Adjectives to describe a person in one word

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Adjectives are words that describe, identify or quantify people or things. They don’t have a specific place in a sentence but usually come before the noun they modify.

Adjectives can be used to describe the physical appearance of someone, their personality traits, their skills and talents.

The following adjectives are used to describe a person:

adventurous, amusing, charismatic, clever, compassionate, considerate, dedicated, delightful, diligent, engaging, enthusiastic, fervent, funny, friendly, generous, happy, humble, intelligent, kind, nice, optimistic, radiant, reliable, smart, thoughtful, truthful, wise, warm-hearted

• Adventurous: always seeking new experiences and taking risks.

The adventurous traveler went snorkeling in the Bahamas.

• Amusing: funny, causing laughter

The amusing clown had the entire audience in stitches.

• Charismatic: having a lot of charm and charisma

The charismatic girl is the life of the party.

• Clever: quick-witted and intelligent

The clever student always seems to know the right thing to say to the teacher.

• Compassionate: feeling or showing sympathy for others

Jesus has a compassionate heart that offers hope to the people.

• Considerate: thoughtful of the needs and feelings of others

Lisa is a considerate person who always thinks of those less fortunate.

• Dedicated: committed to a task or purpose; loyal

He is a dedicated worker who always goes the extra mile.

• Delightful: giving great pleasure or enjoyment

Luke is delightful to be around; he is always in good spirits.

• Diligent: hard-working and persistent

The diligent worker is always the first to arrive and the last to leave.

• Engaging: charming and attractive, holding the attention of someone

The engaging personality of the young woman made her a hit with everyone she met.

• Enthusiastic: having or showing great excitement and interest, full of positive energy

The enthusiastic child was always the first to raise her hand in class.

• Fervent: having or showing strong emotions or passion

The fervent supporter was waving her flag and chanting the team’s name.

• Friendly: kind and pleasant, easy to get along with

The friendly cashier was always happy to help the customers.

• Generous: willing to give more of something, such as time or money, than is usual or expected

The generous donor gave a large sum of money to the charity.

• Happy: feeling or showing pleasure or contentment

The happy couple was dancing and laughing together.

• Humble: not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness

Despite his success, he remains a humble person.

• Intelligent: having or showing the ability to think, learn, and understand things quickly

The intelligent student always had the best grades in class.

• Kind: having or showing a gentle and caring nature

The kind woman had a smile for everyone she met.

• Nice: kind, pleasant, and friendly

Everyone says what a nice person she is.

• Optimistic: hoping for the best; having a positive outlook

The optimistic man looks on the bright side, even in difficult situations.

• Radiant: bright and shining, full of happiness

The bride was radiant on her wedding day.

• Reliable: someone who can be trusted to do what they say they will

The reliable employee is always on time and does his work well.

• Smart: having or showing the ability to think quickly and understand things

The smart child is the first one to answer the question.

• Thoughtful: having or showing consideration for the needs and feelings of others

The thoughtful husband bought his wife flowers for Mother’s Day.

• Truthful: someone who tells the truth, even when it is difficult to do so

The truthful witness testified to what she had seen.

• Wise: having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment

The wise elder is respected for her knowledge and advice.

• Warm-hearted: having or showing kindness, love, and concern for others

The warm-hearted woman showed hospitality to the stranger.

Negative Adjectives to Describe Someone

abrasive, angry, arrogant, boring, cowardly, cruel, dirty, disgusting, distrustful, evil, fearful, greedy, hateful, ignorant, jealous, lazy, liar, mean, narrow-minded, obnoxious, outspoken, selfish, spiteful, stupid, thief, untrustworthy

The following adjectives can be used to describe someone negatively:

• Abrasive: domineering and commanding; cold and harsh

The abrasive voice of the drill sergeant was enough to make anyone shiver.

• Angry: feeling or showing strong dislike, hostility, or disapproval

The angry customer was shouting and waving his fists.

• Arrogant: having or showing too much pride in oneself; being too confident

The arrogant young man was always putting others down.

• Boring: dull and uninteresting

The boring speaker put everyone to sleep with his monotone voice.

• Cowardly: lacking courage; easily frightened

The cowardly dog was barking and running away from the cat.

• Cruel: causing pain or suffering; unkind

The cruel words of the bully made the little girl cry.

• Dirty: not clean; covered in dirt

The dirty child was playing in the mud.

• Disgusting: causing strong dislike or distaste; revolting

The disgusting smell of the garbage made everyone hold their noses.

• Distrustful: not trusting or confident; suspicious

The distrustful woman continually looks over her shoulder.

• Evil: morally bad or wrong; causing harm or suffering

The evil witch was cackling and stirring her potion.

• Fearful: feeling or showing fear; anxious

The fearful child was clinging to his mother’s leg.

• Greedy: wanting to have more of something, such as food or money, than is necessary or fair

The greedy man hoards food and never shares it with others.

• Hateful: feeling or showing strong dislike or hostility

The hateful woman yelled and cursed at people on the street.

• Ignorant: lacking knowledge or understanding; uneducated

The ignorant man made racist and homophobic comments.

• Jealous: feeling or showing envy of someone because they have something that you want

The jealous woman tried to outdo her neighbors by buying an expensive car.

• Lazy: not wanting to work or use any effort

The lazy dog was lying in the shade all day.

• Liar: someone who tells lies

Fred was a liar, making up stories about other people.

• Mean: unkind or cruel; wishing to harm others

The mean boy picked on the other kids in the schoolyard.

• Narrow-minded: having or showing a lack of understanding or tolerance

The narrow-minded woman made judgmental comments about others.

• Obnoxious: very unpleasant or disliked

The obnoxious child was continually screaming and throwing tantrums.

• Outspoken: speaking freely or without restraint, especially about controversial topics

The outspoken woman expressed her opinions, even when no one asked for them.

• Selfish: lacking consideration for others; concerned mainly with one’s pleasure or advantage

The selfish man took credit for other people’s hard work.

• Spiteful: wishing to harm or embarrass someone because you dislike them

The spiteful woman wouldn’t include her family members in the will.

• Stupid: having or showing a lack of intelligence or understanding

The stupid man drove on the wrong side of the road.

• Thief: someone who steals things

The person is a thief; he was caught red-handed with the stolen goods.

• Untrustworthy: not able to be trusted; unreliable

The untrustworthy man was constantly breaking his promises.

Unique Adjectives to Describe Someone

ardent, benevolent, candid, capricious, charming, classy, cynical, demure, eccentric, eloquent, empathetic, exuberant, fascinating, gregarious, magnanimous, mysterious, pedantic, philanthropic, pompous, poised, rational, refined, reserved, sophisticated, worldly, zealous

Many different words can be used to describe a person, and some of them may be more unique than others. If you are looking for a word that will stand out, consider using one of the following adjectives to describe someone:

• Ardent: passionate about something

She is an ardent supporter of the team.

• Benevolent: wishing to do good deeds; kind-hearted

He is a benevolent person who always helps others.

• Candid: honest and straightforward; not hiding anything

The boss was candid yet fair; the employees always respected him.

• Capricious: spontaneous; unpredictable

The child is quite capricious, and you never know what he’ll do next.

• Charming: pleasant or attractive in a way that affects the emotions or senses

The charming man says flattering things and makes people feel special.

• Classy: elegant and fashionable

The classy woman was always impeccably dressed and carried herself with dignity.

• Cynical: believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity

The cynical woman sees the negative in everything and everyone.

• Demure: shy and modest

The demure employee sat quietly in the company of the other executives.

• Eccentric: unconventional and slightly strange

The eccentric woman did things that were out of the norm, like wearing odd clothes or talking to herself.

• Eloquent: artfully expressive; able to communicate effectively

The eloquent speaker impressed people with his articulate and well-spoken words.

• Empathetic: able to understand and share the feelings of another

She lends an empathetic ear to her friends when they need it most.

• Exuberant: full of energy and enthusiasm

The exuberant child runs around and laughs in the playground

• Fascinating: intensely interesting; holding the attention

The fascinating woman told true stories that captivated her listeners.

• Gregarious: outgoing and sociable; enjoy being around others

He is a gregarious person who loves to party with his comrades.

• Magnanimous: showing or having a generously noble nature, especially towards an enemy or rival

The magnanimous woman didn’t resent her enemies but instead tried to understand them.

• Mysterious: not known or understood; puzzling

The mysterious man kept to himself and lived a lonely life.

• Pedantic: overly concerned with minor details or rules; excessively academic

The pedantic teacher was constantly correcting the students’ grammar and pronunciation.

• Philanthropic: having a concern for the welfare of others

The philanthropic billionaire gave all his money to the poor.

• Pompous: behaving or speaking in a manner that shows too much self-importance

The pompous man bragged about his accomplishments and wealth.

• Poised: having good composure; self-assured

The poised woman knew how to react, even in the most chaotic situations.

