Negative Character Traits and Adjectives

This page presents a comprehensive list of negative character traits and adjectives in English, offering students a valuable resource for expanding their vocabulary in describing less desirable personality traits. The list covers a wide spectrum of negative qualities, from minor flaws to more serious character defects.

Vocabulary: Negative character traits are undesirable qualities or features that form part of an individual's personality.

The list begins with milder negative traits such as childish, clumsy, and impertinent. It then progresses to more severe negative attributes like cruel, corrupt, and deceitful.

Example: A person described as "arrogant and boastful" might constantly brag about their achievements and look down on others.

Some adjectives focus on social behavior, such as reserved, shy, and taciturn, which describe people who are not very outgoing. Others highlight more problematic traits like unfaithful, unreliable, and negligent.

Highlight: The list includes both common negative adjectives and more advanced vocabulary, allowing for nuanced descriptions of character flaws.

Interestingly, some German translations or explanations are provided alongside English words, making this list particularly useful for German-speaking learners of English. For instance, "eingebildet" is listed, which likely corresponds to "conceited" or "arrogant" in English.

Definition: Sanctimonious means making a show of being morally superior to other people.

The page also includes adjectives describing negative emotional states (resentful, cold-hearted) and behavioral tendencies (lazy, sloppy, greedy), providing a comprehensive range of descriptors for negative character traits.

Quote: "Diabolic" and "malevolent" are listed, representing extremely negative character traits.

This extensive list of negative adjectives in English serves as an excellent tool for students looking to enhance their ability to describe complex and flawed characters in writing or conversation.