Whether you are writing a short story, describing someone you just met, or gossiping about your favorite actor, it is helpful to have an arsenal of descriptive adjectives at your disposal. Adjectives are words that modify nouns and pronouns. You are no doubt familiar with some of the common adjectives used to describe people, like nice or pretty. But there are many options out there that are not only more specific but also a lot more interesting (without being offensive). You can spice up your language for portraying people with some of the adjectives for personality and appearance below.
🧠Pro tip: What is a descriptive adjective?
Adjectives come in many different shapes and sizes, but many of them have something in common: they are used to describe people, places, and things. There are many types of adjectives, but descriptive adjectives are the ones you need when you want to describe something. Learn more with the article What Are Descriptive Adjectives And How Do You Use Them?
Personality adjectives
One way to describe a person would be using personality traits. How does the person act and behave? You might consider one of these intriguing words:Â (Click on each term for more adjectives.)
whimsical: capricious; erratic; unpredictable
droll: amusing in an odd way; whimsically humorous; waggish
sardonic: characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; sneering; cynical
luminous: brilliant intellectually; enlightened or enlightening, as a writer or writer’s works
kooky: eccentric, strange, or foolish
gregarious: fond of the company of others; sociable
Other personality adjectives
- argumentative
- charismatic
- clumsy
- cynical
- defensive
- dependable
- diplomatic
- enthusiastic
- fussy
- gullible
- happy-go-lucky
- meticulous
- modest
- narrow-minded
- open-minded
- practical
- sociable
- vain
Appearance adjectives
What does a person look like? Sure, someone can be tall, muscular, or slim, but what are some more special descriptive adjectives? Take a look at these options:
mustachioed: having a mustache, especially when bushy or elaborately shaped
hirsute: hairy, shaggy
bespectacled: wearing eyeglasses
pigeon-toed: having the toes or feet turned inward
flamboyant: strikingly bold or brilliant, showy
spartan: simple, frugal, austere
beguiling: intriguing; having the power to charm or divert the attention
Other appearance adjectives
- beefy
- chic
- clean-shaven
- curvy
- elegant
- frail
- glamorous
- lanky
- petite
- polished
- stocky
- stunning
- tanned
- vivacious
- wiry
Still on the lookout for even more descriptive adjectives for people? You can find more here in our slideshow on 47 Positive Words to Describe People.Â
