Personal Traits · C1 English Vocabulary List

an obnoxious and overly talkative person who speaks loudly and often without restraint

"He's such a loudmouth."

"He is a loudmouth who always talks excessively in every social situation"

having a distrustful or negative outlook, often believing that people are motivated by self-interest

"He has a cynical view of politics."

"His cynical attitude about love made him doubt that true romance could ever exist in real life."

crazy or behaving in a foolish or irrational way

"That idea is loony."

"The loony old man claimed that aliens had visited his backyard and he showed the neighbors strange marks on the grass."

giving someone or something too much thought or attention in an unusual way

"He is obsessive."

"Her obsessive need for cleanliness meant that she cleaned her house every single day even when it was already spotless."

continuing to do something despite facing criticism or difficulties

"She is persistent."

"The persistent salesman called me every day for two months until I finally agreed to buy his product just to make him stop."

trying hard to achieve something in a rude way

"The salesman is pushy."

"The pushy salesman followed me around the store and kept asking me to buy things that I did not want."

(of a person) resistant to authority or control, often challenging established norms or rules

"The teenager is rebellious."

"The rebellious teenager dyed her hair bright purple and got a nose piercing without asking her parents for permission first."

(of a person) having a tendency to hide feelings, thoughts, etc.

"She is secretive."

"The secretive government agency refused to release any information about the project and journalists tried to uncover the truth for years."

lacking confidence or courage

"The child is timid."

"The timid child hid behind his mother when strangers approached because he was afraid of meeting new people."

behaving in an immoral or evil manner, often causing harm or distress to others

"The character is villainous."

"The villainous character in the movie had a black cape and a evil laugh that scared the children."

behaving in a manner that shows one's high moral standards

"She is principled."

"The principled politician refused to accept bribes from corporations even though they offered him large sums of money."

famous and admired by many people

"The doctor is renowned."

"The renowned chef opened a new restaurant in the city and food critics from all over the world came to review it."

making efforts and able to work hard without needing to be forced

"He is self-motivated."

"The self-motivated employee did not need anyone to tell her what to do because she always took initiative on her own."

careful not to make anyone upset or annoyed

"She is tactful."

"The tactful manager found a polite way to tell the employee that his performance needed to improve without hurting his feelings."

(of a person) telling the truth without deceit or falsehood

"He is truthful."

"The truthful witness told the jury exactly what she had seen and her honest testimony helped convict the guilty defendant."

violent and very unkind

"The dog is vicious."

"The vicious dog bit the mailman and the owner was forced to keep the animal locked inside the house at all times."

behaving in a way that is unnecessarily risky or very stupid

"His plan is foolhardy."

"The foolhardy teenager decided to climb the mountain alone without any equipment and he had to be rescued by helicopter."

(of a person) unwilling to talk to other people or participate in social events

"The child is withdrawn."

"The withdrawn student rarely spoke in class and preferred to sit alone in the corner reading books during lunch break."

a facial expression that does not reveal a person's feelings or thoughts

"He kept his poker face."

"He kept a perfect poker face even though he held the winning hand in the tournament."

lacking experience and wisdom due to being young

"She is naive."

"The naive young woman believed everything the charming stranger told her and she was shocked when he disappeared with all of her savings."

unfriendly or aggressive toward others

"The atmosphere felt hostile."

"The crowd was hostile and shouted insults at the speaker throughout his entire presentation."

expressing or having qualities such as honesty, courage, thoughtfulness, etc. that deserves admiration

"He has a noble heart."

"The noble knight sacrificed his own life to save the village from the dragon and the people built a statue in his honor to remember his bravery."

intending to cause harm or distress to others

"She spread malicious rumors."

"The malicious rumor spread quickly through the school and hurt the girl's reputation badly."

lacking a deep understanding of important or serious matters

"His knowledge is superficial."

"His understanding of the complex political situation was rather superficial, focusing only on the most obvious aspects."

doubtful about the honesty of what someone has done and having no trust in them

"The man looks suspicious."

"The suspicious neighbor peeked through her curtains every time someone walked past her house on the street."

taking great pride in one's abilities, appearance, etc.

"She is very vain."

"The vain woman spent hours looking at herself in the mirror and she took hundreds of selfies every day."

(of a young person or child) able to behave reasonably and responsibly, like an adult

"She is a mature child."

"The mature teenager demonstrated remarkable composure and responsibility during the stressful family situation."

characterized by straightforwardness

"Her answer was plain."

"Her plain communication style, while sometimes blunt, ensured everyone understood the critical project requirements."

well-known or easily recognizable due to importance, influence, or distinct features

"He is a prominent figure."

"The prominent scientist was invited to speak at the international conference about climate change and its effects on coastal cities."

(of a person) avoiding emotions and taking logic into account when making decisions

"He is rational."

"She tried to make a rational decision by listing all the pros and cons before choosing which job offer to accept."

having qualities that make it easy for people to connect with or understand

"The character is relatable."

"The main character in the novel is relatable because she struggles with the same problems that many young people face today."

fully committed and loyal to a task, cause, or purpose

"She is dedicated."

"The dedicated teacher stayed after school every day to help her students who were struggling with math and reading."

behaving in a way that shows the lack of pride or sense of superiority over others

"He is humble."

"The humble millionaire lived in a small house and drove an old car because he did not believe that wealth should change who he was as a person."

(of a person or their behavior) direct and honest

"He is straightforward."

"His straightforward approach to negotiations meant he clearly stated his intentions from the very beginning."

thinking deeply about oneself and one's experiences, often resulting in new understandings or realizations

"He bought me a thoughtful gift."

"He bought her a thoughtful gift that showed he had been paying attention to her interests and hobbies throughout their time together as friends."

showing respect to what other people say or do even when one disagrees with them

"We must be tolerant of others."

"We must be tolerant of others even when their beliefs are different from our own."

someone who gives information about other people and their crimes or wrongdoings to the police or authorities

"He was a rat."

"The informant, acting as a rat, provided crucial evidence that led to the dismantling of the criminal organization."