Words to describe a person
Adjectives for what someone is like: character, habits and appearance. Each comes with a definition and examples so you can use it naturally.
Practice these words with flashcards →abrasiveHarsh and unpleasant in the way one treats or speaks to others.adeptHighly skilled or expert at a particular activity.adroitClever and skillful, especially in handling tricky situations or tasks.affableWarm, welcoming, and easy to talk to.affectionateShowing warmth, tenderness, and love.aloofDistant and unfriendly in manner; keeping oneself apart from others.altruisticCaring about the welfare of others rather than your own; unselfish and generous.amiablePleasant, warm, and good-natured.arrogantBehaving as if you are better or more important than other people, often with disdain for them.articulateAble to express thoughts clearly and effectively in words.assertiveConfident and direct in expressing opinions or claiming one's rights, without being aggressive.assiduousShowing steady, careful effort; diligent and persistent in one's work.astuteQuick to understand situations correctly and use them to advantage; shrewd.attentiveWatching, listening, or caring for something closely and carefully.bashfulUncomfortable around other people and preferring not to attract attention; shy.belligerentHostile and aggressive; eager to argue or fight.benevolentKind-hearted and wishing to do good for others.boisterousLoud, lively, and full of energy.boldBrave and confident, and willing to take risks.brilliantRemarkably smart, skilled, or impressive; shining with intelligence or quality.brusqueShort and blunt in manner, to the point of seeming rude.callousCold and uncaring about other people's pain or feelings.callowYoung and lacking experience, especially in a way that shows poor judgment.candidHonest and direct, even when the truth is uncomfortable.capriciousChanging suddenly and without warning, guided by whim rather than reason.carefreeFree from worries or responsibilities; relaxed and untroubled.cautiousActing carefully to avoid danger or mistakes.charismaticHaving a strong, attractive personality that makes people like, admire, or follow you.cheerfulClearly happy and full of positive spirit.chivalrousBehaving in a polite, brave, and honourable way, especially toward women.churlishRude and ungracious, especially when refusing to be polite or generous.circumspectCareful to think about every side of a situation before acting or speaking.clumsyMoving or handling things in an awkward way, without skill or grace.compassionateFeeling or showing kindness and a wish to help people who are suffering.competentHaving enough skill, knowledge, or qualifications to do something properly.complacentSo pleased with yourself or your success that you stop trying to improve or notice risks.conceitedToo proud of yourself and your own talents or looks; vain.condescendingTalking to or treating people as if they are less intelligent or less important than you.congenialSharing similar tastes, interests, or temperament; pleasant to be around.conscientiousTaking great care to do your work thoroughly and properly.considerateThinking about other people's feelings and needs, and careful not to upset or inconvenience them.cordialFriendly and warm in manner.courageousWilling to face danger or difficulty without giving in to fear; brave.courteousPolite and respectful toward other people; well-mannered.covetousFull of greedy longing, especially for things that belong to other people.cowardlyLacking bravery; ruled by fear.craftyClever at getting what you want, often by tricking people in a quiet, sly way.creativeGood at coming up with new and imaginative ideas.credulousToo willing to believe whatever you are told; easily fooled.cunningClever at getting what you want, often by tricking people in a sneaky way.curiousEager to learn or find things out; sometimes, too interested in other people's business.curtRudely short in what you say or how you respond, showing impatience or a lack of warmth.cynicalAssuming that people act only for their own benefit rather than from honest or kind motives.dapperDressed in a neat, smart, and fashionable way.dauntlessImpossible to frighten or discourage; fearless.debonairCharming, self-assured, and elegant in manner and appearance.defiantOpenly and boldly refusing to obey or back down.demureQuiet, modest, and a little shy in manner.dependableAble to be trusted to do what is needed or expected.detachedNot emotionally involved; calm and distant, keeping your feelings apart from a situation.determinedHaving made a firm decision to do something and not letting anything stop you.deviousUsing sneaky or dishonest methods instead of being open and truthful.devoutDeeply