People and character: vocabulary list

Words for how people think, act and carry themselves: honest, stubborn, shy, generous, wise. 138 words with meanings and example sentences.

Study these as flashcards

acumen noun level 2: the ability to make good judgments quickly. Her business acumen turned a small shop into a chain.
adamant adj level 2: refusing to change one's mind. He was adamant that the plan would not change.
affable adj level 2: friendly, kind and easy to talk to. The affable shopkeeper greeted every customer by name.
alacrity noun level 2: cheerful readiness to act. He accepted the invitation with alacrity.
aloof adj level 2: distant and not friendly. He remained aloof from the gossip around him.
altruistic adj level 2: caring about the welfare of others more than yourself. The altruistic volunteer gave up her weekends to help.
amenable adj level 2: willing to accept or be guided. She was amenable to changing the date.
aptitude noun level 2: a natural ability to do something well. She showed an aptitude for mathematics at a young age.
ascetic adj level 2: living simply, without comforts or luxury. The monk led an ascetic life of prayer and plain food.
aspire verb level 2: to have a strong desire to achieve something. Many students aspire to become doctors.
assiduous adj level 2: showing steady care and effort. Her assiduous work in the lab led to a breakthrough.
astute adj level 2: clever and quick to see how to gain an advantage. An astute investor saw the change coming.
audacious adj level 2: willing to take bold risks. The audacious plan had never been tried before.
austere adj level 2: plain and severe, without decoration or comfort. The room was austere: a bed, a table and nothing else.
avarice noun level 2: extreme greed for wealth. The miser's avarice left him with money but no friends.
avid adj level 2: showing great enthusiasm for something. He is an avid reader of history books.
belligerent adj level 2: hostile and ready to fight. The belligerent customer shouted at the staff.
benevolent adj level 2: kind and generous. The benevolent donor paid for the new library.
blithe adj level 2: cheerful and carefree, sometimes thoughtlessly so. She gave a blithe wave and strolled into the storm.
bombastic adj level 2: using grand, empty words to impress. The mayor's bombastic speech said very little.
boorish adj level 2: rude and rough in manner. His boorish behavior embarrassed the whole family.
brazen adj level 2: bold and without shame. It was a brazen lie, told with a straight face.
brusque adj level 2: short and abrupt in speech or manner. The clerk gave a brusque reply and turned away.
callous adj level 2: showing no concern for other people's feelings. It was callous to laugh at his mistake.
candid adj level 1: frank and honest, even when the truth is uncomfortable. She gave a candid answer about why the project had failed.
candor noun level 2: the quality of being open and honest. She spoke with refreshing candor about her failures.
capricious adj level 2: changing suddenly and without a clear reason. The capricious weather ruined every picnic plan.
cautious adj level 1: careful to avoid danger or mistakes. He was cautious on the icy path and tested each step.
charlatan noun level 2: a person who pretends to have skill or knowledge. The so-called healer turned out to be a charlatan.
circumspect adj level 2: careful to consider risks before acting. She was circumspect about sharing her plans.
complacent adj level 2: satisfied with how things are, and so not trying harder. Winning twice made the team complacent.
compliant adj level 2: willing to follow rules or requests. The compliant child tidied the room without a fuss.
contentious adj level 2: likely to cause disagreement. The contentious issue split the committee.
cordial adj level 2: warm and friendly. The hosts gave us a cordial welcome.
credulous adj level 2: too ready to believe things. Credulous shoppers believed the miracle claims on the label.
decadent adj level 2: marked by indulgence and moral decline. The party was a decadent affair of rich food and wine.
decorum noun level 2: polite and proper behavior. The students kept perfect decorum during the ceremony.
despot noun level 2: a ruler who holds absolute power and uses it cruelly. The despot silenced anyone who disagreed with him.
devout adj level 2: deeply committed to religious faith. The devout pilgrim walked for many days.
diffident adj level 2: lacking confidence in oneself; shy. The diffident student rarely raised a hand.
diligent adj level 2: showing steady and careful effort. A diligent student reviews her notes each night.
discreet adj level 2: careful not to attract attention or cause offense. Please be discreet about the surprise party.
docile adj level 2: easy to teach, manage or control. The docile horse let the children climb on its back.
dogmatic adj level 2: insisting that your own beliefs are the only correct ones. A dogmatic leader refuses to hear other views.
eminent adj level 2: famous and respected in a field. An eminent scientist opened the new laboratory.
