Describing People

treacherous C2

/ˈtɹɛt͡ʃəɹəs/ Dangerous and unpredictable, especially because hidden hazards are hard to see. M S

loony C2

/ˈluːni/ informal and potentially offensive: a person regarded as foolish, eccentric, or mentally unstable M S

booby C2

/ˈbuːbi/ a foolish or inept person; dated and insulting M S

knack C2

/næk/ A natural or learned skill for doing something well and easily. M S

snob C2

/snɑb/ a person who looks down on people considered socially inferior or tries to display supposedly superior taste or status M S

meticulous C2

/mɪˈtɪkjɪlɪs/ Giving very careful and precise attention to every detail. M S

emissary C2

/ˈɛmɪˌsɛɹi/ An agent sent on a mission to represent the interests of someone else. M S

deadbeat C2

/ˈdɛdˌbiːt/ informal, disparaging: a lazy or irresponsible person who avoids work or depends on others for support M S

epiphany C2

/ɪˈpɪfəni/ An illuminating realization or discovery, often resulting in a personal feeling of elation, awe, or wonder. M S

stroller C2

/ˈstɹoʊlɚ/ a person taking a leisurely walk M S

blockhead C2

/ˈblɑkˌhɛd/ a stupid or slow-witted person; an insulting term M S

minx C2

/mɪŋks/ A flirtatious, impudent, or pert young woman. M S

charlatan C2

/ˈʃɑːrlətən/ a person who falsely claims to have special knowledge or skill, usually in order to deceive others M S

incognito C2

/ˌɪn.kɑːɡˈniː.t̬oʊ/ with one's identity concealed, especially to avoid attention or recognition M S

ninny C2

/ˈnɪni/ A silly or foolish person. M S

tenacious C2

/təˈneɪʃəs/ Determined and refusing to give up. M S

patronizing C2

/ˈpeɪtrəˌnaɪzɪŋ/ Treating someone as if they were less intelligent or important than you. M S

squeamish C2

/ˈskwiːmɪʃ/ easily made nauseated, disgusted, or distressed by something unpleasant M S

simpleton C2

/ˈsɪmpəltən/ a person lacking intelligence or common sense M S

ruffian C2

/ˈɹʌfi.ən/ A scoundrel, rascal, or unprincipled, deceitful, brutal and unreliable person. M S

maniacal C2

/məˈnaɪ.ə.kəl/ wildly irrational, frenzied, or violently excited M S

covet C2

/ˈkʌvɪt/ to wish, long, or crave for something, especially the property of another person M S

innuendo C2

/ˌɪnjuˈɛndəʊ/ An indirect remark that hints at something, often something rude or unkind. M S

grouchy C2

/ˈɡraʊ.tʃi/ easily annoyed, irritable, and inclined to complain M S

haughty C2

/ˈhɔti/ Acting superior to others; arrogant and full of contempt. M S

crabby C2

/ˈkræbi/ irritable, bad-tempered, and inclined to complain M S

unhinged C2

/ənˈhɪndʒd/ mentally unstable or severely disturbed M S

opportunist C2

/ˌɑː.pɚˈtuː.nɪst/ a person who exploits circumstances for personal advantage, often without regard for principles or consequences M S

magnanimous C2

/mægˈnænəməs/ Generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone weaker. M S

crone C2

/kroʊn/ disparaging or literary: an old woman, especially one portrayed as ugly or frightening M S

prim C2

/prɪm/ excessively proper, formal, or easily shocked by behavior M S

posturing C2

/ˈpɑːstʃɝɪŋ/ Behaviour or talk meant to impress others rather than to be sincere. M S

ogle C2

/ˈoʊɡl̩/ To stare at (someone or something), especially impertinently, amorously, or covetously. M S

effigy C2

/ˈɛfəd͡ʒi/ a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture) M S

lascivious C2

/ləˈsɪviəs/ feeling or openly expressing strong sexual desire, often in an offensive or indecent way M S

burly C2

/bɝli/ large, strongly built, and muscular M S

fawning C2

/fɔnɪŋ/ attempting to win favor by flattery M S

windbag C2

/ˈwɪnd.bæɡ/ a person who talks at excessive length, often pompously, while saying little of value M S

witless C2

/ˈwɪtləs/ lacking intelligence, understanding, or sound judgment; foolish M S

synthesize C2

/ˈsɪnθəsaɪz/ combine so as to form a more complex, product M S

dozy C2

/ˈdoʊzi/ sleepy, sluggish, or not fully alert M S

boorish C2

/ˈbʊr.ɪʃ/ rough, rude, and insensitive in behavior or manners M S

wheeze C2

/ʍiːz/ To breathe with difficulty, making a whistling or rasping sound. M S

womenfolk C2

/ˈwɪm.ɪnˌfoʊk/ Women collectively M S

philanthropic C2

/ˌfɪl.ənˈθɹɑ.pɪk/ Generous in giving money and help to good causes. M S

implacable C2

/ɪmˈplækəbəl/ incapable of being placated M S

braggart C2

/ˈbræɡɚt/ a person who boasts loudly or habitually M S

megalomaniac C2

/ˌmɛɡəloʊˈmeɪniæk/ a person obsessed with power or convinced of their own exceptional greatness and importance M S

