Lately, I have been having a little trouble making my characters unique and memorable. When I sit to describe them, I can tell you what they look like, but I'm not the best at pulling out what's inside them.
I've been searching for a better way to communicate to the audience who someone is on the page, so that the reader can engage quicker and the actors understand as well.
That led me to create this list of over 300 character descriptive words, or adjectives, that I think can bolster what you have on the page already.
Let's dive in.
Character Description Words
The Stark family in Game of ThronesThe Stark family in 'Game of Thrones'
HBOWhen someone is picking up your script for a cold read, you want them to immediately understand the people in each scene.
Now, a lot of that comes through their actions. But you can use these words to color our perception of these people and get us in the right mood to see their actions in the right way.
Positive Traits
These words describe admirable or desirable qualities.
Kind, Compassionate, and Generous
- Affectionate
- Altruistic
- Benevolent
- Benign
- Charitable
- Clement
- Considerate
- Empathetic
- Gentle
- Gracious
- Humane
- Kind-hearted
- Lenient
- Magnanimous
- Nurturing
- Philanthropic
- Sympathetic
- Tender-hearted
- Thoughtful
- Tolerant
Confident, Courageous, and Bold
- Adventurous
- Assertive
- Audacious
- Brave
- Confident
- Courageous
- Daring
- Dauntless
- Decisive
- Determined
- Fearless
- Gallant
- Heroic
- Indomitable
- Intrepid
- Plucky
- Resolute
- Spirited
- Spunky
- Steadfast
- Tenacious
- Valiant
- Valorous
Social, Charming, and Outgoing
- Affable
- Amiable
- Amicable
- Charming
- Charismatic
- Congenial
- Convivial
- Cordial
- Diplomatic
- Disarming
- Eloquent
- Extroverted
- Garrulous
- Gregarious
- Personable
- Sociable
- Suave
- Witty
Intelligent, Wise, and Creative
- Analytical
- Articulate
- Astute
- Brilliant
- Cerebral
- Clever
- Creative
- Cultured
- Discerning
- Erudite
- Imaginative
- Ingenious
- Insightful
- Inventive
- Knowledgeable
- Logical
- Observant
- Perceptive
- Pioneering
- Pragmatic
- Rational
- Reflective
- Sagacious (wise)
- Shrewd
- Visionary
Honest and Principled
- Candid
- Conscientious
- Dependable
- Ethical
- Forthright
- Genuine
- Honorable
- Incorruptible
- Just
- Loyal
- Principled
- Reliable
- Righteous
- Scrupulous
- Sincere
- Trustworthy
- Upright
- Veracious
Easy-going and Optimistic
- Adaptable
- Buoyant
- Calm
- Carefree
- Cheerful
- Easy-going
- Exuberant
- Hopeful
- Jovial
- Jubilant
- Laid-back
- Lighthearted
- Optimistic
- Placid
- Sanguine
- Serene
- Tranquil
Hardworking and Disciplined
- Ambitious
- Assiduous
- Capable
- Diligent
- Disciplined
- Efficient
- Industrious
- Methodical
- Meticulous
- Organized
- Persistent
- Proactive
- Punctilious
- Resourceful
- Self-disciplined
- Thorough
Negative Traits
These words describe flaws, vices, or undesirable qualities.
Cruel, Malicious, and Unpleasant
- Abusive
- Acerbic
- Barbaric
- Belligerent
- Brutal
- Callous
- Caustic
- Contentious
- Cruel
- Hostile
- Malevolent
- Malicious
- Nasty
- Petty
- Pugnacious
- Sadistic
- Spiteful
- Surly
- Truculent
- Uncaring
- Vicious
- Vindictive
Arrogant and Egotistical
- Arrogant
- Boastful
- Bombastic
- Cocky
- Conceited
- Condescending
- Egotistical
- Grandiose
- Haughty
- Imperious
- Narcissistic
- Overbearing
- Pompous
- Presumptuous
- Pretentious
- Smug
- Supercilious
- Vain
Dishonest and Deceitful
- Corrupt
- Cunning
- Deceitful
- Deviant
- Dishonest
- Duplicitous
- Guileful
- Hypocritical
- Insidious
- Manipulative
- Scheming
- Sly
- Treacherous
- Underhanded
- Unscrupulous
- Untrustworthy
Anxious, Fearful, and Weak
- Apprehensive
- Cowardly
- Craven
- Diffident
- Fainthearted
- Fearful
- Feeble
- Gullible
- Indecisive
- Insecure
- Irresolute
- Meek
- Nervous
- Paranoid
- Passive
- Pusillanimous
- Spineless
- Submissive
- Timid
- Trepidatious
- Weak-willed
Lazy and Apathetic
- Apathetic
- Feckless
- Idle
- Indifferent
- Indolent
- Lackadaisical
- Languid
- Lazy
- Lethargic
- Listless
- Negligent
- Passive
- Slothful
- Torpid
Stubborn and Inflexible
- Adamant
- Bigoted
- Dogmatic
- Domineering
- Entitled
- Fanatical
- Inflexible
- Intolerant
- Obstinate
- Opinionated
- Pig-headed
- Prejudiced
- Reactionary
- Recalcitrant *- Rigid
- Stubborn
- Uncompromising
Moody and Volatile
- Cantankerous
- Capricious
- Choleric
- Cranky
- Fickle
- Finicky
- Grouchy
- Grumbling
- Irascible
- Mercurial
- Moody
- Peevish
- Petulant
- Querulous
- Sullen
- Temperamental
- Testy
- Volatile
Neutral or Context-Dependent Traits
These traits can be positive or negative depending on the situation, the character's motivations, or the degree to which they possess the trait.
General Disposition
- Abrupt
- Aloof
- Austere
- Blunt
- Boyish/Girlish
- Businesslike
- Casual
- Cynical
- Demure
- Distant
- Droll
- Dry
- Enigmatic
- Fierce
- Formal
- Frank
- Frugal
- Grave
- Guarded
- Intense
- Introverted
- Irreverent
- Maternal/Paternal
- Matter-of-fact
- Melancholy
- Naive
- Nonchalant
- Pensive
- Playful
- Proud
- Quirky
- Reserved
- Sarcastic
- Sardonic
- Self-conscious
- Sensitive
- Serious
- Shy
- Solemn
- Somber
- Stoic
- Taciturn
- Unemotional
- Unpredictable
- Whimsical
Intellectual & Worldview
- Absolutist
- Agnostic
- Amoral
- Artful
- Childlike
- Contemplative
- Conventional
- Curious
- Deadpan
- Dogmatic
- Dreamy
- Eccentric
- Empirical
- Fatalistic
- Idealistic
- Idiosyncratic
- Impulsive
- Innocent
- Inquisitive
- Introspective
- Literal
- Mystical
- Nihilistic
- Nostalgic
- Pedantic
- Pious
- Practical
- Predictable
- Progressive
- Skeptical
- Spontaneous
- Subjective
- Traditional
- Unconventional
- Worldly
Let me know what you think in the comments.
