Words to Describe Literary Characters and Poetic Speakers

Vocabulary flashcards defining 50 key characterization words used to describe literary characters and poetic speakers.

affable

friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to

amiable

having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner

arrogant

having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities

blasphemous

sacrilegious against God or sacred things; irreverent; profane

conscientious

wishing to do what is right, especially to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly

despotic

tyrannical, autocratic, dictatorial

diffident

modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence

diligent

showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties

discerning

having or showing good judgment

discreet

careful and circumspect in one's speech or actions, especially in order to avoid causing offense or to gain an advantage

dogmatic

expressing personal opinions or beliefs as if they are certainly correct and cannot be doubted

exuberant

very lively, happy, or energetic: filled with energy and enthusiasm

fastidious

excessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please; very attentive to accuracy and detail

feckless

lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible; ineffective; incompetent; indifferent; lazy

frank

open, honest, and direct in speech or writing; candid; direct; forthright; plain-spoken; straightforward

gregarious

fond of company; sociable; companionable, outgoing, friendly

hapless

unfortunate; unlucky; luckless

haughty

arrogantly superior and disdainful

iconoclastic

characterized by attacks on cherished beliefs or institutions; attacking or ignoring long-held traditions, etc., as being based on error, superstition, or lack of creativity

impetuous

acting quickly and without thought or care; reckless, heedless, careless, foolhardy, headstrong, incautious

indomitable

impossible to subdue or defeat

indolent

wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy; slothful

insipid

lacking in qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge; vapid

insouciant

free from worry or anxiety; carefree; nonchalant; showing a casual lack of concern; characterized by a lighthearted unconcern

intuitive

having the ability to know or understand things without any proof or evidence; characterized by quick and ready insight

irrepressible

incapable of being repressed or restrained; uncontrollable; also very lively and cheerful

irreverent

showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously

lusty

healthy and strong; full of vigor; full of energy and vitality; also lustful

narcissistic

having an excessive interest in oneself and one's physical appearance; vain, self-loving, self-admiring, self-absorbed

obsequious

obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree; marked by or exhibiting a fawning attentiveness

petty

having or showing narrow ideas, interests; selfish and mean, esp. because of having too much interest in small and unimportant matters

pioneering

one who is first or among the earliest in any field of inquiry, enterprise, or progress

placid

not easily upset or excited; pleasantly calm or peaceful; unruffled; tranquil; serenely quiet

plucky

having or showing determined courage in the face of difficulties

pompous

affectedly and irritatingly grand, solemn, or self-important; characterized by an ostentatious display of dignity or importance

precocious

having developed certain abilities or proclivities at an earlier age than usual; unusually advanced or mature in development, especially mental development

presumptuous

failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate; too confident especially in a way that is rude: done or made without permission, right, or good reason

querulous

complaining in a petulant or whining manner; full of complaints; complaining

rapacious

aggressively greedy or grasping; avaricious; acquisitive; predatory; extortionate

recalcitrant

having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline

resilient

able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions; able to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens

resourceful

having the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties

resolute

admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering; stalwart, unfaltering, persistent, strong-willed, unshakable

sanctimonious

making a show of being morally superior to other people

sanguine

confident and hopeful; optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation

saturnine

slow and gloomy; moody and mysterious; very serious and unhappy

scrupulous

very concerned to avoid doing wrong; diligent; thorough; extremely attentive to detail

servile

having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others

supercilious

behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others; haughtily disdainful or contemptuous

unassuming

not pretentious or arrogant; modest; not having or showing a desire to be noticed, praised