• Rational: able to think clearly and logically

A rational person makes decisions based on facts and logic rather than emotions.

• Refined: cultured and sophisticated

The refined woman behaved in a genteel manner and conducted herself with decorum.

• Reserved: quiet and not forthcoming with information

The reserved man was reticent in sharing his thoughts and feelings.

• Sophisticated: having or showing a refined or cultured nature

The young man looked sophisticated in his new suit.

• Worldly: experienced and knowledgeable about the ways of the world

The worldly woman gave sage advice and seemed to have an answer for everything.

• Zealous: very enthusiastic and passionate

The zealous woman campaigned for her cause and recruited others to join her.

You may also be interested in: 125 Unique Words in the English Language

Words to Describe Someone Special

affectionate, angelic, beloved, caring, devoted, gentle, giving, loyal, passionate, patient, respectful, tender

Adjectives to describe someone you love:

• Affectionate: showing or having affection; fondness

The affectionate couple hugged and kissed.

• Angelic: having a sweet and innocent nature

The angelic child did all the chores.

• Beloved: dearly loved

She was his beloved wife.

• Caring: having or showing concern and sympathy for others

The caring woman volunteered her time to help those in need.

• Devoted: completely dedicated to someone or something

The devoted mother puts her children first.

• Gentle: having a kind and mild nature

The gentle aunt cradled the newborn child.

• Giving: unselfishly providing help or support to others

The giving woman donated her time and money to charitable causes.

• Loyal: remaining faithful to someone or something

The loyal dog didn’t leave his owner’s side.

• Passionate: having or showing strong emotions or feelings

The passionate couple was constantly arguing and making up.

• Patient: able to wait for a long time without becoming annoyed or upset

The patient mother listens to her children, no matter how long they ramble on.

• Respectful: showing or having respect

The respectful son listened to his elders and treated them with deference.

• Tender: having or showing gentleness, concern, or care

The tender mother kissed her children’s boo-boos and made them feel better.

Funny Adjectives to Describe Someone

bizarre, clumsy, dizzy, giggly, goofy, hyper, kooky, nutty

• Bizarre: very strange or unusual

The bizarre woman wore outrageous clothes and makeup.

• Clumsy: awkward and lacking in coordination

The clumsy teacher was continuously dropping the whiteboard marker and bumping into desks.

• Dizzy: feeling unsteady or lightheaded

The woman was dizzy after her intense workout.

• Giggly: prone to giggling or laughter

The giggly girl constantly gets in trouble for laughing during class.

• Goofy: silly or stupid

The goofy dog was chasing his tail and running into walls.

• Hyper: extremely excited or energetic

The hyper child bounced off the walls and ran around.

• Kooky: strange or eccentric, but in a likeable way

The artist may be kooky but her paintings sold out in minutes.

• Nutty: crazy or insane

The nutty man was always talking to himself and seemed to be in another world.

How To Describe a Villain

The author often describes a villain as someone wicked, cruel, and heartless. This person is always up to no good and enjoys wreaking havoc and causing pain. They are devoid of empathy or compassion and take pleasure in others’ suffering. They are often very calculating and intelligent but also manipulative and deceitful. They are dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.

How to Describe an Attractive Person

The author often describes an attractive person as someone who is physically appealing and pleasant to look at. This person is often seen as confident and stylish, with a captivating presence. They are usually in good shape, with symmetrical features and clear skin. They carry themselves well and move with grace. They have a magnetic personality and are often very charismatic. People are naturally drawn to them and light up a room when they enter it.

How to Describe a Hero

The author’s profile of a hero is someone brave, courageous, and selfless. This person is always putting others before themselves and puts their own life at risk to save others. They are driven by a strong sense of justice and have a deep commitment to doing what is right. They are often highly skilled and talented, with a natural ability to lead and inspire others. People look up to them as an example of strength and hope.

Adjectives to Describe Appearance

adorable, attractive, chic, cute, elegant, frail, good-looking, glamorous, gorgeous, graceful, homely, scruffy, sleek, ugly, unkempt

• Adorable: lovely or cute, especially in a childlike way

The adorable little girl smiles and makes everyone around her happy.

• Attractive: pleasing or appealing to the eye

The attractive woman gets many compliments on her looks.

• Chic: stylish or fashionable

The chic woman wore the latest summer trends.

• Cute: attractive in a childish or youthful way

The cute puppy wagged his tail and licked everyone’s face.

• Elegant: tastefully graceful and stylish

The elegant woman was well-dressed and carried herself with poise.

• Frail: weak; lacking physical strength or energy

The frail man found it difficult to walk.

• Good-looking: attractive, beautiful

The good-looking man was tall and dark.

• Glamorous: having an air of allure, romance, and excitement

The glamorous movie star melted the hearts of Hollywood directors.

• Gorgeous: very beautiful or magnificent

The baby was so gorgeous that everyone stopped and cooed

• Graceful: having or exhibiting grace; elegant

The graceful dancer looked effortless as she floated across the stage.

• Homely: not attractive or good-looking; plain

The homely woman liked to wear makeup to transform her appearance.

• Scruffy: untidy or dirty in appearance

The scruffy man hardly ever took a shower.

• Sleek: smooth and shiny, often as a result of being well-groomed

Her sleek, shining hair looked professionally done.

• Ugly: displeasing or repulsive to the eye; unattractive

The ugly duckling eventually turned into a beautiful swan.

• Unkempt: not combed or brushed; untidy

The unkempt man’s hair was a mess.

In Conclusion

Adjectives are a great way to describe someone’s appearance, personality, or even mood. Using descriptive words can paint a picture in someone’s mind of what you are talking about. The next time you need to describe someone, try using some of these adjectives.

List of adjectives to describe people Pdf! To describe a person positively or negatively. You can download the printable list of adjectives.

What is an Adjective in English?

Adjectives are the words that are used to describe or modify a noun or a pronoun. Adjectives can limit the meaning of a noun and a pronoun. The adjective is a part of speech that describes the quality of a noun or a pronoun.

What adjectives can describe a person?

Here is the list of some good adjectives that can describe a person.

Silly, Lucky, Disloyal, Morbid, Sensible, Foolish, Neutral, Funny, Smooth, Resourceful, Mature, Understanding, Impressionable, Frank, Sympathetic, Defensive, Joyful, Plucky, Sarcastic, Forceful, Unyielding, Amicable, Passionate, Humorless, Powerful

List of adjectives to Describe People

What are good adjectives to describe a person? Some common adjectives to describe a person are boring, bossy, brave, honest, handsome, clever etc.

Also Study: List of Adjectives for Kids

Abrasive	Forceful
Active	Forgetful
Adaptable	Frank
Adventurous	Friendly
Affable	Frivolous
Aggressive	Frugal
Ambitious	Funny
Amiable	Generous
Amicable	Gentle
Amusing	Good
Anxious	Gossipy
Apathetic	Greedy
Argumentative	Gregarious
Boring	Grumpy
Bossy	Gullible
Brave	Helpful
Breezy	Honest
Bright	Hopeful
Businesslike	Hostile
Busy	Humorless
Callous	Humorous
Calm	Hypocritical
Careful	Idiosyncratic
Casual	Ignorant
Catty	Imaginative
Cautious	Impartial
Cerebral	Impatient
Charming	Impractical
Chatty	Impressionable
Childish	Inconsiderate
Childlike	Independent
Circumspect	Inhibited
Cocky	Intellectual
Communicative	Intelligent
Compassionate	Intense
Competitive	Introverted
Complex	Intuitive
Confrontational	Inventive
Conscientious	Irrational
Conservative	Irreverent
Considerate	Jealous
Controlling	Joyful
Courageous	Judgemental
Courteous	Kind
Cowardly	Lazy
Creative	Loud
Cruel	Loving
Cynical	Loyal
Deceitful	Lucky
Decisive	Manipulative
Defensive	Martyr
Dense	Mature
Determined	Mean
Devious	Mercurial
Diligent	Mischievous
Dim	Modern
Diplomatic	Modest
Discreet	Moody
Dishonest	Moralistic
Disloyal	Morbid
Disorganized	Motivated
Disrespectful	Nasty
Disruptive	Neat
Dynamic	Neutral
Egotistical	Nice
Emotional	Noncommittal
Empathetic	Noncompetitive
Energetic	Nosy
Enigmatic	Obsessive
Evasive	Opportunistic
Evil	Optimistic
Extravagant	Ordinary
Extroverted	Outspoken
Exuberant	Paranoid
Faithful	Passionate
Fanatical	Patient
Fearless	Perfectionist
Flaky	Persistant
Folksy	Pessimistic
Foolish	Petty
Abrasive	Forceful
Active	Forgetful
Adaptable	Frank
Adventurous	Friendly
Affable	Frivolous
Aggressive	Frugal
Ambitious	Funny
Amiable	Generous

Also Study: Adjectives that start with G

Philosophical	Silly
Plucky	Sincere
Polite	Sleazy
Political	Smart
Popular	Smooth
Posessive	Sociable
Powerful	Soft
Practical	Solemn
Predictable	Spoiled
Prejudiced	Stingy
Pretentious	Straightforward
Private	Strict
Questioning	Stupid
Quiet	Subservient
Rational	Surprising
Realistic	Sympathetic
Rebellious	Tidy
Reckless	Timid
Relaxed	Tough
Reliable	Unassuming
Resentful	Unchanging
Reserved	Uncompromising
Resourceful	Undemanding
Romantic	Understanding
Rotten	Unlucky
Rude	Unmotivated
Sarcastic	Unreliable
Selfish	Untidy
Sensible	Unyielding
Sensitive	Vain
Serious	Willing
Shy	Wise

Related Post: Positive Adjectives starting with L

Infographics (Adjectives Describing Person)

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You download the pdf of the list of adjectives to describe people positively or negatively.