religious and faithful in following the practices of a religion.diffidentShy and lacking confidence in yourself or your abilities.diligentWorking hard with steady, careful attention.disciplinedShowing self-control and the ability to follow rules, plans, or routines.discreetCareful about what you say or do so as to protect privacy and avoid embarrassing anyone.disdainfulShowing scorn and a marked lack of concern for people seen as beneath one's notice.disheveledUntidy and messy, especially of someone's hair, clothes, or general appearance.dispassionateCalm and fair, without letting emotion or personal bias get in the way.docileQuiet and easy to control, teach, or lead; willing to do what one is told.dogmaticStating opinions in a forceful, superior way, as if they could never be wrong.dourSerious, unfriendly, and severe in manner or appearance.dynamicFull of movement, energy, or change; not staying the same.earnestMeaning what you say and treating things seriously, with no joking or pretending.ebullientFull of cheerful energy and excitement.eccentricBehaving in an unusual or strange way, often in a harmless or amusing manner.effervescentLively, cheerful, and overflowing with energy and enthusiasm.elegantGraceful and stylish in a simple, tasteful way, in appearance, dress, or manner.eloquentAble to express ideas in a smooth, powerful, and convincing way, in speech or writing.empatheticGood at sensing and sharing other people's feelings; understanding.energeticFull of energy and enthusiasm; lively and active.enigmaticMysterious and difficult to interpret or figure out.enterprisingHaving the energy and imagination to start new projects or find clever ways to succeed.eruditeHaving or showing deep knowledge gained from a lot of reading and study.evasiveAvoiding direct answers or unwilling to reveal information about oneself.expressiveShowing thoughts or feelings clearly and vividly.exuberantOverflowing with cheerful energy and enthusiasm.faithfulStaying loyal and devoted to a person, promise, or cause.fastidiousPaying extremely close attention to detail and wanting everything to be exactly right.fearlessFeeling or showing no fear; brave.fickleChanging opinions, loyalties, or interests often and without good reason; not dependable.flamboyantAttracting attention through bold, showy style or daring behavior.forcefulStrong and assertive; able to apply physical power or persuasive pressure.forthrightDirect and honest in saying what you think, even when it might not be welcome.frankHonest and direct in what you say, even when the truth may be unpleasant.frugalCareful not to waste money or resources; spending only what is needed.gallantBrave and determined, especially in a difficult situation.garrulousTalking too much, especially about unimportant things.generousHappy to give freely, especially money or help, and often more than expected.genialWarm, friendly, and pleasant in manner.genteelOverly polite and refined in manner, often in a way that seems artificial or old-fashioned.gentleKind, calm, and soft in manner; not rough, harsh, or strong.gracefulMoving in a smooth, elegant, and attractive way.graciousPolite, kind, and pleasant toward others.gregariousEnjoying being around other people; outgoing and sociable.gruffRough and unfriendly in voice or manner.gullibleToo ready to believe what others say, and therefore easy to trick.haggardLooking very tired, thin, and unwell, usually from worry, illness, or lack of sleep.haughtyBehaving as if you are better or more important than other people; proud and scornful.headstrongInsisting on doing things your own way, regardless of what others advise.honorableDeserving admiration and respect; morally upright.hospitableWarm, friendly, and generous toward visitors and guests.humbleNot boastful; having a modest opinion of your own importance.imaginativeFull of creativity; good at coming up with new and original ideas.impartialFair to everyone involved; not favoring one side over another.imperturbableStaying calm no matter what happens; impossible to fluster.impetuousActing suddenly on impulse and with force, without thinking things through.imposingLarge, impressive, and powerful in appearance, often making people feel small or respectful.impudentRude and disrespectful in a bold, shameless way.inarticulateUnable to express ideas or feelings clearly in words.indolentAvoiding work or effort by nature; habitually lazy.indomitableImpossible to defeat, discourage, or bring under control.industriousWorking hard and steadily; diligent.ineptLacking skill or ability; clumsy or incompetent at something.ingeniousVery clever and original; showing inventive skill.ingenuousInnocent and trusting; open and without cunning.inquisitiveCurious and keen