Glossary of Adjectives for Describing People

Glossary of Adjectives for Describing People Hey, storytellers! When you want to tell a story about a family member or write fiction, the reader may need help imagining the characters in your story. The solution is to use descriptive vocabulary. Adjectives that describe people can help your reader quickly get a sense of your impressions of the people in your story. Here are 300 adjectives to help you write your masterpiece. By Marguerite Gérard http://www.arthermitage.org/Marguerite-Gerard/Artist-Painting-a-Portrait-of-a-Musician.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3754841 This glossary is best suited for narrative writing, but there are also field-related glossaries on the Virtual Writing Tutor blog. Glossary abandonedHaving been deserted or left. acceptedGenerally believed or recognized to be valid or correct. affectedInfluenced or touched by an external factor. affectionalCharacterized by emotion. Affective, emotive. Emotional of more than usual emotion. affectiveRelating to moods, feelings, and attitudes. afraidFeeling fear or anxiety; frightened. aggressiveReady or likely to attack or confront; characterized by or resulting from aggression. agitatedFeeling or appearing troubled or nervous. alienatedExperiencing or inducing feelings of isolation or estrangement. amazedGreatly surprised; astonished. amusedFinding something funny or entertaining. angryFeeling or showing strong annoyance, displeasure, or hostility; full of anger. anxiousFeeling or showing worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. apatheticShowing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern. ardentVery enthusiastic or passionate. arousedExcited by sexual thoughts. ashamedEmbarrassed or guilty because of ones actions, characteristics, or associations. ashenOf a persons face, very pale with shock, fear, or illness. astonishedGreatly surprised or impressed; amazed. aversionA strong dislike or disinclination. avoidanceThe action of keeping away from or not doing something. awedFilled with awe or wonder. awfulVery bad. berserkOut of control with anger or excitement; wild or frenzied. blanched(Of skin) white or pale from fear or lack of sunlight blaseUnimpressed with or indifferent to something because one has experienced or seen it so often before. bloodless(Of a revolution or conflict) without violence or killing. boredFeeling weary and impatient because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in ones current activity. brave Ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage. calmNot showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other strong emotions. chargedHaving an electric charge. chatty Someone who talks a lot. chillyUnfriendly; not acting warm or nice. clever Good at learning things. . cockyConfident; full of oneself; arrogant. coldUnfriendly; showing no emotion. cold-eyedCold in manner or appearance especially : coolly dispassionate cold-eyed analysis. comfortableFeeling easy and nice; feeling relaxed and safe. confidentFeeling or showing confidence in oneself or ones abilities or qualities. confused(Of a person) unable to think clearly; bewildered. courageousBrave; showing mental or spiritual strength. cowardly Someone who is afraid of things. . creepyScary; unpleasant. crimsonOf a rich deep red colour inclining to purple. criticalExpressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgements. deceitfulNot truthful; deliberately misleading. delightedGuilty of or involving deceit; deceiving or misleading others. depressedFlattened; pushed down. despairThe complete loss or absence of hope. despondentIn low spirits from loss of hope or courage. detestableDeserving intense dislike. devastateDestroy or ruin. disappointedSad or displeased because someone or something has failed to fulfil ones hopes or expectations. disapprovingExpressing an unfavourable opinion. discombobulatedTo be confused. disgustA feeling of revulsion or strong disapproval aroused by something unpleasant or offensive. disillusionedDisappointed in someone or something that one discovers to be less good than one had believed. dismayedCause (someone) to feel concern and distress. disregardedPay no attention to; ignore. disrespectfulShowing a lack of respect or courtesy; impolite. distantEmotionally withdrawn. disturbedHaving had the normal pattern or functioning disrupted. dominatingHave power and influence over. dubiousDoubtful; difficult to believe. eagerBeing anxious or overly excited. easy-going Someone who is easy to get along with. ecstaticJoyful; very happy. elatedMake (someone) ecstatically happy. elationGreat happiness and exhilaration. electricOf, worked by, charged with, or producing electricity. electrifyingArousing a sudden sense of great excitement; thrilling. embarrassedFeeling or showing embarrassment. embarrassmentA feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness. emotionalFull of feelings; moody. emptyContaining nothing; not filled or occupied. enamoredBe filled with love for. energeticHaving a strong ability to do work; very active. enragedVery angry; furious. enthusiasmIntense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval. enthusiasticShowing great excitement and readiness to do something; a great eagerness. enviousHaving spite and resentment because of another persons success. excitedVery enthusiastic and eager. exultationA feeling of triumphant elation or jubilation; rejoicing. faithfulHaving trust and belief. ferventHaving or displaying a passionate intensity. fervidVery passionate or emotional, showing fervour. festiveHappy, cheerful, jubilant. feverishOverheated without sweating; having a higher than normal