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About The Author

What are adjectives? Are you searching for English Adjectives that Describe Personality, for your kids? Are you searching for printable worksheets about adjectives? You are in the right place!

What are Adjectives?

What exactly are adjectives? In the simplest terms, an adjective is a word used to define a noun. The adjectives can give a piece of additional descriptive information to the sentence.

1. We live in a old village.
2. Mia was wearing a sleeveless shirt.
3. He wore a awesome shirt.
4. Smith writes meaningless words.
5. This shop is much cheaper.

Personality traits

Personality traits!! Personality traits are permanent features or aspects. They can change slowly in time, but they’re generally permanent. We ask, “What are you like?” to inquire about our personality. This lesson will teach the basics of adjectives to describe people’s personalities in English with valueable examples.

Personality is the tendency of an individual to act, think and behave in a particular manner. Many sociologists agree that personalities originate from the cultures and families where people are educated.

What Are Personality Adjectives?

A particular set of adjectives are used to describe the personality. Personality refers to how someone acts, behaves, or behaves. Personality adjectives are commonly referred to as personality adjectives. Personality adjectives could be among the top kinds of adjectives you can comprehend. They will help you determine what makes someone happy or sad, difficult or easy, speedy or slow. They can help us understand what we can expect from people around us. This can be a valuable thing to know.

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List of 500 Personality Traits

Here is the the list of 500 English Adjectives that Describe Personality!

Academic	Dynamic	Patriotic
Accurate	Eager	Polite
Adaptable	Efficient	Positive
Adorable	Elated	Powerful
Adventurous	Emotional	Practical
Affectionate	Endurable	Precise
Aggressive	Ethical	Prudent
Agreeable	Exclusive	Quick
Alert	Faithful	Quiet
Alluring	Fanatic	Rational
Ambitious	Feminine	Realistic
Amused	Firm	Reasonable
Appreciative	Flexible	Relaxed
Artistic	Fool	Religious
Assertive	Forceful	Reserved
Athletic	Formal	Resilient
Attractive	Frank	Respectable
Beautiful	Friendly	Responsive
Boastful	Fun	Robust
Bold	Funny	Romantic
Brave	Generous	Sane
Bright	Gentle	Sensible
Bungling	Great	Serious
Calm	Happy	Sincere
Capable	Helpful	Sociable
Carefree	Hermetic	Spiritual
Careful	Idiot	Sporty
Caring	Immaculate	Stable
Casual	Immature	Steady
Cautious	Independent	Strong
Charming	Influential	Tactful
Cheerful	Informal	Thoughtful
Clean	Insipid	Tolerable
Clever	Intellectual	Trusting
Comfortable	Intense	Trustworthy
Competent	Inventive	Unassuming
Confident	Jaded	Understanding
Contrary	Keen	Unique
Cool	Kind	Unreliable
Creative	Learned	Untrustworthy
Dazzling	Likable	Venerable
Decent	Lively	Verbal
Decisive	Logical	Versatile
Decorous	Loving	Violent
Dedicated	Loyal	Wholesome
Deliberate	Maniac	Wild
Delightful	Mature	Willing
Detailed	Mean	Wise
Determined	Methodical	Witty
Devoted	Neat	Youthful
Dignified	Noble	Zany
Diligent	Optimistic	Obliging
Disagreeable	Discreet	Original

Positive Personality Adjectives

A variety of adjectives used to define personality include positive. Below is a list of some positive adjectives for personality. They are great to impress people or admire, for those you’d like to impress and even yourself.

Active	Empathetic	Neat
Adaptable	Energetic	Nice
Adventurous	Faithful	Optimistic
Affable	Fearless	Passionate
Amiable	Friendly	Patient
Amicable	Funny	Plucky
Amusing	Generous	Polite
Brave	Gentle	Popular
Bright	Good	Powerful
Calm	Gregarious	Practical
Careful	Helpful	Rational
Charming	Honest	Realistic
Circumspect	Hopeful	Reliable
Communicative	Humorous	Resourceful
Compassionate	Imaginative	Romantic
Conscientious	Intelligent	Sensible
Considerate	Intuitive	Sincere
Courageous	Inventive	Smart
Courteous	Joyful	Sociable
Creative	Kind	Sympathetic
Determined	Loving	Tidy
Diligent	Loyal	Understanding
Diplomatic	Lucky	Willing
Discreet	Mature	Wise
Dynamic	Motivated	Witty

Negative Personality Adjectives

Other adjectives that describe personality are negative ones. Below are a few negative adjectives for personality. They should be used cautiously as negative words to describe someone’s character are generally interpreted poorly.

Abrasive	Egotistical	Moody
Aggressive	Evasive	Morbid
Apathetic	Evil	Nasty
Argumentative	Fanatical	Nosy
Boring	Flaky	Obsessive
Bossy	Foolish	Paranoid
Callous	Forgetful	Pessimistic
Catty	Frivolous	Petty
Childish	Gossipy	Posessive
Cocky	Greedy	Prejudiced
Confrontational	Grumpy	Pretentious
Controlling	Gullible	Reckless
Cowardly	Hostile	Resentful
Cruel	Humorless	Rotten
Cynical	Hypocritical	Rude
Defensive	Ignorant	Selfish
Deceitful	Impatient	Sleazy
Dense	Impractical	Spoiled
Devious	Inconsiderate	Stingy
Dim	Irrational	Stupid
Dishonest	Jealous	Unlucky
Disloyal	Judgemental	Unmotivated
Disorganized	Lazy	Unreliable
Disrespectful	Manipulative	Untidy
Disruptive	Mean	Vain

Some adjectives aren’t negative or positive in their own right; however, they can define personality. Certain of the adjectives listed below are usually neutral. Some are positive or negative, based on the context in which they’re utilized. They’re often an excellent thing to substitute for negative words because they’re a way of saying something that’s not overly positive but isn’t necessarily negative, too. They’re also helpful for those who cannot determine whether you should use negative words or positive words.

Ambitious	Impressionable	Private
Anxious	Independent	Questioning
Breezy	Inhibited	Rebellious
Businesslike	Intellectual	Relaxed
busy	Intense	Reserved
Casual	Introverted	Sarcastic
Cerebral	Irreverent	Sensitive
Cautious	Loud	Serious
Chatty	Martyr	Shy
Childlike	Mercurial	Silly
Competitive	Mischievous	Smooth
Complex	Modern	Soft
Conservative	Modest	Solemn
Decisive	Moralistic	Straightforward
Emotional	Neutral	Strict
Enigmatic	Noncommittal	Subservient
Extravagant	Noncompetitive	Surprising
Extroverted	Opportunistic	Timid
Exuberant	Ordinary	Tough
Folksy	Outspoken	Unassuming
Forceful	Perfectionist	Unchanging
Frank	Persistant	Uncompromising
Frugal	Philosophical	Undemanding
Idiosyncratic	Political	Unyielding
Impartial	Predictable	Quiet

Example Sentences of Personality Traits

Academic: Smith wasn’t very academic and hated study.

Anxious: Charlotte was anxious to preserve her reputation

Beautiful: William was even more beautiful than I had remembered.

Calm: Mia’s so calm, nothing seems to faze her.

Naughty: They’re a very naughty boys! Look what they’ve done!

Dazzling: Olivia gave me a dazzling smile.

Eager: Liam was eager to talk about life in the Army.

Fanatic: She is a fanatic jogger.

Sensitive: He is very sensitive to other people’s feelings.

Generous: Benjamin is very generous.

Lazy: Ava felt too lazy to get out of bed.

Happy: We are happy to announce the engagement of our sun.

Idiot: You blundering idiot!

Intelligent: Benjamin seemed intelligent and well educated.

Jaded: They look very jaded; they need a holiday.

Keen: Emma’s very keen to learn about Japanese culture.

Learned: James is a serious scholar, a genuinely learned man.

Maniac: She drives like a maniac; I’m sure he’ll cause an accident.

Neat: Isabella keeps his room clean and neat.

Obliging: You were very obliging and offered to wait for us.

