'Fancy' Vocabulary to Describe People
- Dawn Jankowsky
- Aug 2
- 4 min read
ADJECTIVES
LILY-LIVERED
too scared to do something
The Cowardly Lion He was too lily-livered to stand up to his boss.
Don't be so lily-livered and go talk to her!
OBNOXIOUS
annoying and loud
Janice He has an obnoxious habit of interrupting others.
The customer was loud and obnoxious, demanding to see the manager.
CONSCIENTIOUS
careful, hardworking, and reliable
Hermione Granger She is a conscientious student who always double-checks her work for mistakes.
He’s a conscientious employee who always meets deadlines and delivers high-quality work.
CONSIDERATE
thinking about the feelings of other people
Ted Lasso It was considerate of him to help us.
It was considerate of you to offer your umbrella when it started raining.
CUNNING
clever and good at tricking others to get what you want
Frank Underwood The fox was cunning, sneaking past the farmer and stealing eggs without being noticed.
It was a bit cunning — he bent the rules without actually breaking them.
STINGY
unwilling to spend money; ungenerous
Mr. Krabs He's too stingy to buy me a birthday present.
Don't be so stingy and buy those shoes you like!
OBSTINATE
unwilling to change their mind; stubborn
Walter White She remained obstinate, refusing to take advice from anyone.
He’s so obstinate that he won’t admit he's wrong even after seeing the proof.
INQUISITIVE
constantly asking questions; curious
Matilda My little brother is very inquisitive. He always asks, “Why?”
She was inquisitive about life in other countries and asked lots of questions.
MAGNANIMOUS
kind and generous, especially to someone you’ve beaten or disagreed with
Albus Dumbledore It was magnanimous of her to donate the prize money to charity instead of keeping it.
After winning the match, he was magnanimous and shook hands with every player on the losing team.
NONCHALANT
calm and relaxed, showing that you are not worried or excited — sometimes even when you should be
The Dude He walked into the exam room looking nonchalant, as if he hadn’t studied at all.
She gave a nonchalant shrug and said, “It’s no big deal.”
WHIMSICAL
playful, imaginative, or unusual in a fun and charming way
Willy Wonka The story had a whimsical plot with talking animals and magical trees.
She wore a whimsical hat shaped like a teacup to the party.
FLAMBOYANT
very noticeable, confident, and stylish — often in a way that attracts attention
Jack Sparrow The magician’s flamboyant entrance involved fireworks and music.
The peacock is a classic example of a flamboyant animal.
THICK
slow to understand things or not very intelligent
Homer Simpson He’s a bit thick — he still thinks the moon is a planet.
Don’t ask her for help with the app, she’s thick when it comes to tech.
SPITEFUL
unkind or hurtful, often motivated by anger or a desire to upset someone
Maleficent She sent a spiteful message just to make him feel bad.
He made a spiteful joke about her appearance.
ENTITLED
believing you deserve special treatment
Gordon Gekko He acts so entitled, like the rules don’t apply to him.
She felt entitled to a promotion, even though she hadn’t met the targets.
IDIOMS
AN OLD HAND AT SOMETHING
very experienced in a particular field
MacGyver He’s an old hand at negotiating contracts, so we trust his judgment.
I’m an old hand at fixing bikes — I’ve been doing it since I was a teenager.
A DARK HORSE
someone who unexpectedly succeeds
Peter Parker No one expected her to win, but she turned out to be a dark horse in the contest.
That quiet student is a dark horse — his final project blew everyone away.
A BUSYBODY
a person who is too interested in other people’s private life
Mrs. Weasley She’s such a busybody — always peeking through the curtains to see who’s coming and going.
The office busybody already knows about your holiday plans.
A GO-GETTER
someone energetic, proactive, and determined to achieve success, often by taking initiative and pursuing goals
Elle Woods She’s a real go-getter — started her own business at 22.
We need a go-getter on the team, someone who takes action without waiting to be told.
A SOCIAL BUTTERFLY
someone very outgoing, sociable, and enjoys being around others
Carrie Bradshaw She’s a real social butterfly, always out and about, chatting with everyone.
He’s such a social butterfly at work events. She knows everyone and makes them feel welcome.
A LONE WOLF
often seen as self-reliant, reserved, or mysterious
Bruce Wayne He’s a lone wolf — always works alone and doesn’t share much.
You can count on him to get the job done — he’s a lone wolf, but reliable.
A LOOSE CANNON
a person who behaves unpredictably or uncontrollably, often causing problems or creating risk for others
Tony Montana She’s talented, but a loose cannon when it comes to deadlines.
We can’t afford a loose cannon on this project — it needs precision.
A STRAIGHT SHOOTER
a person who is honest and direct
Captain Raymond Holt You can trust her — she’s a straight shooter who tells it like it is.
He’s a straight shooter, so you’ll always know where you stand.
Comments