body temperature. fieryConsisting of fire or burning strongly and brightly. fineOf high quality. flushed(Of a persons skin) red and hot, typically as the result of illness or strong emotion. franticPanicked excitement; a feeling that is excited, but in a fearful way. freneticFast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way. frenziedA state of being temporarily agitated or disorderly. friendly Someone who is nice to other people. . frightenedAfraid or anxious. frustratedFeeling or expressing distress and annoyance resulting from an inability to change or achieve something. fulfilledSatisfied or happy because of fully developing ones abilities or character. funny Used to describe someone who is amusing. furiousExtremely angry. furyWild or violent anger. galvanicRelating to or involving electric currents produced by chemical action. galvanisingShock or excite (someone) into taking action. galvanizingShock or excite (someone) into taking action. generous Someone who shares their time or things with others. gleefulFull of great happiness. gloomyUnhappy; doubtful and dark. goodFollowing the rules; having strong morals. griefIntense sorrow, especially caused by someones death. grievingFeel intense sorrow. gruffAbrupt or short in manner. grumpy Bad-tempered. guiltyCulpable of or responsible for a specified wrongdoing. happyJoyful. hard-working Someone who works very hard. hatefulFull of hate; full of extreme dislike or bad feelings. hecticFull of incessant or frantic activity. hesitantTentative, unsure, or slow in acting or speaking. hoarseWith a rough voice. honest Someone who is truthful and who doesnt cheat or steal. hopefulOptimistic; thinking that something good will happen. horribleCausing or likely to cause horror; shocking. hostileMean toward; having bad feelings or aggression toward something; being against or opposed to. hot-bloodedLustful; passionate. humiliatedMake (someone) feel ashamed and foolish by injuring their dignity and pride. hungryWanting something; having an urge for something. hurtHaving felt pain; having been injured. huskyHaving a low, deep, and rough sound, especially in a voice. hystericalRelated to a state of uncontrollable emotion; in a state of panic or mental breakdown. ignoredRefuse to take notice of or acknowledge; disregard intentionally. illSick. impassionedFilled with or showing great emotion. impassiveNot feeling or showing emotion. importantHaving high rank or status. inadequateNot enough. incandescentEmitting light as a result of being heated. indifferentNot caring one way or the other; having no feelings about something. indignantAngry about something unfair; acting upset or annoyed. inferiorLower in rank, status, or quality. infuriatedMake (someone) extremely angry and impatient. inquisitiveCurious; having a lot of questions. insecureNot firm or fixed; liable to give way or break. insignificantUnimportant; small as a percent of the whole. inspiredOf extraordinary quality, as if arising from some external creative impulse. interestedShowing curiosity or concern about something or someone; having a feeling of interest. intimateClosely acquainted; familiar. irritatedShowing or feeling slight anger; annoyed. isolatedFar away from other places, buildings, or people; remote. jealousEnvious; wishing you had something someone else has. jovialHappy, cheerful. jovialHappy,cheeful. joyfulFeeling, expressing, or causing great pleasure and happiness. jubilantFeeling or showing a joyful happiness. judgmentalOf or concerning the use of judgement. kindNice; thoughtful toward others; thinking about others feelings. kind Someone who behaves in a caring way towards other people. lachrymoseTearful or given to weeping. lazy An inactive person who avoids work. liberated(Of a person) free from social conventions or traditional ideas, especially with regard to sexual roles. listless(Of a person or their manner) lacking energy or enthusiasm. livelyFull of life, energetic, active. lividVery angry; furious. loathingA feeling of intense dislike or disgust; hatred. lonelySad because one has no friends or company. loud Someone who talks really loudly. lovingFeeling or showing love or great care. lucky Someone who often has good fortune. lyricPoem-like having a rhythmic pattern and frequently rhyme, often written as lyrical. lyricalHaving poetic quality suitable for use in song. madCrazy; not well mentally. marvelousCausing great wonder; extraordinary. matureFully developed physically; full-grown. mean Someone who is nasty and unkind. melancholyVery sad; depressed. moody used to describe someone who behaves differently every time you meet them. movingIn motion. nasty A mean, unpleasant person. neat A person who is very tidy. nervousEasily agitated or alarmed. nervous Someone who is easily startled by things. nice Someone who is friendly and kind. nonchalantCool and calm; without a care or bother. nonplussedConfusion; unable to understand. nonsubjectiveNot shaped by personal experience, views, opinion, or knowledge. objectiveNot influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts. obsessedPreoccupy or fill the mind of (someone) continually and to a troubling extent. openAllowing access, passage, or a view through an empty space; not closed or blocked. optimisticFeeling that good things will happen; feeling positive. overwhelmBury or drown beneath a huge mass of something, especially water. overwroughtBury or drown beneath a huge mass of something, especially water. panicSudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often causing wildly unthinking behaviour. peacefulQuiet and calm. pensiveIn deep thought; having serious thoughts that are sometimes sad. perfervidIntense and