erudite adj level 2: having or showing great knowledge from study. The erudite professor could quote from dozens of books.
fallible adj level 2: capable of making mistakes. Even experts are fallible.
fanatical adj level 2: filled with extreme and uncritical enthusiasm. He was fanatical about keeping his lawn perfect.
fastidious adj level 2: very careful about detail and cleanliness. A fastidious cook, he measured every spoonful.
fatuous adj level 2: silly and pointless. The fatuous question wasted everyone's time.
fickle adj level 2: changing often, especially in loyalty or affection. The fickle weather ruined our plans.
fortitude noun level 2: strength of mind in facing pain or difficulty. She bore her illness with great fortitude.
frugal adj level 2: careful about spending money. Their frugal habits let them save for a house.
garrulous adj level 2: talking a lot, especially about unimportant things. The garrulous neighbour could talk for an hour about the weather.
genial adj level 2: friendly and cheerful. The genial host kept the conversation going.
gregarious adj level 2: enjoying the company of other people. A gregarious child, she made friends within minutes.
guile noun level 2: clever and sly skill at tricking others. The fox in the story used guile to escape.
hapless adj level 2: unlucky and unfortunate. The hapless traveler missed every train that day.
haughty adj level 2: arrogantly proud and looking down on others. The haughty waiter ignored our questions.
hegemony noun level 2: leadership or control by one group over others. The empire kept its hegemony over the region for a century.
humility noun level 2: a modest view of one's own importance. The champion showed great humility in victory.
iconoclast noun level 2: a person who attacks widely held beliefs. The iconoclast mocked traditions others held sacred.
impetuous adj level 2: acting quickly without thinking. His impetuous decision to quit left him with no job.
implacable adj level 2: impossible to calm or change. The implacable storm battered the coast all night.
impudent adj level 2: rudely disrespectful. The impudent boy stuck out his tongue.
inane adj level 2: silly and without meaning. He asked an inane question that had already been answered.
indolent adj level 2: unwilling to work; lazy. The indolent cat slept through the whole afternoon.
infamous adj level 2: well known for something bad. The infamous pirate terrorized the coast.
ingenious adj level 2: clever, original and inventive. She found an ingenious way to fix the leak.
ingenuous adj level 2: innocent and open; lacking cunning. Her ingenuous question made the adults smile.
insular adj level 2: ignorant of or uninterested in other cultures or ideas. The insular town rarely welcomed strangers.
integrity noun level 2: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. The judge was known for her integrity.
intractable adj level 2: hard to control or deal with. The intractable problem baffled the engineers.
intransigent adj level 2: refusing to change an opinion or agree. Intransigent on both sides, they never reached a deal.
intrepid adj level 2: fearless and adventurous. The intrepid explorer crossed the desert alone.
inveterate adj level 2: having a long-standing habit that is unlikely to change. He is an inveterate liar.
itinerant adj level 2: traveling from place to place. An itinerant preacher visited the villages each spring.
judicious adj level 2: showing good judgment. A judicious use of salt makes the soup taste better.
languid adj level 2: slow and relaxed, without energy. They spent a languid afternoon by the pool.
lethargic adj level 2: feeling sluggish and without energy. The heat left everyone lethargic.
loquacious adj level 2: very talkative. The loquacious guide never stopped talking.
magnanimous adj level 2: generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival. The winner was magnanimous and praised her opponent.
malevolent adj level 2: wishing harm to others. The villain gave the hero a malevolent smile.
maverick noun level 2: an independent person who does not follow the group. The maverick designer ignored every fashion rule.
mendacious adj level 2: not telling the truth. The mendacious witness was caught in several lies.
mercurial adj level 2: changing mood quickly and unpredictably. The mercurial star was cheerful one minute and furious the next.
meticulous adj level 2: showing great attention to detail. The meticulous editor caught every typo.
misanthrope noun level 2: a person who dislikes and avoids other people. The misanthrope lived alone at the end of a long road.
munificent adj level 2: very generous. A munificent donor paid for the new library wing.
nefarious adj level 2: wicked or criminal. The villain's nefarious plot was finally exposed.
nonchalant adj level 2: calm and not showing worry. She gave a nonchalant shrug and walked on.
obdurate adj level 2: stubbornly refusing to change one's mind. The obdurate council refused every compromise.
obsequious adj level 2: too eager to please or obey. The obsequious assistant agreed with everything the boss said.
