C1 · Advanced

Character & Temperament — C1 English Vocabulary

This C1 vocabulary list gathers 60 advanced English words about character & temperament — precise words for what people are like. Every word comes with its British-English pronunciation and a natural example sentence, so you learn each one in real context. When you are ready, open the flashcards to practise and remember them for good.

  1. tenacious/təˈneɪ.ʃəs/

    “She is a tenacious negotiator.”

  2. meticulous/məˈtɪk.jə.ləs/

    “He is meticulous about detail.”

  3. affable/ˈæf.ə.bəl/

    “He is an affable host.”

  4. amiable/ˈeɪ.mi.ə.bəl/

    “She has an amiable manner.”

  5. genial/ˈdʒiː.ni.əl/

    “He gave a genial smile.”

  6. scrupulous/ˈskruː.pjə.ləs/

    “She is scrupulous about honesty.”

  7. fastidious/fæsˈtɪd.i.əs/

    “He is fastidious about cleanliness.”

  8. perspicacious/ˌpɜː.spɪˈkeɪ.ʃəs/

    “She is a perspicacious judge of people.”

  9. resourceful/rɪˈzɔːs.fəl/

    “He is remarkably resourceful.”

  10. magnanimous/mæɡˈnæn.ɪ.məs/

    “She was magnanimous in victory.”

  11. benevolent/bəˈnev.əl.ənt/

    “He is a benevolent leader.”

  12. altruistic/ˌæl.truˈɪs.tɪk/

    “Her motives were altruistic.”

  13. gracious/ˈɡreɪ.ʃəs/

    “She is a gracious host.”

  14. courteous/ˈkɜː.ti.əs/

    “He was unfailingly courteous.”

  15. tactless/ˈtækt.ləs/

    “His tactless remark hurt her.”

  16. abrasive/əˈbreɪ.sɪv/

    “He has an abrasive manner.”

  17. cantankerous/kænˈtæŋ.kər.əs/

    “The old man was cantankerous.”

  18. obstinate/ˈɒb.stɪ.nət/

    “She is obstinate about it.”

  19. headstrong/ˈhed.strɒŋ/

    “He is a headstrong young man.”

  20. impetuous/ɪmˈpetʃ.u.əs/

    “It was an impetuous decision.”

  21. impulsive/ɪmˈpʌl.sɪv/

    “She is rather impulsive.”

  22. capricious/kəˈprɪʃ.əs/

    “His moods are capricious.”

  23. fickle/ˈfɪk.əl/

    “Public taste is fickle.”

  24. aloof/əˈluːf/

    “He stayed aloof from the group.”

  25. standoffish/ˌstændˈɒf.ɪʃ/

    “She seemed standoffish at first.”

  26. introverted/ˈɪn.trə.vɜː.tɪd/

    “He is quite introverted.”

  27. vivacious/vɪˈveɪ.ʃəs/

    “She is a vivacious speaker.”

  28. ebullient/ɪˈbʊl.i.ənt/

    “He has an ebullient personality.”

  29. dour/dʊə/

    “The manager has a dour expression.”

  30. austere/ɒsˈtɪə/

    “He led an austere life.”

  31. stoic/ˈstəʊ.ɪk/

    “She remained stoic throughout.”

  32. phlegmatic/fleɡˈmæt.ɪk/

    “He has a phlegmatic nature.”

  33. pragmatic/præɡˈmæt.ɪk/

    “She takes a pragmatic approach.”

  34. idealistic/aɪˌdɪəˈlɪs.tɪk/

    “He is young and idealistic.”

  35. cynical/ˈsɪn.ɪ.kəl/

    “She has a cynical view of politics.”

  36. sceptical/ˈskep.tɪ.kəl/

    “He remained sceptical.”

  37. gullible/ˈɡʌl.ɪ.bəl/

    “He is far too gullible.”

  38. naive/naɪˈiːv/

    “It was a naive assumption.”

  39. devious/ˈdiː.vi.əs/

    “He used devious tactics.”

  40. cunning/ˈkʌn.ɪŋ/

    “The fox is famously cunning.”

  41. wily/ˈwaɪ.li/

    “She is a wily opponent.”

  42. unscrupulous/ʌnˈskruː.pjə.ləs/

    “An unscrupulous dealer cheated them.”

  43. duplicitous/djuːˈplɪs.ɪ.təs/

    “His duplicitous behaviour shocked us.”

  44. candid/ˈkæn.dɪd/

    “She gave a candid answer.”

  45. forthright/ˈfɔːθ.raɪt/

    “He is forthright in his opinions.”

  46. demure/dɪˈmjʊə/

    “She gave a demure smile.”

  47. flamboyant/flæmˈbɔɪ.ənt/

    “He has a flamboyant style.”

  48. eccentric/ɪkˈsen.trɪk/

    “Our neighbour is a little eccentric.”

  49. unassuming/ˌʌn.əˈsjuː.mɪŋ/

    “He is quiet and unassuming.”

  50. self-effacing/ˌself.ɪˈfeɪ.sɪŋ/

    “She is modest and self-effacing.”

  51. overbearing/ˌəʊ.vəˈbeə.rɪŋ/

    “His overbearing manner annoys people.”

  52. domineering/ˌdɒm.ɪˈnɪə.rɪŋ/

    “She has a domineering boss.”

  53. tenacity/təˈnæs.ɪ.ti/

    “Her tenacity is admirable.”

  54. rectitude/ˈrek.tɪ.tjuːd/

    “He is a man of great rectitude.”

  55. composed/kəmˈpəʊzd/

    “She stayed composed under pressure.”

  56. temperamental/ˌtem.pərˈmen.təl/

    “He is rather temperamental.”

  57. mercurial/məˈkjʊə.ri.əl/

    “He has a mercurial temperament.”

  58. earnest/ˈɜː.nɪst/

    “She made an earnest effort.”

  59. zealous/ˈzel.əs/

    “He is a zealous supporter.”

  60. amicable/ˈæm.ɪ.kə.bəl/

    “They reached an amicable agreement.”