(self.def_path_str(def_id));
-                        let def_kind = self.def_kind(def_id).descr(def_id);
+                        let def_kind = self.def_descr(def_id);
 
                         late_report_deprecation(
                             self,
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/context.rs b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/context.rs
index 7e6a6e71670..f347604a2cd 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/context.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/context.rs
@@ -1200,13 +1200,8 @@ pub fn caller_location_ty(self) -> Ty<'tcx> {
 
     /// Returns a displayable description and article for the given `def_id` (e.g. `("a", "struct")`).
     pub fn article_and_description(self, def_id: DefId) -> (&'static str, &'static str) {
-        match self.def_kind(def_id) {
-            DefKind::Generator => match self.generator_kind(def_id).unwrap() {
-                rustc_hir::GeneratorKind::Async(..) => ("an", "async closure"),
-                rustc_hir::GeneratorKind::Gen => ("a", "generator"),
-            },
-            def_kind => (def_kind.article(), def_kind.descr(def_id)),
-        }
+        let kind = self.def_kind(def_id);
+        (self.def_kind_descr_article(kind, def_id), self.def_kind_descr(kind, def_id))
     }
 
     pub fn type_length_limit(self) -> Limit {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/util.rs b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/util.rs
index ca46cf29919..cc2d7f05086 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/util.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/util.rs
@@ -761,6 +761,40 @@ pub fn generator_layout_and_saved_local_names(
         }
         (generator_layout, generator_saved_local_names)
     }
+
+    /// Query and get an English description for the item's kind.
+    pub fn def_descr(self, def_id: DefId) -> &'static str {
+        self.def_kind_descr(self.def_kind(def_id), def_id)
+    }
+
+    /// Get an English description for the item's kind.
+    pub fn def_kind_descr(self, def_kind: DefKind, def_id: DefId) -> &'static str {
+        match def_kind {
+            DefKind::AssocFn if self.associated_item(def_id).fn_has_self_parameter => "method",
+            DefKind::Generator => match self.generator_kind(def_id).unwrap() {
+                rustc_hir::GeneratorKind::Async(..) => "async closure",
+                rustc_hir::GeneratorKind::Gen => "generator",
+            },
+            _ => def_kind.descr(def_id),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Gets an English article for the [`TyCtxt::def_descr`].
+    pub fn def_descr_article(self, def_id: DefId) -> &'static str {
+        self.def_kind_descr_article(self.def_kind(def_id), def_id)
+    }
+
+    /// Gets an English article for the [`TyCtxt::def_kind_descr`].
+    pub fn def_kind_descr_article(self, def_kind: DefKind, def_id: DefId) -> &'static str {
+        match def_kind {
+            DefKind::AssocFn if self.associated_item(def_id).fn_has_self_parameter => "a",
+            DefKind::Generator => match self.generator_kind(def_id).unwrap() {
+                rustc_hir::GeneratorKind::Async(..) => "an",
+                rustc_hir::GeneratorKind::Gen => "a",
+            },
+            _ => def_kind.article(),
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 struct OpaqueTypeExpander<'tcx> {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/dead.rs b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/dead.rs
index 668c159f3cc..945b860d4ec 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/dead.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/dead.rs
@@ -691,7 +691,7 @@ fn warn_multiple_dead_codes(
             })
             .collect();
 
-        let descr = tcx.def_kind(first_id).descr(first_id.to_def_id());
+        let descr = tcx.def_descr(first_id.to_def_id());
         let num = dead_codes.len();
         let multiple = num > 6;
         let name_list = names.into();
@@ -703,7 +703,7 @@ fn warn_multiple_dead_codes(
         };
 
         let parent_info = if let Some(parent_item) = parent_item {
-            let parent_descr = tcx.def_kind(parent_item).descr(parent_item.to_def_id());
+            let parent_descr = tcx.def_descr(parent_item.to_def_id());
             Some(ParentInfo {
                 num,
                 descr,
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/stability.rs b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/stability.rs
index 2e736039fb5..88a55dc8319 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/stability.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/stability.rs
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ fn check_missing_stability(&self, def_id: LocalDefId, span: Span) {
             && stab.is_none()
             && self.effective_visibilities.is_reachable(def_id)
         {
-            let descr = self.tcx.def_kind(def_id).descr(def_id.to_def_id());
+            let descr = self.tcx.def_descr(def_id.to_def_id());
             self.tcx.sess.emit_err(errors::MissingStabilityAttr { span, descr });
         }
     }
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ fn check_missing_const_stability(&self, def_id: LocalDefId, span: Span) {
         let is_reachable = self.effective_visibilities.is_reachable(def_id);
 
