Describing people accurately and vividly is an essential skill in English. Expanding your vocabulary with various adjectives and descriptive words can help you communicate more effectively and paint clearer pictures in your conversations.
Table of Contents
Adjectives and Words to Positively Describe a Person
Kind
“Kind” means having a friendly, generous, and considerate nature. It is often used to describe someone who shows concern and compassion for others.
Example sentences with “Kind”:
- “She is always kind to everyone she meets.”
- “His kind words cheered me up.”
Generous
“Generous” means willing to give more of something, especially money or time, than is strictly necessary or expected.
Example sentences with “Generous”:
- “He was very generous with his time and resources.”
- “She made a generous donation to the charity.”
Intelligent
“Intelligent” means having or showing intelligence, especially of a high level. It describes someone who is very smart and quick to understand things.
Example sentences with “Intelligent”:
- “She is one of the most intelligent students in her class.”
- “His intelligent remarks impressed everyone.”
Brave
“Brave” means ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage.
Example sentences with “Brave”:
- “The brave firefighter rescued the child from the burning building.”
- “She made a brave decision to stand up for her beliefs.”
Creative
“Creative” means having the ability to produce original and unusual ideas, or to make something new or imaginative.
Example sentences with “Creative”:
- “He is a creative artist who always comes up with unique designs.”
- “Her creative solutions to the problem were impressive.”
Humble
“Humble” means having or showing a modest or low estimate of one’s own importance.
Example sentences with “Humble”:
- “Despite his success, he remains humble.”
- “She gave a humble apology for her mistake.”
Ambitious
“Ambitious” means having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed.
Example sentences with “Ambitious”:
- “She is very ambitious and always sets high goals for herself.”
- “His ambitious plans for the future are inspiring.”
Compassionate
“Compassionate” means feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others.
Example sentences with “Compassionate”:
- “The compassionate nurse took great care of her patients.”
- “He is known for his compassionate nature.”
Diligent
“Diligent” means having or showing care and conscientiousness in one’s work or duties.
Example sentences with “Diligent”:
- “She is a diligent student who always does her homework on time.”
- “His diligent efforts led to the project’s success.”
Eloquent
“Eloquent” means fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing.
Example sentences with “Eloquent”:
- “The speaker gave an eloquent speech that moved the audience.”
- “Her eloquent writing style captivates readers.”
Adjectives and Words to Negatively Describe a Person
Arrogant
“Arrogant” means having an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or abilities.
Example sentences with “Arrogant”:
- “His arrogant attitude made him unpopular among his peers.”
- “She was so arrogant that she refused to listen to anyone else’s opinion.”
Lazy
“Lazy” means unwilling to work or use energy.
Example sentences with “Lazy”:
- “He is too lazy to clean his room.”
- “Her lazy approach to her studies resulted in poor grades.”
Rude
“Rude” means offensively impolite or ill-mannered.
Example sentences with “Rude”:
- “The rude customer insulted the waiter.”
- “She was shocked by his rude behavior.”
Selfish
“Selfish” means lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one’s own personal profit or pleasure.
Example sentences with “Selfish”:
- “His selfish actions hurt those around him.”
- “She was too selfish to share her toys with her siblings.”
Cruel
“Cruel” means willfully causing pain or suffering to others, or feeling no concern about it.
Example sentences with “Cruel”:
- “The cruel man mistreated his pets.”
- “Her cruel remarks made him cry.”
Jealous
“Jealous” means feeling or showing envy of someone or their achievements and advantages.
Example sentences with “Jealous”:
- “He was jealous of his friend’s success.”
- “She felt jealous when she saw her ex with someone new.”
Inconsiderate
“Inconsiderate” means thoughtlessly causing hurt or inconvenience to others.
Example sentences with “Inconsiderate”:
- “His inconsiderate behavior annoyed everyone at the party.”
- “She was inconsiderate of others’ feelings.”
Dishonest
“Dishonest” means behaving or prone to behave in an untrustworthy or fraudulent way.
Example sentences with “Dishonest”:
- “The dishonest employee was caught stealing.”
- “She realized he had been dishonest about his intentions.”
Impatient
“Impatient” means having or showing a tendency to be quickly irritated or provoked.
Example sentences with “Impatient”:
- “He became impatient while waiting in line.”
- “She was impatient with her students’ progress.”
Pessimistic
“Pessimistic” means tending to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen.