Patient: I know your leg hurts, just be patient until the doctor arrives.

Quick: He is normally quick to complain about the shoddy service.

Rational: She was too upset to be rational.

Sane: In the doctor’s opinion, he was sane at the time of the murder.

Sincere: Elijah was sincere in his wish to help us.

Trusting: If you’re too trusting, other people will take advantage of you.

Unique: His designs have a unique brand of stylishness.

Emotional: She got quite emotional during the speech.

Verbal: We have a verbal agreement with her.

Willing: Jane was willing to accompany you to the park to go out for a walk.

Youthful: She has managed to maintain her youthful appearance.

Zany: She’s special because her coat looks zany. It is sharply divided between horse and zebra.

Energetic: Oliver seemed a dynamic and energetic leader.

Understanding: He pleaded with his parents for a more understanding attitude.

Attractive: Sophia was not exactly good-looking, but definitely attractive.

Crazy: She’s crazy to drive her bike so fast.

Unreliable: Noah’s totally unreliable as a source of information.

Romantic: They’re getting quite romantic in their old age!

Tactful: I tried to be tactful, but she seemed to be mortally offended.

Nervous: They get very nervous before a big race.

Rude: Mia is so rude that nobody can bear her.

My Considerations

Since the Adjective is the main part of reading, the importance of developing vocabulary cannot be undervalued.

You can read above simple English Adjectives that Describe Personality to improve your vocabulary.

Encourage your children to master these basic but often encountered adjective words by following the simple example given above. Then, save this list about English Adjectives that Describe Personality, handy for future use.

If you enjoyed a printable infographic about English Adjectives that Describe Personality, I’d be very thankful if you’d help it spread by emailing it to your friends or sharing it on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. Thank you!

Recap of we just learned

• What are Adjectives?
• Personality traits
• What Are Personality Adjectives?
• List of 500 Personality Traits
• Positive Personality Adjectives
• Negative Personality Adjectives
• Neutral Personality Adjectives
• Example Sentences of Personality Traits

Explore the full list of words that start with A to Z!

Find the perfect words to describe someone with the world’s most comprehensive and carefully curated collection of adjectives to describe a person. Describing someone can be a challenge because everyone is so unique and we all have our own distinguishing characteristics which often leave us tongue-tied when trying to describe another person. Every word in here was carefully chosen to ensure that it actually should be included in a list of words to describe a person. So many lists online are haphazardly created, full of words that can’t actually be used to describe someone. However, here you can rest assured that every word in here is a word to describe someone.

Whether you are looking to describe someone’s appearance or for words to describe personality characteristics of an individual, you will find them all right here in one place. This list is arranged alphabetically to make it easy to sort through and scan. All words here are adjectives, which are parts of speech that describe one of three things: a person, place or thing. And since this is a collection of words to describe people, all of those included here are adjectives. You’ll also notice that we have included both negative and positive words to describe someone. While we would prefer to see a world of love and kindness, in the interest of accuracy and comprehensiveness, we have included positive, negative and neutral words here. We hope you enjoy this collection and return to it again and again whenever you are searching for some adjectives to describe someone.

Words to Describe Someone

Here is our list of adjectives to describe a person. Enjoy and we hope you are able to paint the perfect picture!

A words to describe someone

• abandoned
• able
• able-bodied
• abrasive
• absentminded
• abstracted
• abusive
• accepting
• accessible
• acclaimed
• accommodating
• accountable
• active
• admirable
• adoptive
• adorable
• adoring
• adroit
• adult
• adventurous
• affable
• affectionate
• African
• ageless
• aggressive
• agitated
• agreeable
• adjectives that start with A
• alert
• alien
• alive
• all-around
• alleged
• alone
• aloof
• amazing
• ambitious
• American
• amiable
• amusing
• anemic
• angelic
• angry
• animated
• annoyed
• annoying
• anonymous
• antagonistic
• antisocial
• antsy
• anxious
• apathetic
• apologetic
• appalling
• appealing
• appreciative
• apprehensive
• approachable
• ardent
• argumentative
• aristocratic
• arresting
• arrogant
• artistic
• artless
• aspiring
• assertive
• astute
• athletic
• atrocious
• attentive
• attractive
• atypical
• auspicious
• Australian
• Austrian
• authentic
• available
• avant-garde
• average
• avid
• awesome
• awful
• awkward

B words to describe someone

• babbling
• baby
• bad
• bad-tempered
• bald
• balding
• barren
• bashful
• beautiful
• befuddled
• believable
• bellicose
• belligerent
• bent
• best
• adjectives that start with B
• better
• bewildered
• biased
• big
• bighearted
• bigoted
• bilingual
• bitter
• bizarre
• black
• blameless
• blessed
• blind
• blissful
• bloated
• blonde
• bloodthirsty
• blue
• blunt
• blushing
• boastful
• boisterous
• bold
• bookish
• bossy
• boyish
• brainy
• brash
• brave
• brawny
• Brazilian
• breathtaking
• bright
• bright-eyed
• brilliant
• British
• broken
• broken-hearted
• bruised
• brunette
• bubbly
• bulky
• burly

C words to describe someone

• calm
• Canadian
• cantankerous
• capable
• captivating
• carefree
• careful
• careless
• casual
• Catholic
• caustic
• cautious
• celebrated
• centered
• challenged
• charismatic
• charitable
• charming
• chatty
• cheap
• cheerful
• cheery
• chic
• chicken
• childish
• childlike
• Chinese
• chivalrous
• Christian
• chubby
• chunky
• civilized
• classy
• adjectives that start with C
• clean
• clear-headed
• clever
• close
• close-minded
• clownish
• clueless
• clumsy
• cocky
• coherent
• cold
• cold-hearted
• colorful
• colorless
• combative
• comfortable
• committed
• communist
• compassionate
• competent
• competitive
• complacent
• compulsive
• conceited
• concerned
• condemned
• condescending
• confident
• confused
• congenial
• conscientious
• considerate
• content
• contented
• controlling
• controversial
• convinced
• convincing
• convivial
• cool
• coolest
• cool-headed
• cooperative
• corny
• corpulent
• corrupt
• courageous
• courteous
• cowardly
• crabby
• crafty
• cranky
• crazy
• creative
• credible
• creepy
• crippled
• cruel
• cultured
• curious
• cute
• cynical

D words to describe someone

• dandy
• dangerous
• dapper
• daring
• dark
• dashing
• daughterly
• dazzling
• dead
• deaf
• dear
• debonair
• deceitful
• deceptive
• decisive
• decrepit
• dedicated
• defeated
• defenseless
• defensive
• defiant
• deformed
• dehydrated
• dejected
• delicate
• delightful
• delinquent
• delirious
• demanding
• demented
• demure
• democrat
• demonstrative
• dependable
• depressed
• deranged
• desirable
• desperate
• despondent
• destructive
• adjectives that start with D
• determined
• devious
• devoted
• devout
• difficult
• dignified
• diligent
• dim
• dingy
• diplomatic
• direct
• dirty
• disabled
• disadvantaged
• disagreeable
• disciplined
• disconnected
• discourteous
• discriminatory
• diseased
• disgraceful
• disgruntled
• dishonest
• dishonorable
• disingenuous
• disinterested
• disloyal
• dismissive
• disobedient
• disorganized
• displeased
• disreputable
• disrespectful
• disruptive
• dissatisfied
• distant
• distinguished
• distracted
• distraught
• distressed
• distrustful
• disturbed
• diverse
• dizzy
• dogged
• domestic
• domineering
• doting
• dowdy
• down
• downhearted
• dramatic
• dreamy
• driven
• dull
• Dutch
• dutiful
• dynamic

E words to describe someone

• eager
• earnest
• easy
• easy-going
• ebullient
• eccentric
• ecstatic
• educated
• effervescent
• efficient
• egocentric
• egotistical
• Egyptian
• elderly
• elegant
• eligible
• elite
• eloquent
• emaciated
• embattled
• embittered
• eminent
• emotional
• emotionless
• enchanting
• encouraging
• endearing
• energetic
• engaging
• enigmatic
• enlightened
• enormous
• adjectives that start with E
• enraged
• enterprising
• entertaining
• enthralling
• enthusiastic
• entitled
• entrepreneurial
• envious
• equable
• equanimous
• established
• ethnic
• European
• even-tempered
• evil
• exact
• exalted
• exceptional
• excitable
• excited
• exciting
• exhausted
• exhilarated
• exotic
• expectant
• expert
• explicit
• explosive
• expressionless
• expressive
• extra-large
• extraordinary
• extra-small
• extreme
• exuberant