officious adj level 2: too eager to give orders or advice. The officious guard stopped everyone at the gate.
pariah noun level 2: a person rejected by society. After the scandal he became a pariah in town.
parsimonious adj level 2: unwilling to spend money; very stingy. The parsimonious owner refused to heat the office.
pedantic adj level 2: overly concerned with small details and rules. A pedantic editor corrected the font size in a joke.
perfidious adj level 2: betraying trust; disloyal. The perfidious friend sold her secrets to a rival.
perspicacious adj level 2: quick to notice and understand things. A perspicacious reader spotted the clue on page one.
pious adj level 2: showing deep respect for religion. The pious villagers attended services every day.
precipitate adj level 2: done suddenly and without enough thought. The precipitate sale cost them a lot of money.
precocious adj level 2: having developed skills earlier than usual. The precocious child could read at age three.
presumptuous adj level 2: too bold and confident in an impolite way. It was presumptuous of him to sit at the head of the table.
probity noun level 2: strong moral principles; honesty. The judge was known for her probity.
prodigal adj level 2: spending money or resources recklessly. The prodigal heir spent the fortune in a year.
profligate adj level 2: recklessly extravagant. The profligate heir spent the fortune in two years.
prudent adj level 2: showing good judgement and care about the future. It is prudent to save some money each month.
pugnacious adj level 2: always ready for a quarrel or a scrap. The pugnacious customer argued with everyone in the shop.
querulous adj level 2: complaining in a whining way. The querulous guest found fault with everything.
quixotic adj level 2: extremely idealistic and unrealistic. The quixotic plan to end all traffic by next year failed.
recalcitrant adj level 2: stubbornly resisting authority or control. The recalcitrant mule refused to move.
reclusive adj level 2: avoiding other people; living alone. The reclusive author rarely gave interviews.
reluctant adj level 1: not willing; hesitant. He was reluctant to speak in front of the whole school.
reticent adj level 2: unwilling to share thoughts or feelings. He was reticent about his past.
sagacious adj level 2: having sound judgement; wise. A sagacious advisor warned them about the risks.
scrupulous adj level 2: careful to do what is right and avoid mistakes. The scrupulous clerk checked every figure twice.
servile adj level 2: too eager to serve or obey others. The servile clerk agreed with every word the boss said.
shrewd adj level 2: clever and sharp in judging a situation. A shrewd trader, she never paid full price.
solicitous adj level 2: showing careful concern for someone. The solicitous nurse checked on every patient twice.
staunch adj level 2: loyal and firm in support. She was a staunch supporter of the local team.
steadfast adj level 2: firmly loyal or fixed in purpose. They remained steadfast in the face of danger.
supercilious adj level 2: behaving as if one is better than others. The waiter gave a supercilious sniff.
sycophant noun level 2: a person who flatters the powerful for advantage. The king kept a sycophant at every door.
taciturn adj level 2: saying very little. The taciturn farmer answered only in single words.
temerity noun level 2: excessive boldness. He had the temerity to ask for a second helping.
tenacious adj level 2: holding firmly to a goal; determined. A tenacious reporter, she chased the story for months.
timorous adj level 2: showing fear; timid. The timorous puppy hid behind the sofa.
torpid adj level 2: mentally or physically inactive; sluggish. The heat left everyone torpid and silent.
urbane adj level 2: polite, smooth and well-mannered. The urbane host greeted every guest by name.
venal adj level 2: willing to be bribed; corrupt. The venal official took money to approve the plans.
verbose adj level 2: using more words than needed. The verbose report could have been half as long.
vigilant adj level 2: keeping careful watch for danger. The guards stayed vigilant all night.
vindictive adj level 2: wanting revenge. The vindictive neighbor never forgot a quarrel.
virtuous adj level 2: having high moral standards. The virtuous judge refused every bribe.
vivacious adj level 2: lively and attractive in personality. The vivacious host kept the party buzzing.
wary adj level 2: careful about possible danger. Be wary of emails that ask for your password.
whimsical adj level 2: playfully odd or unusual. The garden had a whimsical collection of painted gnomes.
wily adj level 2: skilled at getting what one wants through cleverness. The wily fox outsmarted the hounds.

Other topics: Feelings and attitudes · Speaking, writing and arguing · Thinking and judging · Change, time and action · Size, amount and kind · Science and research · Society, work and rules

Words to enjoy and learn from. These are original lists, and we do not claim any word appears on any particular test.