measurable C2

/ˈmeʒəɹəbəl/ of distinguished importance M S

meddlesome C2

/ˈmɛdəlsəm/ inclined to interfere intrusively in other people's affairs M S

dippy C2

/ˈdɪp.i/ informal: foolish, eccentric, or lacking common sense M S

discernible C2

/dɪˈsɝnɪbl̩/ perceptible by the senses or intellect M S

deft C2

/ˈdɛft/ Quick and neat in action; skillful. M S

prig C2

/prɪɡ/ a smug, self-righteous person who is excessively proper or disapproving M S

ignoble C2

/ɪɡˈnoʊbəl/ completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose M S

codger C2

/ˈkɑd͡ʒəɹ/ An amusingly eccentric or grumpy and usually elderly man. M S

skinflint C2

/ˈskɪnˌflɪnt/ a person who is excessively unwilling to spend or give money M S

artifice C2

/ˈɑː(ɹ)tɪfɪs/ Clever but dishonest behaviour used to trick or deceive someone. M S

belie C2

/bɪˈlaɪ/ to represent falsely M S

cussed C2

/ˈkʌsɪd/ chiefly US, informal or dialectal: annoying, ill-tempered, or stubbornly difficult M S

coquette C2

/koʊˈkɛt/ dated: a woman who deliberately flirts without intending a serious relationship M S

nubile C2

/ˈnuː.baɪl/ dated, chiefly of a young woman: considered old enough or eligible to marry M S

perversity C2

/pə(ɹ)ˈvɜː(ɹ)sɪti/ A deliberate tendency to behave in an unreasonable or contrary way. M S

coquettish C2

/koʊˈket.ɪʃ/ playfully flirtatious in a way intended to attract attention without showing serious romantic intent M S

muggins C2

/ˈmʌɡɪnz/ chiefly British, informal and insulting: a foolish or easily deceived person M S

pragmatist C2

/ˈpræɡmətɪst/ a person who deals with problems practically and judges actions mainly by workable results M S

shiftless C2

/ˈʃɪftləs/ lacking ambition or initiative and habitually unwilling to work steadily M S

wretchedness C2

/ˈɹɛt͡ʃɪdnəs/ the quality of being poor and inferior and sorry M S

shelve C2

/ˈʃɛlv/ place on a shelf M S

galoot C2

/ɡəˈluːt/ slang, mildly insulting or humorous: a fellow, especially one who is awkward, foolish, or uncouth M S

tenderfoot C2

/ˈtɛndɚˌfʊt/ an inexperienced newcomer, especially one unaccustomed to frontier, outdoor, or mining life M S

disciplinarian C2

/ˌdɪsəplɪˈnɛriən/ a person who enforces strict rules and expects obedience, often through punishment M S

winsome C2

/ˈwɪn.səm/ sweetly or innocently charming in appearance, manner, or expression M S

croaker C2

/ˈkɹoʊkɚ/ dated: a habitual complainer or a person who gloomily predicts trouble M S

amorphous C2

/əˈmɔ(ɹ)fəs/ Having no clear shape or form. M S

naivete C2

/nɑːˌiːvəˈteɪ/ lack of experience, judgment, or sophistication M S

valorous C2

/ˈvælərəs/ having or showing great courage, especially in the face of danger M S

sentimentalist C2

/ˌsɛn.təˈmɛn.təl.ɪst/ a person who is excessively influenced by tender, nostalgic, or idealized feelings M S

flathead C2

/ˈflætˌhɛd/ dated US slang, insulting: a stupid or foolish person M S

ungracious C2

/ʌnˈɡɹeɪʃəs/ not polite, kind, or pleasant toward others M S

benighted C2

/bɪˈnaɪtɪd/ ignorant, unenlightened, or lacking cultural knowledge, often used disparagingly M S

malcontent C2

/ˌmæl.kənˈtɛnt/ a person who is dissatisfied with existing conditions, especially one who actively opposes an established authority or system M S

roguish C2

/ˈroʊɡɪʃ/ mischievous in a playful, attractive, or teasing way M S

scraggy C2

/ˈskræɡi/ lean, bony, or scrawny, often with a rough or underfed appearance M S

magnanimity C2

/ˌmæɡnəˈnɪmɪti/ The quality of being generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival. M S

timidity C2

/tɪˈmɪdɪti/ The quality of being shy and lacking confidence or courage. M S

irascible C2

/ɪˈɹæsəbəl/ easily provoked to anger; habitually hot-tempered M S

timidly C2

/ˈtɪmɪdli/ in a shy, nervous, or hesitant way M S

unintelligent C2

/ˌʌn.ɪnˈtɛl.ə.dʒənt/ showing a limited ability to learn, understand, or reason M S

callously C2

/ˈkæləsli/ In a cruel, uncaring way, with no regard for others' feelings. M S

ingenuous C2

/ɪnˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.əs/ Innocent and trusting in a simple, honest way; not suspicious of others. M S

vicarious C2

/vaɪˈkɛɹi.əs/ suffered or done by one person as a substitute for another M S

absentminded C2

/ˌæbsəntˈmaɪndɪd/ so preoccupied with one's thoughts that one fails to notice the surroundings or remember ordinary things M S

mountebank C2

/ˈmaʊn.tə.bæŋk/ a charlatan who deceives people with flamboyant claims or performances M S

wielder C2

/ˈwiːldər/ A person who wields something, especially power M S

pomposity C2

/pɑːmˈpɑː.sə.t̬i/ an affectedly grand, solemn, or self-important manner M S