F words to describe someone

• fabulous
• fair
• faithful
• faithless
• famished
• famous
• fantastic
• farsighted
• fascinated
• fascinating
• fashionable
• fast
• fast-moving
• fat
• fatherly
• fatigued
• favorite
• fearful
• fearless
• feckless
• fecund
• feeble-minded
• female
• feminine
• fertile
• fidgety
• fierce
• Filipino
• filthy
• fine
• finicky
• first
• fit
• flamboyant
• flashy
• flawless
• flexible
• flirtatious
• fluent
• focused
• foolish
• adjectives that start with F
• forceful
• foreign
• forgetful
• forgivable
• forgiving
• formal
• fortunate
• forward
• foxy
• fractious
• fragile
• frail
• frank
• frantic
• fraternal
• freaky
• freckled
• free
• French
• friendly
• frightened
• frisky
• frugal
• frumpy
• frustrated
• fulfilled
• fully-grown
• fun
• fun-loving
• funny
• furious
• fussy
• fuzzy

G words to describe someone

• gabby
• gallant
• garrulous
• gaunt
• gawky
• generous
• genial
• gentle
• genuine
• German
• ghoulish
• giant
• giddy
• gifted
• gigantic
• giggling
• gilded
• giving
• glamorous
• gleeful
• glib
• gloomy
• glowing
• glum
• gluttonous
• adjectives that start with G
• god-awful
• god-like
• godly
• good
• good-for-nothing
• good-looking
• good-natured
• goofy
• gorgeous
• graceful
• gracious
• grand
• great
• greedy
• Greek
• gregarious
• groggy
• groovy
• grotesque
• grouchy
• growling
• grown-up
• grumpy
• guarded
• guileless
• guiltless
• guilt-ridden
• guilty
• gullible
• gushy
• gutsy

H words to describe someone

• haggard
• hairless
• hairy
• half-hearted
• handsome
• handy
• hapless
• happy
• happy-go-lucky
• hardworking
• harmless
• harried
• harsh
• hasty
• healthy
• heartbroken
• heartless
• heavy
• hefty
• helpful
• helpless
• heroic
• hideous
• high-functioning
• high-maintenance
• high-spirited
• hilarious
• Hindu
• adjectives that start with H
• homeless
• homely
• honest
• honorable
• hopeless
• horrible
• hospitable
• hostile
• hot
• hot-headed
• hot-shot
• hot-tempered
• hubristic
• huffy
• huge
• huggable
• hulking
• humble
• humongous
• humorless
• humorous
• husky
• hypercritical
• hypersensitive
• hypnotic
• hysterical

I words to describe someone

• idealistic
• ignorant
• ill-educated
• ill-humored
• illiterate
• illustrious
• imaginative
• immature
• impatient
• imperfect
• impolite
• important
• impossible
• impoverished
• impressionable
• impressive
• impulsive
• inarticulate
• inartistic
• inattentive
• incapable
• incoherent
• incompetent
• inconsiderate
• inconsolable
• incorrigible
• incorruptible
• adjectives that start with I
• incredible
• indecisive
• independent
• Indian
• indigenous
• indiscreet
• indispensable
• Indonesian
• industrious
• inelegant
• infallible
• infamous
• infatuated
• inflexible
• influential
• inhospitable
• inhuman
• innocent
• innovative
• inquisitive
• insane
• insecure
• insensitive
• insightful
• insincere
• inspirational
• inspiring
• instinctive
• intellectual
• intelligent
• intimidating
• intransigent
• intrepid
• introverted
• invincible
• Irish
• irresistible
• irresponsible
• irritable
• irritating
• Italian

J words to describe someone

• jaded
• Jainist
• Japanese
• jeering
• Jewish
• jobless
• jolly
• adjectives that start with J
• joyful
• joyless
• joyous
• jubilant
• judgmental
• jumpy
• junior
• juvenile

K words to describe someone

• keen
• kind
• kind-hearted
• kindly
• kingly
• adjectives that start with K
• knightly
• knowledgeable
• known
• kooky
• Korean

L words to describe someone

• lame
• languid
• lanky
• large
• lascivious
• late
• lavish
• lazy
• leading
• lean
• learned
• left-handed
• legendary
• lenient
• level-headed
• liberal
• adjectives that start with L
• lighthearted
• likable
• likeable
• like-minded
• lily-livered
• limber
• limping
• literate
• lithe
• little
• lively
• livid
• loathsome
• local
• logical
• lonely
• loose
• loquacious
• lost
• lovely
• loving
• loyal
• lucky
• luscious

M words to describe someone

• Machiavellian
• macho
• mad
• magnanimous
• manly
• maniacal
• manic
• manipulative
• marketable
• married
• masculine
• massive
• master
• materialistic
• maternal
• matronly
• mature
• mean
• mean-spirited
• meek
• mellow
• memorable
• adjectives that start with M
• mercurial
• merry
• messy
• meticulous
• Mexican
• middle-class
• mighty
• militant
• mindful
• mindless
• mirthful
• miscreant
• miserable
• mistrustful
• modern
• modest
• money-grubbing
• monstrous
• moody
• moronic
• morose
• mortal
• motherly
• mournful
• multicultural
• multi talented
• munificent
• muscular
• Muslim
• mute
• mutinous
• mysterious

N words to describe someone

• naïve
• nameless
• narcissistic
• narrow-minded
• nasty
• natural
• naughty
• nearsighted
• neat
• needy
• negative
• neglectful
• negligent
• neighborly
• adjectives that start with N
• nervous
• new
• nice
• nifty
• nimble
• noble
• noisy
• nonchalant
• noncommittal
• normal
• nosy
• notorious
• nutty

O words to describe someone

• oafish
• obedient
• obese
• objective
• obliging
• oblivious
• obnoxious
• observant
• obsessive
• obstinate
• odd
• odd-looking
• odious
• officious
• okay
• old
• old-fashioned
• omniscient
• omnivorous
• openhearted
• open-minded
• opinionated
• oppressive
• adjectives that start with O
• optimistic
• opulent
• ordinary
• original
• ornery
• outgoing
• outraged
• outspoken
• outstanding
• overactive
• overambitious
• overbearing
• overcautious
• overconfident
• overcritical
• overemotional
• overenthusiastic
• overjoyed
• overoptimistic
• overprotective
• overqualified
• overrated
• oversensitive
• overwhelmed
• overwhelming
• overworked
• overwrought
• overzealous

P words to describe someone

• pale
• pallid
• parched
• parental
• parsimonious
• particular
• passionate
• passive
• paternal
• paternalistic
• pathetic
• pathological
• patient
• patriotic
• peaceable
• peaceful
• pedestrian
• peerless
• peevish
• peppery
• perfect
• perky
• persevering
• persistent
• personable
• persuasive
• pert
• perverse
• pessimistic
• petite
• pettish
• petulant
• phenomenal
• philanthropic
• philosophical
• phobic
• pigheaded
• pious
• pitiless
• adjectives that start with P
• placid
• plain
• plausible
• playful
• pleasant
• pleased
• pleasing
• pliable
• plodding
• plucky
• plump
• pneumatic
• poised
• polished
• polite
• pompous
• poor
• poor-mannered
• popular
• portly
• Portuguese
• positive
• possessive
• posthumous
• potent
• powerful
• powerless
• practical
• praiseworthy
• precious
• precise
• precocious
• predictable
• preeminent
• pregnant
• prejudiced
• premature
• preoccupied
• presentable
• presidential
• presumptuous
• pretentious
• pretty
• prickly
• prim
• princely
• principled
• prissy
• private
• proactive
• productive
• profane
• professed
• professional
• proficient
• profound
• profuse
• progressive
• prolific
• prominent
• promising
• prompt
• proper
• prospective
• prosperous
• protective
• Protestant
• proud
• provocative
• prudent
• prying
• psychotic
• public
• puckish
• pugnacious
• pumped
• punctual
• puny
• pure
• pushy
• pusillanimous

Q words to describe someone

• qualified
• quarrelsome
• queenly
• queer
• querulous
• questionable
• quick
• adjectives that start with Q
• quick-minded
• quick-tempered
• quick-thinking
• quick-witted
• quiescent
• quiet
• quintessential
• quirky
• quizzical
• quotable

R words to describe someone

• rakish
• rambunctious
• rare
• rascally
• rational
• raucous
• ravishing
• real
• reasonable
• reassuring
• rebellious
• receptive
• reckless
• recognizable
• red-blooded
• regal
• regular
• reigning
• relatable
• relaxed
• relentless
• relevant
• reliable
• adjectives that start with R
• religious
• remarkable
• remorseful
• remorseless
• representative
• republican
• repulsive
• resentful
• reserved
• resilient
• resolute
• resourceful
• respectable
• respectful
• responsible
• restless
• retired
• revengeful
• rich
• righteous
• right-handed
• rigid
• romantic
• rotund
• rough
• rowdy
• rude
• Russian
• ruthless