         if is_const && is_stable && missing_const_stability_attribute && is_reachable {
-            let descr = self.tcx.def_kind(def_id).descr(def_id.to_def_id());
+            let descr = self.tcx.def_descr(def_id.to_def_id());
             self.tcx.sess.emit_err(errors::MissingConstStabAttr { span, descr });
         }
     }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_privacy/src/lib.rs b/compiler/rustc_privacy/src/lib.rs
index 58dfca75c65..b2ec5b28628 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_privacy/src/lib.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_privacy/src/lib.rs
@@ -1329,7 +1329,7 @@ fn visit_qpath(&mut self, qpath: &'tcx hir::QPath<'tcx>, id: hir::HirId, span: S
                     hir::QPath::Resolved(_, path) => Some(self.tcx.def_path_str(path.res.def_id())),
                     hir::QPath::TypeRelative(_, segment) => Some(segment.ident.to_string()),
                 };
-                let kind = kind.descr(def_id);
+                let kind = self.tcx.def_descr(def_id);
                 let sess = self.tcx.sess;
                 let _ = match name {
                     Some(name) => {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_resolve/src/diagnostics.rs b/compiler/rustc_resolve/src/diagnostics.rs
index 80bc0a2653d..82c24710c6a 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_resolve/src/diagnostics.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_resolve/src/diagnostics.rs
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ pub(crate) fn report_conflict<'b>(
         }
 
         let container = match parent.kind {
-            ModuleKind::Def(kind, _, _) => kind.descr(parent.def_id()),
+            ModuleKind::Def(kind, _, _) => self.tcx.def_kind_descr(kind, parent.def_id()),
             ModuleKind::Block => "block",
         };
 
@@ -1804,7 +1804,7 @@ pub(crate) fn report_path_resolution_error(
                         found("module")
                     } else {
                         match binding.res() {
-                            Res::Def(kind, id) => found(kind.descr(id)),
+                            Res::Def(kind, id) => found(self.tcx.def_kind_descr(kind, id)),
                             _ => found(ns_to_try.descr()),
                         }
                     }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/traits/error_reporting/suggestions.rs b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/traits/error_reporting/suggestions.rs
index 824264c21d0..eb2fde09514 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/traits/error_reporting/suggestions.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/traits/error_reporting/suggestions.rs
@@ -927,7 +927,10 @@ fn suggest_fn_call(
                 DefKind::Ctor(CtorOf::Variant, _) => {
                     "use parentheses to construct this tuple variant".to_string()
                 }
-                kind => format!("use parentheses to call this {}", kind.descr(def_id)),
+                kind => format!(
+                    "use parentheses to call this {}",
+                    self.tcx.def_kind_descr(kind, def_id)
+                ),
             },
             DefIdOrName::Name(name) => format!("use parentheses to call this {name}"),
         };
@@ -2139,7 +2142,7 @@ fn suggest_fully_qualified_path(
                 err.note(&format!(
                     "{}s cannot be accessed directly on a `trait`, they can only be \
                         accessed through a specific `impl`",
-                    assoc_item.kind.as_def_kind().descr(item_def_id)
+                    self.tcx.def_kind_descr(assoc_item.kind.as_def_kind(), item_def_id)
                 ));
                 err.span_suggestion(
                     span,
diff --git a/src/librustdoc/html/format.rs b/src/librustdoc/html/format.rs
index aa406f30cbe..6bdd9db9bfa 100644
--- a/src/librustdoc/html/format.rs
+++ b/src/librustdoc/html/format.rs
@@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ pub(crate) fn link_tooltip(did: DefId, fragment: &Option<UrlFragment>, cx: &Cont
     let fqp = fqp.iter().map(|sym| sym.as_str()).join("::");
     if let &Some(UrlFragment::Item(id)) = fragment {
         let name = cx.tcx().item_name(id);
-        let descr = cx.tcx().def_kind(id).descr(id);
+        let descr = cx.tcx().def_descr(id);
         format!("{descr} {fqp}::{name}")
     } else {
         format!("{shortty} {fqp}")