Describing People

slattern C2

/ˈslætɚn/ One who is uncareful or unconcerned about appearance or surroundings, usually said of a dirty and untidy woman. M S

indolent C2

/ˈɪndələnt/ Habitually lazy and avoiding any kind of work or effort. M S

rapscallion C2

/ræpˈskæljən/ a dishonest, disreputable, or mischievous person; a rascal or scoundrel M S

hunchbacked C2

/ˈhʌntʃˌbækt/ having a back that is markedly rounded or curved outward M S

hanger-on C2

/ˈhæŋɚˌɑn/ a person who stays close to someone powerful, wealthy, or famous in the hope of gaining status or advantage M S

unabashed C2

/ˌʌnəˈbæʃt/ not embarrassed, ashamed, or self-conscious; confidently composed M S

matronly C2

/ˈmeɪtrənli/ having the dignified, caring, or authoritative qualities traditionally associated with a mature woman M S

rakish C2

/ˈɹeɪkɪʃ/ dashingly stylish or jaunty in a slightly unconventional or disreputable way M S

louche C2

/luːʃ/ disreputable or morally questionable, often in a stylish or appealing way M S

coxcomb C2

/ˈkɒks.koʊm/ dated: a vain, conceited man excessively concerned with his appearance M S

deferential C2

/ˌdɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/ showing respectful submission to another person's authority, wishes, or judgment M S

hangdog C2

/ˈhæŋˌdɔɡ/ Low; sneaking; ashamed. M S

high-toned C2

/ˌhaɪˈtoʊnd/ dated, especially US: belonging to or characteristic of high social rank; aristocratic or refined M S

disabuse C2

/dɪsəˈbjuːs/ To free (someone) of a misconception or misapprehension; to unveil a falsehood held by (someone). M S

qualitative C2

/ˈkwɑ.ləˌteɪ.tɪv/ Based on the qualities or nature of something rather than on numbers or amounts. M S

solvable C2

/ˈsɑlvəbəl/ capable of being solved M S

sluggard C2

/ˈslʌɡ.ɚd/ a habitually lazy or idle person, especially one slow to begin necessary work M S

layperson C2

/ˈleɪ.pɜɹ.sən/ One who is not intimately familiar with a given subject or activity. M S

wiseacre C2

/ˈwaɪzˌeɪkɚ/ old-fashioned or informal: a person who pretends to be knowledgeable or makes conceitedly clever remarks M S

poltroon C2

/pɑlˈtɹun/ a thoroughly contemptible or abject coward M S

importunate C2

/ɪmˈpɔrtʃənət/ persistently demanding or pleading, often to an annoying degree M S

affability C2

/ˌæfəˈbɪləti/ the quality of being friendly, approachable, and easy to talk to M S

protectress C2

/prəˈtɛktrɪs/ a woman who protects, guards, or acts as a patron; now uncommon M S

unambitious C2

/ˌʌnæmˈbɪʃəs/ having little desire for achievement, advancement, or honor M S

simulacrum C2

/ˌsɪmjəˈleɪkɹəm/ A physical image or representation of a deity, person, or thing. M S

stolid C2

/ˈstɑː.lɪd/ calm and showing little emotion, excitement, or sensitivity M S

impetuosity C2

/ɪmˌpɛtʃuˈɑːsəti/ the quality of acting suddenly and forcefully without considering the consequences M S

laggard C2

/ˈlæɡɚd/ a person or thing that is slow or falls behind others M S

magnanimously C2

/mæɡˈnænɪməsli/ In a generous and forgiving way, especially toward a rival. M S

polymath C2

/ˈpɑliˌmæθ/ A person with extraordinarily broad and comprehensive knowledge. M S

obstructionist C2

/əbˈstrʌkʃənəst/ Someone who systematically obstructs the actions of others. M S

docility C2

/dɑːˈsɪləti/ the trait of being agreeably submissive and manageable M S

shrewish C2

/ˈʃruː.ɪʃ/ bad-tempered, quarrelsome, and habitually complaining; now old-fashioned and offensive when applied to a woman M S

debauchee C2

/ˌdɛbəˈtʃiː/ a person who habitually pursues excessive sensual pleasure and behaves without moral restraint M S

roué C2

/ruˈeɪ/ old-fashioned: a fashionable man devoted to pleasure and known for immoral, drunken, or sexually promiscuous behavior M S

mulish C2

/ˈmjuː.lɪʃ/ stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action M S

unadventurous C2

/ˌʌn.ədˈvɛn.tʃɚ.əs/ unwilling to take risks or try unfamiliar things M S

imprimatur C2

/ˌɪm.pɹɪˈmɑ.tɚ/ An official license to publish or print something, especially when censorship applies. M S

thickset C2

/ˈθɪkˌsɛt/ having a short, broad, solid, or heavy body build M S

strapper C2

/ˈstræpɚ/ dated or informal: an unusually large, strong, robust person M S

indulgently C2

In a way that is kind, gentle, and willing to allow what others want. M S

prognosticate C2

/pɹɒɡˈnɒstɪkeɪt/ To predict or forecast, especially through the application of skill. M S

manlike C2

/ˈmænlaɪk/ resembling a human being or an adult man in form or appearance M S

hauteur C2

/oʊˈtɝ/ proud, distant behavior that shows a sense of superiority toward other people M S

geniality C2

/ˌdʒiːniˈæləti/ the quality of being warmly cheerful, friendly, and easy to approach M S

uppish C2

/ˈʌpɪʃ/ arrogant, conceited, or inclined to act socially superior M S

kittenish C2

/ˈkɪtənɪʃ/ playful, lively, or mischievous in a way that resembles a young cat M S