impassioned. perplexedCompletely baffled; very puzzled. phlegmaticHaving an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition. phlegmaticalHaving an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition. phreneticFast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way. playfulFull of fun; silly; enjoying things just for funs sake; not serious. polite Someone who has good manners. popular Somebody who is liked by many people. possessed(Of a person) completely controlled by an evil spirit. powerfulHaving great control or authority over others. powerlessUnable to do anything; without power; without the ability to act. protectiveIntended to protect someone or something. proudFeeling great about something you did. provocativeCausing anger or another strong reaction, especially deliberately. quiet Used to describe someone who doesnt talk very much. quizzicalIn a way that asks a question; in a way that shows wondering. rageViolent uncontrollable anger. rationalSensible, sane; based on logical thought. redDescribing objects of the red color. reddenedMake or become red. red-facedHaving a red face, especially as a result of embarrassment or shame. red-hotSo hot as to glow red. rejectedDismiss as inadequate, unacceptable, or faulty. remorsefulRegretful; feeling bad or guilty about something done in the past. repugnantExtremely distasteful; unacceptable. resentfulFeeling or expressing bitterness or indignation at having been treated unfairly. respectedAdmire (someone or something) deeply, as a result of their abilities, qualities, or achievements. responsiveAnswering; reacting to something. ridiculeThe subjection of someone or something to contemptuous and dismissive language or behaviour. rude Bad mannered, impolite. sarcasticActing with bitter humor often meant to be mean or hurtful; expressing feelings or saying things that are the opposite of what is meant in order to make a point. scaredFearful; frightened. selfish Used to describe someone who only thinks about themselves. sensationalCausing great public interest and excitement. sensitiveHaving tender emotions; subject to feeling emotions easily. sereneCalm; peaceful. serious Someone who is always very sensible (the opposite of silly). shockedCause (someone) to feel surprised and upset. shy Quiet and a little bit nervous around other people. sillyHaving or showing a lack of common sense or judgement; absurd and foolish. silly Someone who is a bit foolish, or who doesnt behave in a serious way. sizzlingVery exciting or passionate. skepticalNot easily convinced; having doubts or reservations. smart Someone who is very clever. somberDark or dull in colour or tone. sore(Of a part of ones body) painful or aching. sorrowA feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune suffered by oneself or others. sorrowfulFeeling sadness. soulfulExpressing or appearing to express deep and often sorrowful feeling. startledFeeling or showing sudden shock or alarm. starvingSuffering or dying from hunger. stirredMove a spoon or other implement round in (a liquid or other substance) in order to mix it thoroughly. stolidCalm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation. stressedExperiencing mental or emotional strain or tension. stunningExtremely impressive or attractive. stupid Someone who is not clever. submissiveMeek and obedient; giving in to the force of others. sulkyPouty; being in a sad, mopey mood; sad or angry and not wanting to talk about it. sulkyMorose, bad-tempered, and resentful; refusing to be cooperative or cheerful. superchargedSupply with extra energy or power. surpriseAn unexpected or astonishing event, fact, etc. suspiciousFeeling that something is wrong; not trusting. tediousTiring and boring. terrifiedCause to feel extreme fear. testyEasily irritated; impatient and somewhat bad-tempered. threatenedState ones intention to take hostile action against (someone) in retribution for something done or not done. thrillingCausing excitement and pleasure; exhilarating. tidy Someone who is very neat and well organised. timidShowing a lack of courage or confidence; easily frightened. tiredSleepy; needing sleep. torridVery hot and dry. touchedFeeling gratitude or sympathy; moved. triumphA great victory or achievement. troubledBeset by problems or difficulties. umbrageOffence or annoyance. unblinkingOf a person or their eyes) not blinking. undemonstrativeNot tending to express feelings, especially of affection, openly. unemotionalNot having or showing strong feelings. unhappySad, not happy. unlucky Someone who often suffers from bad fortune. . unrestrainedNot restrained or restricted. untidy Someone who is very messy. unwellIll. vainHaving or showing an excessively high opinion of ones appearance, abilities, or worth. vain Someone who is a bit too fond of their looks. vengefulFull of a desire to retaliate; feeling a strong need to get back at someone. victimizedSingle (someone) out for cruel or unjust treatment. vulnerableLiable to be harmed. wearyVery tired; exhausted; not feeling like dealing with a situation any more. whiteOf the colour of milk or fresh snow, due to the reflection of all visible rays of light; the opposite of black. wickedVery bad and mean-spirited. wildCrazy; out of control. wiseSomeone with a lot of common sense and knowledge. withdrawnNot wanting to communicate with other people. worked upVery angry, excited, or upset about something. worriedAnxious or troubled about actual or potential problems. worthlessHaving no real value or use. wrathfulFull of or characterized by intense anger. wrongNot correct or true; incorrect. zestfulCharacterized by great enthusiasm and energy. 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