Example sentences with “Pessimistic”:
- “His pessimistic outlook on life made him unhappy.”
- “She was pessimistic about the project’s chances of success.”
Adjectives and Words to Describe a Person’s Appearance
Handsome
“Handsome” means (typically of a man) good-looking.
Example sentences with “Handsome”:
- “He is a handsome young man.”
- “The actor is known for his handsome features.”
Gorgeous
“Gorgeous” means beautiful; very attractive.
Example sentences with “Gorgeous”:
- “She looked gorgeous in her evening gown.”
- “The sunset was absolutely gorgeous.”
Slim
“Slim” means gracefully thin; slender.
Example sentences with “Slim”:
- “She has a slim figure.”
- “The dress accentuated her slim waist.”
Muscular
“Muscular” means having well-developed muscles.
Example sentences with “Muscular”:
- “He has a muscular build from years of working out.”
- “The athlete’s muscular physique was impressive.”
Tall
“Tall” means of great or more than average height.
Example sentences with “Tall”:
- “He is the tallest student in his class.”
- “The building is so tall it touches the clouds.”
Short
“Short” means of small height; not tall.
Example sentences with “Short”:
- “She is shorter than her siblings.”
- “The desk was too short for him.”
Curvy
“Curvy” means having curves; having a well-shaped body with noticeable curves.
Example sentences with “Curvy”:
- “She has a curvy figure.”
- “The dress fit her curvy shape perfectly.”
Pale
“Pale” means light in color or having less color than usual, often due to illness.
Example sentences with “Pale”:
- “Her face turned pale with fear.”
- “He looked pale after being sick for a week.”
Tan
“Tan” means having a brown skin color as a result of exposure to the sun.
Example sentences with “Tan”:
- “She has a beautiful tan from her vacation.”
- “His skin was tanned from working outdoors.”
Wrinkled
“Wrinkled” means having lines or folds, especially due to aging or prolonged use.
Example sentences with “Wrinkled”:
- “His wrinkled face showed years of wisdom.”
- “The old book had wrinkled pages.”
Adjectives and Words to Describe a Person’s Personality
Friendly
“Friendly” means kind and pleasant.
Example sentences with “Friendly”:
- “She has a friendly smile that puts everyone at ease.”
- “He is very friendly and makes friends easily.”
Shy
“Shy” means being reserved or having or showing nervousness or timidity in the company of other people.
Example sentences with “Shy”:
- “He is shy around new people.”
- “She gave him a shy smile.”
Outgoing
“Outgoing” means sociable; eager to mix socially with others.
Example sentences with “Outgoing”:
- “She is very outgoing and loves to meet new people.”
- “His outgoing personality makes him popular at parties.”
Confident
“Confident” means feeling or showing confidence in oneself; self-assured.
Example sentences with “Confident”:
- “He is confident in his abilities.”
- “She walked into the room with a confident stride.”
Moody
“Moody” means (of a person) given to unpredictable changes of mood, especially sudden bouts of gloominess or sullenness.
Example sentences with “Moody”:
- “He can be moody and difficult to predict.”
- “She was feeling moody after the argument.”
Cheerful
“Cheerful” means noticeably happy and optimistic.
Example sentences with “Cheerful”:
- “She has a cheerful attitude that brightens up the room.”
- “He greeted everyone with a cheerful smile.”
Honest
“Honest” means free of deceit; truthful and sincere.
Example sentences with “Honest”:
- “She is known for being honest and trustworthy.”
- “He gave an honest account of what happened.”
Loyal
“Loyal” means giving or showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution.
Example sentences with “Loyal”:
- “He is a loyal friend who always stands by me.”
- “Her loyal support was crucial during tough times.”
Adventurous
“Adventurous” means willing to take risks or to try out new methods, ideas, or experiences.
Example sentences with “Adventurous”:
- “She is adventurous and loves to travel to new places.”
- “His adventurous spirit led him to many exciting experiences.”
Sensitive
“Sensitive” means having or displaying a quick and delicate appreciation of others’ feelings.
Example sentences with “Sensitive”:
- “He is sensitive to the needs of others.”
- “She is a sensitive person who gets hurt easily.”
Expanding your vocabulary with these adjectives and descriptive words will help you describe people more vividly and precisely. Practice using these alternatives in your daily conversations. Sign up for the Learn English Every Day newsletter to receive more tips and resources to enhance your English learning journey.