S words to describe someone

• sad
• saintly
• sane
• satisfied
• scholarly
• Scottish
• secure
• seductive
• self-absorbed
• self-assured
• self-centered
• self-interested
• selfish
• selfless
• self-reliant
• self-satisfied
• senior
• sensational
• senseless
• sensitive
• sentimental
• serious
• Shintoist
• short
• short-tempered
• shrewd
• sick
• silly
• simpleminded
• sincere
• sinful
• single
• skilled
• sleeping
• slender
• adjectives that start with S
• slim
• sly
• small
• smart
• sneaky
• snotty
• sober
• sociable
• softhearted
• Spanish
• special
• speechless
• spineless
• spirited
• spiritless
• spiteful
• splendid
• spoiled
• spooky
• stable
• star-crossed
• steaming
• stern
• stingy
• straight
• strange
• strong
• stubborn
• stuck-up
• studious
• stunned
• stunning
• stylish
• suave
• submissive
• successful
• super
• superior
• supreme
• sweet

T words to describe someone

• taciturn
• tactful
• tactical
• tactless
• talented
• talkative
• tall
• tame
• tan
• tanned
• tardy
• teachable
• tearful
• tearing
• teenage
• telepathic
• temperamental
• tempestuous
• tenacious
• tender
• tenderhearted
• tense
• terrible
• terrified
• testy
• tetchy
• thankful
• thankless
• theatrical
• theoretical
• thick
• thin
• thirsty
• thorough
• thoughtful
• thoughtless
• threatening
• thriftless
• thrifty
• thrilled
• tidy
• tight
• timeless
• timid
• tiny
• adjectives that start with T
• tired
• tireless
• tolerant
• tone-deaf
• toothsome
• tormented
• torpid
• touched
• touchy
• tough
• towering
• traditional
• traitorous
• transparent
• transplanted
• treasured
• tremendous
• tremulous
• tribal
• tricky
• triumphant
• troubled
• truculent
• true
• trusted
• trustful
• trusting
• trustworthy
• truthful
• tumultuous
• twinkling
• twitter-pated
• tyrannical

U words to describe someone

• ugly
• unabashed
• unaccountable
• unaffected
• unapologetic
• unapproachable
• unattached
• unbalanced
• unbelievable
• unbelieving
• unblemished
• unblushing
• unbreakable
• unchangeable
• uncharitable
• uncivilized
• uncomfortable
• unconvincing
• uncooperative
• uncoordinated
• uncouth
• undefeated
• underprivileged
• understanding
• undeterred
• uneducated
• unemployed
• adjectives that start with U
• unfailing
• unfaithful
• unfaltering
• unflappable
• unforgettable
• unforgiving
• unfortunate
• unfriendly
• unfulfilled
• unglamorous
• ungraceful
• ungracious
• ungrateful
• unhandsome
• unhappy
• unharmed
• unhealthy
• unhelpful
• unimaginative
• unimpeachable
• uninformed
• uninterested
• uninvited
• unkempt
• unkind
• unlikable
• unloved
• unmanageable
• unmanly
• unmatched
• unopposed
• unperturbed
• unpleasant
• unpredictable
• unpretentious
• unprincipled
• unprofessional
• unreasonable
• unreceptive
• unrelenting
• unreliable
• unrepentant
• unruffled
• unruly
• unscrupulous
• unselfish
• unskilled
• unsociable
• unsophisticated
• unsound
• unstable
• unsteady
• unstoppable
• unstressed
• unsupervised
• unsupported
• unsure
• unsuspected
• unsuspecting
• unsympathetic
• untested
• untidy
• untouchable
• untrained
• untroubled
• untrustworthy
• unusual
• unwary
• unwilling
• unwise
• unwitting
• unworthy
• unyielding
• upbeat
• uppity
• upright
• upset
• uptight
• urbane
• useless

V words to describe someone

• vacuous
• vagabond
• vain
• valiant
• valorous
• vehement
• venal
• venerable
• vengeful
• venomous
• venturesome
• versed
• vibrant
• victorious
• vigilant
• vigorous
• vile
• villainous
• vindictive
• violent
• virtuous
• visionary
• adjectives that start with V
• vital
• vivacious
• vivid
• vocal
• voiceless
• voluptuous
• voracious
• vulgar
• vulnerable

W words to describe someone

• wacky
• warm
• warm-blooded
• waspy
• wasted
• watchful
• weak
• weak-willed
• wealthy
• weary
• weird
• welcoming
• well
• well adjusted
• well balanced
• well behaved
• well dressed
• well endowed
• well groomed
• well heeled
• well informed
• well known
• well liked
• well mannered
• well meaning
• well-off
• adjectives that start with W
• well read
• well rounded
• well spoken
• well-to-do
• well traveled
• whimsical
• wholehearted
• wicked
• wide-eyed
• wild
• willful
• willing
• wily
• winsome
• wise
• witty

• wonderful
• wondrous
• worn
• worn out
• worried
• worse
• worthless
• wry

X words to describe someone

• xanthoriatic
• xaroncharoo
• xenodochial
• xenophobic
• adjectives that start with X

Y words to describe someone

• yappy
• yellow
• Yemeni
• Yemenite
• yielding
• Yiddish
• young
• young-looking
• youthful
• yucky
• yummy
• adjectives that start with Y

Z words to describe someone

• zaftig
• Zairean
• Zambian
• zany
• zealous
• zen
• zero
• zestful
• Zimbabwean
• Zionist
• zooty
• adjectives that start with Z
• words to describe love

We hope you enjoyed looking through these words to describe people and personality adjectives! Perhaps you came here in search of nice words to describe someone you love in order to write a poem, to find the right word for a game you are playing, are writing a greeting card for a friend or family member or were simply stuck trying to find the right word to express some characteristic about a particular individual. In any case, we hope you were able to find just the right word to fit whatever you were looking for. In any case, whenever you are in need of some adjectives to describe people, we hope you will return here whenever you need this list. And of course please feel free to share this list of adjectives to describe a person with anyone who might find them interesting, such as an educator, poet, writer, student or anyone who wants to expand their vocabulary.

1. Patient – someone who is not in a hurry and can spend time helping other people.

2. Hard-working – a person who puts a lot of effort into their work.

3. Calm – a person who is relaxed and not nervous.

4. Confident – someone who is self-assured and able to succeed.

5. Intelligent – someone who has the ability to learn and understand things quickly.

6. Reliable – a person who can be depended on to do what they say.

7. Sensible – a person who can be trusted to make the right decision.

8. Sociable – someone who is friendly and enjoys the company of other people.

9. Competitive – a person who likes to win at games or sports. They may be bad losers.

10. Charming – someone who has an attractive personality that makes people like them.

11. Ambitious – someone who has a strong desire to do well or to be successful.

12. Generous – someone who is happy to give more money, time and help than is usual.

13. Arrogant – someone who thinks that he/she is better than other people.

14. Aggressive – someone who often figths and argues with other people.

15. Cheerful – someone who feels happy.

16. Easy-going – someone who is relaxed and not worried about what other people do, someone who is very easy to get on with.

17. Responsible – someone who is able to act sensibly and make his own decisions.

18. Honest – someone who always tells the truth.

19. Tolerant – someone who is able to accept other people’s ideas even if he/she doesn’t agree with them.

20. Dull – a boring person, someone who has no personality.

21. Thick – stupid.

22. Down-to-earth – someone who is sensible and realistic in things they say or do.

23. Pretentious – someone who pretends to be very important.

24. Spontaneous – someone who acts in an open and natural way, capable of making decisions without planning.

25. Witty – someone who is very quick thinking and clever with words

26. Flexible – someone who adapts quickly to new situations and doesn’t mind change

27. Ruthless – someone who is determined to get what they want and does not care about others

28. Shrewd – someone who is good at judging people and situations

29. Pushy – someone who tries hard to get what they want, especially in a rude way

30. Conceited – someone who thinks that they are very important, celver, etc

31. Conscientious – someone who takes care in doing things properly and carefully

32. Assertive – someone who behaves confidently in order that people take notice of what they say

33. Diffident – someone who is not confident, a shy person

How would you describe yourself? Or people you like? Try to use adjectives that describe people and personality from this article.

You can also use adjectives to describe physical appearance if you would like to describe how they look like.

Adjectives are a group of words that are mainly used to modify a noun or noun phrase and help it describes its referent. The main usage of adjectives is to enhance the mean and texture of a noun. Adjectives are used to describe various things such as people, places, animals, things, situations, and abstracts. However, in this particular article, we are going to discuss the adjectives that are used to describe a person.

• What is meant by an Adjective?
• 100 Adjectives to Describe a Person
• Things to Keep in Mind on How to Describe a Person Personality
• Examples Sentences of Adjectives to Describe a Person Physically
• What are the examples of adjectives used to describe a person?
• How to teach adjectives to describe a person to students?
• Where are adjectives used?

What is meant by an Adjective?

The adjective is a single word or a group of words that are used to name an attribute attached to a noun and enhance the meaning of the phrase or a passage. The adjectives that are used to describe a person are given in the subsequent sections of this particular article.