undiscriminating C2

/ˌʌndɪˈskrɪməˌneɪtɪŋ/ not making careful distinctions or judgments M S

unaggressive C2

/ˌʌnəˈɡrɛsɪv/ not inclined to attack, threaten, or behave violently M S

harum-scarum C2

/ˌhɛrəmˈskɛrəm/ reckless, disorderly, and lacking careful thought M S

suavity C2

/ˈswɑvəti/ smooth, polite, and urbane agreeableness of manner M S

dissembler C2

/dɪˈsɛmblɚ/ a person who conceals true feelings or intentions by pretending to have different ones M S

truckle C2

/ˈtrʌk.əl/ to submit tamely or behave obsequiously toward someone, usually in the construction truckle to M S

unsuspicious C2

/ˌʌn.səˈspɪʃ.əs/ not suspecting danger, deception, or another person's motives; trusting or unaware M S

faddy C2

/ˈfæd.i/ having very particular, changeable, or hard-to-satisfy tastes and preferences M S

manikin C2

/ˈmæn.ɪ.kɪn/ a small model or articulated figure representing the human body, especially for medical or artistic study M S

compromiser C2

/ˈkɑːmprəmaɪzər/ a person willing or able to settle a disagreement through mutual concessions M S

pertinacious C2

/ˌpɝtəˈneɪʃəs/ holding resolutely to an opinion, purpose, or course of action M S

urbanity C2

/ɝˈbænəti/ polished, refined, and courteous behavior or manner M S

dunderheaded C2

/ˌdʌndɚˈhɛdɪd/ old-fashioned: very stupid or foolish M S

lubricious C2

/luˈbɹɪʃəs/ characterized by lust M S

improvidence C2

/ɪmˈpɹɑːvədəns/ failure to plan carefully for the future, especially in the use of money or resources M S

irascibility C2

/ɪˌræs.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/ a tendency to become angry or irritated quickly M S

unpracticed C2

/ʌnˈpræktɪst/ lacking training, experience, or skill gained through practice M S

wizen C2

/ˈwɪz.ən/ shrunken, withered, and wrinkled, especially through age, illness, or dryness M S

sumptuary C2

/ˈsʌm(p)t͡ʃuˌɛɹi/ regulating or controlling expenditure or personal behavior M S

imperturbability C2

/ɪmˌpɝtərbəˈbɪləti/ a state of calm, unruffled self-assurance; aplomb, composure. M S

contumacious C2

/ˌkɑːn.tʊˈmeɪ.ʃəs/ stubbornly or defiantly disobedient to authority M S

titman C2

/ˈtɪtmən/ dialectal or historical: the smallest or weakest animal in a litter; a runt M S

impressible C2

/ɪmˈprɛsəbəl/ easily influenced or affected, especially in one's opinions or character M S

regardful C2

/rɪˈɡɑrd.fəl/ carefully attentive or mindful of someone or something M S

patronizingly C2

In a way that treats someone as less intelligent or important. M S

misanthropist C2

/mɪˈsænθrəpɪst/ a person who dislikes, distrusts, or holds a deeply negative view of humankind M S

hardihood C2

/ˈhɑɹdiˌhʊd/ resolute courage and endurance in the face of danger or hardship M S

troglodytic C2

/ˌtrɑɡləˈdɪtɪk/ relating to people or animals that live in caves M S

ingenuously C2

/ɪnˈdʒɛnjuːəsli/ In an open, honest, and straightforward way. M S

freehanded C2

/ˌfriːˈhændɪd/ generous and ready to give freely M S

underbred C2

/ˌʌndɚˈbɹɛd/ lacking refinement, good manners, or the upbringing expected in polite society M S

unamenable C2

/ˌʌn.əˈmiː.nə.bəl/ unwilling to accept a suggestion, request, or influence M S

indolently C2

In a lazy, idle way, avoiding effort. M S

pettish C2

/ˈpɛtɪʃ/ easily irritated, impatient, or bad-tempered, especially over something trivial M S

bewhiskered C2

/bɪˈwɪskərd/ having hair on the cheeks and chin M S

pudic C2

/ˈpjudɪk/ modest or easily embarrassed about sexual matters or bodily exposure M S

closefisted C2

/ˌkloʊsˈfɪstɪd/ unwilling to spend, give, or part with money; stingy M S

emulous C2

/ˈɛmjələs/ eager to equal or surpass another; competitively ambitious M S

embonpoint C2

/ɑ̃.bɔ̃ˈpwɛ̃/ a rounded or plump bodily figure, especially one regarded as pleasantly full M S

cloddish C2

/ˈklɑdɪʃ/ awkward, dull, or lacking sensitivity and refinement M S

distingué C2

/dɪsˈtæŋ.ɡeɪ/ fashionably distinguished, elegant, or marked by an air of refinement M S

philanthropically C2

In a generous, charitable way; for the good of others. M S

unadept C2

/ˌʌnəˈdɛpt/ a person who lacks skill or proficiency; rare M S

preux C2

/prø/ literary or archaic: chivalrous, valiant, or gallant M S

conformer C2

/kənˈfɔrmɚ/ a person who follows prevailing rules, customs, or opinions rather than acting independently M S

nestor C2

/ˈnɛstɚ/ literary, also Nestor: a wise older man who is respected as an adviser M S

adulator C2

/ˈædʒəˌleɪtər/ a person who praises someone excessively, often to gain their favour M S

weak-kneed C2

/ˌwiːkˈniːd/ informal, disapproving: lacking the courage or determination to maintain a position M S