Home Latest Articles 10 Smart English Words to Describe Someone | How to Describe a Person in English | ChetChat

10 Smart English Words to Describe Someone | How to Describe a Person in English | ChetChat

by Chetna Vasishth


We all love to give compliments to people or just describe their qualities. But most of the time we’re stuck for words and end up calling them cool or crazy or insane. Today we will learn 10 Smart English Words that you can learn easily to Describe Someone, their meanings, root words and example sentences and alternate words.

 

  1. Exuberant (adj) [ ig-zoo-ber-uh nt ]

Meaning – An exuberant person is full of joy and enthusiasm. This person has a lot of energy and is almost bubbling over with excitement.

Example – Jane was an exuberant dancer

Root – The latin root ‘exuberate; means “to grow lavishly or be excited”. Earlier exuberance was also used for plants to describe abundant growth or even to say exuberant hair. But now it is largely used to describe an over-enthusiastic and energetic person.

Example – At school Peter stood out for his “cheerful, good-humored and exuberant personality.

Use – If someone is very excited about some news or incident you could say ” Today a famous actor visited our college and Maria was exuberant and jumping around the place’

Other words you can use instead of exuberant are high-spirited or bubbly

  1. Chutzpah (noun)

Meaning – If you say that someone has chutzpah, you mean that you admire the fact that they are not afraid or embarrassed to do or say things that shock, surprise, or annoy other people. They have extreme self-confidence, fearlessness or audacity and you are saying this in a positive manner. It rhymes with foot spa – Chutzpah. 

Example – “love him or hate him, you have to admire Charlie’s chutzpah”. This is a noun, unlike most other describing words which are adjectives. So while forming a sentence we will need to be careful – Charlie’s chutzpah

Root  – Chutzpah is a Yiddish word meaning “impudence or gall.” Bravery that borders on rudeness is chutzpah

Example – Roy had the chutzpah to stand in front of the whole class and announce that he was a better writer than William Shakespeare.

The girl had the chutzpah to shave off her head in protest of impossible beauty standards.

It is almost like unusual and shocking behaviour, involving taking risks but not feeling guilty

Other words you can use to describe similar situations are cheekiness, brazenness

3. Dapper

Meaning – The definition of dapper is someone neat, tidy or very stylish. This is used for men. You can call a woman chic or stylish.

Example – An example of a dapper man is one who is dressed up in a suit for a wedding. In recent times, urban slang has changed the meaning of dapper to mean something cool and trendy – pretty close to “swag” – e.g. “OMG that new game is dapper.”

Root  – The origin is perhaps Dutch where Dapper meant bold and strong, but over time it changed to first mean well dressed and then cool and trendy in general.

Example – Oscar, you look really dapper tonight

Josh smiled when the attractive young lady told him he looked dapper in his new jeans.

Use – so if you find a man looking very cool and well dressed, you can always call him dapper.

Other words you can use to describe similar situations are ‘fashionable, classy

 

  1. Dishevelled

 

Meaning – an untidy appearance, messy hair and clothes. In America this is written with one L and in the UK with a double L. Dishevelled is the opposite of Dapper.

Example – the teacher remarked at Tim’s dishevelled appearance during the school assembly

Root  – In French ‘chevel’ refers to hair and des-chevel would mean un-dressed hair or messy hair. Sometimes it was also used for being bare headed, but now the word is used not only for hair but overall appearance

Example – He looked tired, dishevelled and very pale.

She woke up in the morning with dishevelled hair

His wrinkled suit gave him a disheveled appearance.

Other words you can use to instead of dishevelled are unkempt, sloppy

  1. Gregarious (adj)

Meaning – Gregarious people are fun to be around and they like being around other people. They are the “life of the party.”

Example – Emma is a gregarious, outgoing sort of person.

Root  – The word was originally used to describe animals that live in flocks — it’s from the Latin word grex, meaning “herd.” Later, people began using it to describe humans who liked being in groups.

Example – Her gregariousness makes her a very affectionate person. She has a rare ability of getting along with just about every person she meets

Use – If you know someone who’s outgoing, sociable, and fond of the company of others, you might want to call them gregarious. 

Other words you can use to describe similar situations are outgoing and friendly

 

  1. Charismatic (adj)

Meaning – A charismatic person is one who has charisma – charisma is charm, a certain magnetism, which attracts people

Example – Martin Luther King Jr was a charismatic leader

Root  – It comes from the Greek word charis which just means gift or favour. Kind of like a divine gift or a gift from God.

Example – John was really charismatic, he was able to influence people’s feelings

Example – the traveling salesman was very charismatic, he could always persuade people to purchase his goods

Other words you can use to describe similar situations are ‘charming or magnetic

 

  1. Peevish (adj)

Meaning – someone who gets easily annoyed, is always complaining or whining

Example – John had slept little and that always made him peevish. 

The Patients started getting peevish in the overcrowded waiting room at the doctor’s clinic

The whole team was peevish after losing the game

Use – People are getting peevish being stuck at home for so many days.

Other words you can use instead of peevish are cranky and irritable

  1. Amiable

Meaning – A friendly, pleasant person could be described as amiable. Airline flight attendants tend to be amiable. An amiable person is good-natured and easy to get along with.  

Example – Joy is an amiable person, he is always pleasant and helpful 

Root  –  Latin word amicus means friend

Example – She had an amiable personality, always ready with a kind word and a smile

Use – So if you have a friend who is always warm, friendly and good natured, you can surely call them amiable

Other words you can use to describe good natured, friendly

 

  1. Unflappable (adj)

Meaning – Being calm even in a crisis. Someone who won’t get worried, nervous or even angry in a difficult situation

Example – Even in these days of lock down when everyone is feeling the pressure on revenues, Joe remains unflappable 

Root – the word flap means the rapid movement of a bird’s wings and also means to be agitated or panicky. Like a bird caught in a cage, will keep flapping her wings. Unflappable is used for someone who does not flap easily i.e. does not get excited easily.

Example – With four runs to score of the last ball and the crowd standing on their feet, the batsman displayed an unflappable calm and took his team to victory.

Use – if your friend can remain calm in pressure situations you can say to them – your unflappable demeanour gives me confidence

Other words you can use instead of unflappable are ‘as cool as a cucumber’ or sang froid (san fwa)

 

  1. Persistent

Meaning – Persistent people never give up. Even when the odds are stacked against them, they work tirelessly until the goal is achieved. Persistence is the ability to stick with something. 

Example – If you practice the violin for over a year in order to play “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” perfectly, that’s persistence!

Root  – Latin verb persistere which means “to continue with strength.”

Example – The persistent salesman refused to give up

Use – If you find someone who keeps going at something without giving up you can say – She can be very persistent when she wants something.

Other words you can use to describe are determined, dogged

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