100 Adjectives to Describe a Person

Below is a list of 100 words/adjectives that are used to describe a person:

1. Careful
2. Charming
3. Powerful
4. Efficient
5. Effective
6. Creative
7. Brilliant
8. Clever
9. Traumatic
10. Terrorised
11. Discreet
12. Secretive
13. Quite
14. Pleasant
15. Sane
16. Insane
17. Tactful
18. Crazy
19. Calm
20. Composed
21. Cool
22. Accurate
23. Articulate
24. Approachable
25. Dazzling
26. Dizzy
27. Helpful
28. Unhelpful
29. Interesting
30. Boring
31. Relaxed
32. Respectful
33. Kind
34. Humble
35. Faithful
36. Disrespectful
37. Youthful
38. Lethargic
39. Artistic
40. Confident
41. Competent
42. Fun
43. Flexible
44. Loving
45. Liking
46. Caring
47. Rational
48. Realistic
49. Sensible
50. Unique
51. Clean
52. Considerate
53. Dynamic
54. Determined
55. Generous
56. Great
57. Organised
58. Positive
59. Negative
60. Optimistic
61. Pessimistic
62. Impolite
63. Unhealthy
64. Heathy
65. Reasonable
66. Brave
67. Timid
68. Scared
69. Affable
70. Affectionate
71. Pioneering
72. Imaginative
73. Frank
74. Communicative
75. Decisive
76. Determined
77. Amiable
78. Emotional
79. Impartial
80. Loyal
81. Modest
82. Weak
83. Proactive
84. Neat
85. Nice
86. Exuberant
87. Diligent
88. Partial
89. Determined
90. Reserved
91. Shy
92. Euphoric
93. Sensitive
94. Tidy
95. Unassuming
96. Willing
97. Gregarious
98. Fearless
99. Compassionate
100. Amusing

The above-given list is a few among the 1000 Adjectives to Describe a Person in the English language that exists which can be used as adjectives that are used to describe personalities or particular people. Describing a person is in itself a talent and it needs tactfulness and diplomacy to do it without hurting one’s feelings.

Struggling to learn the English language right from basics to advanced online? Worry not, here is the perfect guide ie., English Grammar Notes to solve all your English grammar mistakes and queries.

Things to Keep in Mind on How to Describe a Person Personality

• One should be very cognizant of a person’s feelings towards his or her personality and looks and his description of a person should be appropriate and hurtful
• To describe a person using good adjectives one should avoid generalizing one looks or personality based on race, sex, community, gender, creed, or caste
• When should be very observant before deciding on the adjectives to describe a person because the descriptive adjectives used should be appropriate and should match the person’s personality under the description

Examples Sentences of Adjectives to Describe a Person Physically

Below we have given examples of how to describe a person using appropriate positive adjectives:

1. Neetha looks very beautiful in the red saree that she wore on the farewell day
2. Raj is a handsome-looking man amongst all his colleagues in the office
3. Peter is the tallest guy in his batch
4. Pug is a small but a cut breed of dog
5. Varsha is working on her body day in and day out to reduce weight
6. Amit is a clever little man who managed to get a promotion within a year
7. Rohit was fired from his office for misbehaving with his fellow employee on the office premises
8. Mrs Kamala was a passionate young woman who achieved her dream by becoming the youngest CEO of the country
9. Nandan is a very intelligent man who cleared the coveted Union Public Service Commission examination
10. Geetha is a very good dancer

As a small excise, we advise students to find out the adjectives that are used in the above examples and list out the same.

Read More:

• Adjectives to Describe a Personality
• Describing Physical Appearance

FAQs on Adjectives to Describe a Person

1. What are the examples of adjectives used to describe a person?

Beautiful, clever, intelligent, tactful, boring, calm, etc are some of the adjectives used to describe a person

2. How to teach adjectives to describe a person to students?

Teachers can conduct fun activities, plays, and skits inside the classroom for one to teach about adjectives to describe a person

3. Where are adjectives used?

Adjectives are used in essay writing, email writing, blogs, passages, etc.

In this study guide, you will learn 70 personality adjectives in English. We have divided these into lists of positive and negative personality adjectives, with definitions for each one. We have also given you examples to show how to use the adjectives in sentences. Check out the exercises at the end to test your understanding!

What you will learn: 

• What are personality adjectives?
• Avoid these mistakes!
• 35 positive personality adjectives
• 35 negative personality adjectives
• Exercises

What are personality adjectives?

We all have different personalities! Each person has a combination of personality ‘traits’ – different parts (or aspects) of our personality. In English, there are a huge number of positive and negative personality adjectives, which we can use to describe the people around us.

This article will cover the most common positive and negative adjectives in English. We will also look at how to use personality adjectives in a sentence, adjectives with similar meanings and how to make negative forms using prefixes.

Personality adjectives function in exactly the same way as other adjectives in a sentence. We use them with the verb ‘to be’, for example:

He is intelligent.
She is confident.

As with other adjectives, we can modify personality adjectives with adverbs such as quite, really, very, a bit, for example:

She is a bit tactless.
He is really selfish.

As with other adjectives, we can use more than one at a time, separated by commas, e.g. ‘He is a sociable, friendly and generous man’. Think of your reports from school; were you ‘hard-working, determined and enthusiastic’ or ‘lazy, moody and stubborn’?
 

Confusing adjective meanings (mistakes to avoid!)

1. False friends

A false friend is a word that can be confused with a word in another language because it looks similar, but it actually has a different meaning. The word sympathetic looks very similar to the word meaning ‘nice’ in some European languages. In English, sympathetic means understanding of another person’s problems. It does not mean the person is nice (although they may be!).

The English word sensible is also a false friend for speakers of some European languages. A sensible person is logical or makes reasonable decisions, for example: ‘Tim seems quite sensible. He doesn’t mess around with the other kids in the playground’. Sensible does not refer to how someone feels, however the word sensitive means someone who is aware of other people’s feelings or can be easily hurt emotionally.

2. Adjectives with similar meanings

Some personality adjectives have similar meanings. The words sociable, chatty and outgoing have a very similar meaning. We can say: ‘Sue is always talking to people. She is a sociable, outgoing person. She is very chatty.’

The words arrogant, big-headed and pretentious have a similar meaning. They all describe a person who has a very high opinion of themselves. For example: ‘I think he is quite an arrogant guy. He is always showing off about what a good footballer he is. He is big-headed’.

Nasty and unpleasant have a similar meaning. Both suggest a negative attitude to other people. For example: ‘She can be really nasty to her little sister sometimes. She won’t let her play with her toys and she tries to get her into trouble. She is quite unpleasant.’ Cruel has a stronger meaning than nasty.

3. Adjectives with opposite meanings

Optimistic and pessimistic are direct opposites. An optimistic person has a generally positive outlook on life and believes that things will go well. A pessimistic person tends to have a negative view of life.

A generous person is kind and may enjoy giving gifts or money to another person. Someone who is mean does not spend their money in this way.

Someone who is big-headed likes to show off about how good they are, but a modest person is the opposite. A modest person does not show off to other people about their achievements.

Someone who is polite speaks in a respectful way to other people. A rude person is the opposite; he or she may shout or say things that upset others. Rude and impolite have a similar meaning.

See below to find out how to form negative adjectives using prefixes.

4. Using prefixes to form negative adjectives

Some positive personality adjectives can be made into a negative word by adding the prefixes un-, dis-, in-, im- or ir-. A few adjectives only exist in the negative form, for example insecure (the opposite would be confident, not secure!).

Adjectives ending in ‘-ful’ become ‘-less’ in the negative form. For example: careful/careless.

The prefix ‘over-’ means ‘too much’. It can be used to form negative personality adjectives, such as over-protective, and over-confident, over-sensitive.

The prefix ‘under-’ suggests not enough. This prefix can be used with a few personality adjectives, for example under-confident.

The following adjectives from the ‘positive’ list can be made into negative adjectives by adding a prefix.

un-	dis-	in-	im-	-less
unadventurous unaffectionate unambitious unenthusiastic unfriendly unhelpful	unimaginative unintelligent unkind unreliable unsociable unsympathetic untrustworthy	dishonest disloyal	inconsiderate insensitive	impatient impractical	thoughtless

5. Adjectives with confusing meanings

A few adjectives from our list have meanings that may be confusing. The word thoughtful means someone who thinks of others and is considerate to them. It is not connected with intelligence. The opposite word is thoughtless – someone whose actions show they do not think of others. For example: ‘Sue is very thoughtful. She always visits her elderly neighbour to check he is ok’.

The word trustworthy means someone who can be trusted; someone that you can rely on to do something. It does not mean someone who trusts other people. The word for someone who trusts other people is trusting.

The word funny means that the person makes us laugh. It can easily be confused with fun – someone who we enjoy spending time with. Funny can also mean ‘behaving in a strange way’. The two different meanings are shown by the context: He’s really funny! (He makes me laugh). He’s a bit funny sometimes. (He is a little strange sometimes.)

