Words for describing people

Add a bit of sophistication to your writing by using these words for describing people. They are not very common and that is what makes them special.

Munificent

Munificent means ‘extremely generous’.

• My grandfather was a munificent person. He used to make generous donations to charities.

Fastidious

A fastidious person cares a lot about small details and wants everything to be neat and tidy.

Synonyms: choosy, particular, squeamish, dainty

• My father-in-law is a fastidious person. He is very concerned about matters of cleanliness.

Impeccable

Impeccable means ‘faultless’. Synonyms are: immaculate, irreproachable and perfect

• Her clothes reflected her impeccable sense of style.
• She speaks impeccable English.

Imperious

Imperious means arrogant or domineering. Synonyms are: imperative, overbearing, masterful, authoritative

• It was his imperious nature that made him thoroughly unpopular.

Reactionary

Reactionary means strongly opposed to any political or social change

• Many men still hold reactionary views on the role of women in the society.

Callow

Callow means young and not experienced in life

He was young and callow; still, he possessed that determination to succeed in life.

Tyro or tiro

Tyro means someone who has only recently begun learning.

• The young tyro needs some training before he can be inducted.

Malingerer

A person who avoids work by pretending to be ill.

• He was a malingerer and that was the reason they fired him.

Curmudgeon

A person who gets annoyed easily.

• At times he sounded like a curmudgeon.