to find things out.inscrutableImpossible to understand, read, or interpret.insightfulShowing a deep and clear understanding of something.insolentRude and disrespectful in words or behavior.intrepidBrave and adventurous; showing no fear.introspectiveInclined to examine your own thoughts and feelings; reflective about yourself.irascibleQuick to lose one's temper; easily made angry.irresoluteUnable to make up one's mind; hesitant about what to do.jadedTired, bored, or no longer excited because you have had too much of something.jauntyShowing a cheerful, confident, and energetic attitude.jovialFull of good humor and warmth toward others.keenVery eager or enthusiastic; also, quick and sharp in noticing things.laconicUsing very few words when speaking or writing, often in a dry or unemotional way.lenientNot harsh or strict; willing to tolerate mistakes or rule-breaking.litheSlender and flexible, moving with ease and grace.loquaciousFond of talking a lot; very chatty.magnanimousKind and forgiving toward others, especially a defeated rival or someone weaker.malevolentWanting to hurt others or wishing them harm.meekQuiet, gentle, and willing to do what others say without arguing.mellowRelaxed, calm, and easygoing.mercifulKind and forgiving toward someone you have the power to punish or hurt.mercilessWithout any kindness or pity; harsh and cruel.mercurialQuick to change in mood or behaviour; lively and unpredictable.methodicalDone carefully, step by step, following an orderly plan.meticulousExtremely careful about small details; precise and thorough.miserlyUnwilling to spend money; holding on to it too tightly, like a miser.modestNot showing off about your own success or abilities; humble.moroseGloomy and bad-tempered, saying little and looking unhappy.munificentExtremely generous with money or gifts.naiveToo trusting and inexperienced, with little understanding of how the world really works.negligentFailing to take proper care or give enough attention to something.nobleHaving good moral qualities, such as honesty, generosity, and courage, especially when helping others.nonchalantAppearing relaxed and unworried, as if nothing matters much.obdurateRefusing to change your behaviour or admit you are wrong, no matter what anyone says.obedientDoing what you are told by people in charge, without arguing.obsequiousToo eager to obey or please someone, in a way that seems insincere.observantQuick to notice things; watching carefully.obstinateSticking firmly to your own opinion or plan and refusing to change it.obtuseSlow to understand things, or acting as if you do not understand.pallidLacking color or brightness; looking pale and weak.passionateHaving or showing very strong feelings, especially enthusiasm, about something.perceptiveQuick to notice and understand things that others might miss.persistentContinuing firmly without giving up or going away.persuasiveSkilled at getting people to agree with you or do what you suggest.pettyCaring too much about small, unimportant things, often in a spiteful or mean way.petulantRude, irritable, and childishly bad-tempered.phlegmaticCalm and slow to react; hard to stir into excitement or strong emotion.piousDeeply religious and devoted to worship.placidQuiet and still; showing little motion or excitement.pompousBehaving in a grand, self-important way to seem more impressive than you are.pragmaticHandling problems in a sensible, realistic way rather than relying on theory or ideals.precociousDeveloping skills, interests, or maturity much earlier than is usual for a child.pretentiousTrying to appear more impressive, important, or cultured than one really is.prodigalSpending or giving something freely and wastefully; extravagant.prudentCareful and sensible, especially when planning ahead.pugnaciousQuick to argue or fight; aggressive by nature.punctualArriving or doing things exactly at the agreed time.quarrelsomeTending to argue or pick fights with people.querulousAlways complaining, often in an irritable or whining tone.rambunctiousFull of noisy, wild energy; hard to control.resplendentStrikingly beautiful and impressive, often because of rich colours or shine.reticentUnwilling to share your thoughts or talk about yourself.sagaciousWise and able to make sound judgments.scrupulousCareful to act honestly and fairly, and to do what is morally right.steadfastFirm and unchanging in purpose, loyalty, or belief.stingyReluctant to spend money or share things with others; not generous.taciturnQuiet by nature and tending to say very little.tenaciousHolding on firmly; refusing to give up or let go.thriftyCareful with money and avoiding waste.vivaciousFull of life and energy in a charming way.zealousFull of intense energy and passion for a cause.