The word moody means that the person is often in a bad mood or changes moods quickly. A moody person can be difficult to spend time with because you cannot predict how they will respond to you.
 

1. Adventurous
   Someone who is adventurous enjoys adventure and takes risks.
2. Affectionate
   Someone who is affectionate shows their love for other people.
3. Ambitious
   A person who is ambitious wants to be successful in their career, studies, sport.
4. Brave
   A brave person wants to do difficult or challenging things and is not afraid.
5. Chatty
   Someone who is chatty enjoys talking to other people a lot.
6. Cheerful
   A cheerful person smiles a lot and is happy.
7. Confident
   Confident people feel sure about their own ability and present themselves well to other people.
8. Creative
   Someone who is creative is very good at designing or making things.
9. Determined
   A determined person makes a definite decision and does not give up.
10. Easy-going
    Someone who is easy-going is quite relaxed and accepts things as they are.

Personality adjectives, just like other adjectives, can be modified to make comparatives and superlatives, using ‘more’ and ‘the most’. So, we can say ‘He is more reliable than her’, or ‘She is the most adventurous person I have ever met!’

1. Enthusiastic
   Someone who is enthusiastic shows lots of interest in something and is very positive about it.
2. Frank
   Someone who is frank is honest and direct in what they say.
3. Friendly
   A friendly person always talks to other people and perhaps helps them too.
4. Funny
   Someone who is funny makes people laugh.
5. Generous
   A generous person is kind to other people, may give presents or lend money.
6. Hard-working
   Someone who is hard working always puts a lot of effort into their work.
7. Helpful
   A helpful person is always happy to help other people.
8. Honest
   An honest person tells the truth and never steals or cheats.
9. Imaginative
   An imaginative person has good ideas or is good at creating stories or artwork.
10. Intelligent
    Someone who is intelligent is good at learning. This person may think about things in a logical way.
11. Kind
    A kind person cares about other people and behaves positively towards them.
12. Loyal
    Someone who is loyal will always support his or her friends.
13. Meticulous
    A meticulous person pays careful attention to detail, probably has a tidy house and neat handwriting!

To use more than one adjective to describe someone, separate the adjectives with a comma or ‘and’. Use ‘but’ to separate contrasting adjectives (positive vs negative). For example, ‘She is a kind and generous friend’ or ‘She is very ambitious, but she can be stubborn sometimes’.

1. Modest
   Someone who is modest does not show off about his or her abilities or possessions.
2. Optimistic
   An optimistic person has a positive view of life and expects good things to happen.
3. Outgoing
   An outgoing person is very sociable.
4. Patient
   Someone who is patient does not get annoyed or frustrated easily and has time for other people.
5. Reliable
   A person who is reliable can always be trusted to do what is required.
6. Sensible
   A person who is sensible makes decisions based on reason/logic, does not take risks.
7. Sensitive
   A sensitive person is very aware of other people’s feelings, can be easily hurt emotionally
8. Sincere
   A sincere person is honest in their relationships with others and says what they think or feel.
9. Sociable
   Someone who is sociable loves chatting with other people.

You can modify a personality adjective by using an adverb such as: really, a little bit, very or extremely. For example, ‘Mary is really ambitious. I’d say she’s also an extremely determined person’.

1. Sympathetic
   Someone who is sympathetic understands other people’s problems very well.
2. Thoughtful
   Someone who is thoughtful always thinks of other people, remembers birthdays and sends a card!
3. Trustworthy
   A trustworthy person is someone you can rely on to be honest.

Positive personality adjectives: example sentences

• She often travels alone, to remote places. She is brave and adventurous.
• Michael is really good at putting his ideas into his artwork. He is an imaginative and creative
• Dave got 100% in his exam, but he didn’t tell me! He is both intelligent and modest!
• Sue seems very happy and relaxed. She is a cheerful, easy-going
• John has always stood by me as a friend. He is very loyal.
• Rob would never tell a lie; in fact, he is very open. He is honest and frank.
• They have six children, but they never get angry with them. They are both very patient.
• Toni says she will work hard to become a manager by 25. She is super ambitious!
• You have to be meticulous to be a proof-reader. You can’t miss any spelling mistakes!
• Dave is one of the most reliable people I have ever met. He never lets me down!
• My son is really helpful. He always tidies up and he often helps me wash the car.
• Jane is a sincere She really meant the lovely things she said at our wedding.

List of negative personality adjectives

1. Arrogant
   An arrogant person thinks they are very important and behaves in a overly proud way.
2. Big-headed
   Someone who is big-headed talks a lot about how good they are, this person is too proud.
3. Bossy
   A bossy person is always telling other people what to do.
4. Childish
   Someone who is childish is silly or behaves like a child when they should behave like an adult.
5. Clumsy
   A clumsy person knocks things over a lot and is not careful.
6. Cruel
   Someone who is cruel is extremely unkind to other people or animals.
7. Defensive
   Someone who is defensive behaves in a way that suggests they believe other people are criticising them.
8. Dishonest
   A dishonest person tells lies or tricks other people.
9. Fussy
   A fussy person wants everything to be done in a particular way, they are picky/choosy.
10. Grumpy
    Someone who is grumpy is easily annoyed, in a bad mood.
11. Gullible
    It is easy to trick someone who is gullible. This person believes something that most people would not believe, being naive
12. Impolite
    An impolite person is rude.

Be careful when using present simple and present continuous tenses with personality adjectives. There is a big difference between saying: John is rude (constant personality trait) vs. John is being rude (just his behaviour now, not his usual personality trait). E.g. ‘John is being rude today, but usually he is very polite’.

1. Inconsiderate
   Someone who is inconsiderate does not think about other people, quite selfish.
2. Indecisive
   An indecisive person finds it difficult to make decisions.
3. Inflexible
   Someone who is inflexible is unwilling to change their opinion or the way they do things.
4. Jealous
   A jealous person feels angry or unhappy because they wish they had something that somebody else has.
5. Lazy
   A lazy person does not work hard.
6. Mean
   Someone who is mean is unkind.
7. Moody
   A moody person is bad-tempered or has frequent mood changes.
8. Narrow-minded
   A narrow-minded person is not willing to listen to the ideas or opinions of others.
9. Nasty
   A nasty person is very unkind.
10. Pessimistic
    Someone who is pessimistic has a negative view of the future and expects bad things to happen.
11. Pretentious
    Someone who tries to look or sound more important or clever than they are.
12. Rebellious
    Someone who is rebellious does not follow the rules.
13. Rude
    A rude person is not polite or does not respect other people.
14. Quick-tempered
    Someone who is quick-tempered becomes angry very easily.
15. Self-centred
    A person who is self-centred only thinks about himself or herself.
16. Selfish
    Selfish people think only about themselves and not about other people.
17. Stubborn
    Someone who is stubborn does not easily change their mind.
18. Sulky
    If someone is sulky they show their bad mood by not speaking.
19. Tactless
    A tactless person does not show sensitivity to others in what they say, not diplomatic.
20. Unpleasant
    An unpleasant person is not nice.
21. Unreliable
    An unreliable person cannot be trusted or relied upon.
22. Insecure
    An insecure person does not have confidence in themselves or their relationship with other people.
23. Vain
    Someone who is vain is too concerned about their appearance or abilities.

Negative personality adjectives: example sentences

• Daisy has really changed since she was a little girl. I can’t say anything to her without her getting cross. She is quite moody and quick-tempered. Is she sulky? Yes, sometimes she stays in her room all day and doesn’t talk to any of the family.
• I think my teacher is quite bossy! She is always telling everyone what to do.
• Daniel is rather clumsy. He’s always dropping things in the kitchen or tripping over the chairs.
• Peter says it’s not fair that Sally got more money than him for his birthday. I think he’s really childish – he is forty years old!
• I think Julie is quite insecure. She can get defensive if we talk about her job. I think she is a bit too sensitive about it.
• Do you think Joe is vain? Yes! He is always looking in the mirror to check his hair!
• What a rebellious girl she is! She never follows the rules. She will get into trouble one day.
• His dad is turning into a grumpy old man! He always seems to be moody these days.
• I think Jane is a bit inconsiderate. She is always talking loudly on the phone in the office. She should think more about other people.
• Joe can be gullible at times. Yes, he believes everything you say without questioning it.
• Philip is so narrow-minded! Why do you say that? Well, I’ve tried to persuade him to eat food from different countries, but he just won’t try it.
• Sophie can be quite a jealous Sarah got a new car and Sophie looked really angry.
• Peter is rather inflexible. I asked him if he minded changing our holiday plans for next summer and he said we had to go to Italy.
• Are you indecisive? Well, it took me 20 minutes to decide what to wear tonight, so I guess I am!
• Simon is so fussy. He will only drink tea with a tiny bit of milk and it has to be in his favourite mug!

 
Personality adjectives: Exercises

Judith P.
— ESL Tutor.

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