Do you remember the time you tried to describe someone to a friend or family member but couldn’t quite find the right words? Maybe it was someone who you really liked or someone who made your life miserable. However, you struggled to depict their personality traits that affected you deeply.
If you want to avoid a similar situation in the future, check out this list of adjectives to describe a person.
Adjectives Are Good
Expressing yourself is important. Not only because your opinion matters (and it really does) but also because it is good for your mental health. However, without adjectives, it would be difficult to say how you feel about a person.
There are two types of adjectives we will talk about — positive adjectives and negative adjectives. Positive adjectives help you describe a good person in more detail and say what exactly about their character you admire. On the other hand, negative adjectives are descriptive words that you can use to talk about someone in a bad way.
So, let’s dive in and learn some words that will help you better express yourself both in conversation and writing.
Positive Adjectives to Describe a Person
You can use positive adjectives to bring out the best in others. For instance, a carefully chosen word can lift someone’s spirit and make their day. So, try using these 100+ positive adjectives to describe a person as often as possible.
| adaptable | amusing | compassionate |
| admirable | brave | conscientious |
| adorable | bright | considerate |
| adventurous | broad-minded | convivial |
| affable | calm | courageous |
| affectionate | careful | courteous |
| agreeable | captivating | creative |
| ambitious | charming | cute |
| amiable | classy | decisive |
| amicable | communicative | determined |
| diligent | fair-minded | good |
| diplomatic | faithful | gregarious |
| discreet | fascinating | hard-working |
| dynamic | fearless | helpful |
| easygoing | forceful | honest |
| emotional | frank | humorous |
| empathetic | friendly | imaginative |
| energetic | funny | impartial |
| enthusiastic | generous | independent |
| exuberant | gentle | intellectual |
| intelligent | neat | polite |
| interesting | nice | powerful |
| intuitive | optimistic | practical |
| inventive | passionate | pro-active |
| kind | patient | quick-witted |
| loving | persistent | quiet |
| lovable | pioneering | rational |
| loyal | philosophical | reliable |
| magnetic | placid | remarkable |
| modest | plucky | reserved |
| resourceful | sociable | unassuming |
| romantic | straightforward | understanding |
| self-confident | sympathetic | unique |
| self-disciplined | sweet | versatile |
| sensible | thoughtful | warmhearted |
| sensitive | tidy | willing |
| shy | tough | witty |
| sincere | trustworthy |
Without loving and encouraging words such as these, we would only be able to make generic statements that tell facts but nothing more. For this reason, here are some examples of how you can use positive adjectives in a sentence.
• Mark is tough. He can handle anything life throws at him.
• Susan is both patient and persistent. So, I believe she can achieve anything she sets her mind on.
• Tom is shy around strangers, but you’ll see how witty he is once you get to know him.
• I have the best husband ever. He is so romantic and passionate.
Negative Adjectives to Describe a Person
Unfortunately, life isn’t always positive, and sometimes we need to say something negative about a person. But while some adjectives on this list will be bad in any context, others might depend on the situation.
For example, saying that your boss is aggressive is a negative personality trait, while calling a boxer aggressive can be positive. Still, try to remember that using the words on the following list may hurt someone’s feelings, even though you speak the truth.
So, here are 100+ adjectives that will help you describe negative personality traits.
| abrasive | boring | contemptuous |
| aggressive | bossy | cowardly |
| aloof | callous | cruel |
| apathetic | cantankerous | cunning |
| arrogant | careless | cynical |
| bad-tempered | changeable | deceitful |
| belligerent | clinging | detached |
| big-headed | compulsive | dishonest |
| boastful | conceited | dogmatic |
| bone-idle | condescending | domineering |
| envious | gullible | inflexible |
| fickle | harsh | interfering |
| finicky | impatient | intolerant |
| flaky | impolite | irresponsible |
| flirtatious | impulsive | jealous |
| foolish | inconsiderate | judgemental |
| foolhardy | inconsistent | lazy |
| fussy | indecisive | Machiavellian |
| greedy | indiscreet | materialistic |
| grumpy | indolent | mean |
| miserly | overcritical | quarrelsome |
| moody | overemotional | quick-tempered |
| morose | parsimonious | resentful |
| narcissistic | patronizing | rude |
| narrow-minded | perverse | ruthless |
| nasty | pessimistic | sarcastic |
| naughty | pompous | secretive |
| nervous | possessive | selfish |
| obsessive | petty | self-centered |
| obstinate | pusillanimous | self-indulgent |
| silly | truculent | unreliable |
| sneaky | touchy | untidy |
| stingy | thoughtless | vulgar |
| stubborn | untrustworthy | vague |
| stupid | unforgiving | vain |
| superficial | unkind | vengeful |
| tactless | unpredictable | weak-willed |
| timid | unreliable |
While reading the list of positive adjectives probably made you smile, this second list might have made you think about sad, unpleasant, and unhappy situations and emotions. However, when you need to describe bad people or negative personality traits, this is how you can use adjectives from our list.
• Anna is so vain. Since she got promoted, she won’t even say hello to us anymore.
• John is very stubborn. He won’t change his opinion no matter what you say to him.
• I hate that my sister is so gullible. I’m afraid someone might use it against her.
• I’d be cautious around David if I were you. He is a dishonest person.
