Negative words to describe a person
Words for difficult people, sharper than rude or mean: the flatterer, the liar, the one who will not be told, and the one who will not stop talking.
cynical
SIN-i-kuhl, adjective
Believing people act mainly from self-interest.
“Years in sales had made him cynical about limited-time offers.”
gruff
GRUHF, adjective
Rough or stern in manner or voice.
“The mechanic’s gruff reply hid a genuine kindness.”
reckless
REK-lis, adjective
Careless about danger or consequences.
“One reckless lane change undid twenty careful miles.”
stubborn
STUHB-ern, adjective
Refusing to change one’s mind or course.
“The stubborn stain outlasted three washes and a lecture.”
aloof
uh-LOOF, adjective
Cool and distant in manner; not friendly or forthcoming.
“The new manager seemed aloof at first, but she was simply observing.”
complacent
kuhm-PLAY-suhnt, adjective
Self-satisfied and unaware of danger.
“Three good quarters made the team complacent by the fourth.”
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fickle
FIK-uhl, adjective
Changing loyalties, interests, or affection often.
“Fashion is fickle; last year’s must-have is this year’s donation pile.”
nefarious
nih-FAIR-ee-uhs, adjective
Wicked, villainous, or criminal.
“The plot turned on a nefarious scheme to rig the raffle.”
negligent
NEG-li-juhnt, adjective
Failing to take proper care.
“The audit found the firm negligent in its record keeping.”
bellicose
BEL-ih-kohs, adjective
Demonstrating aggression and a willingness to fight.
“The senator’s bellicose rhetoric alarmed allies abroad.”
callow
KAL-oh, adjective
Inexperienced and immature.
“A callow reporter asked the question everyone else avoided.”
capricious
kuh-PRISH-uhs, adjective
Given to sudden, unpredictable changes of mood or behavior.
“The capricious weather turned a beach day into a scramble for shelter.”
caustic
KAW-stik, adjective
Bitingly sarcastic; able to corrode.
“His caustic reviews were feared, quoted, and secretly enjoyed.”
garrulous
GAR-uh-luhs, adjective
Excessively talkative.
“The garrulous cab driver covered politics, soup, and his cousin’s wedding in one ride.”
intransigent
in-TRAN-si-juhnt, adjective
Refusing to compromise.
“Both sides stayed intransigent until the deadline concentrated minds.”
lugubrious
luh-GOO-bree-uhs, adjective
Looking or sounding sad and dismal, often to an exaggerated degree.
“The basset hound’s lugubrious expression suggested a life of quiet tragedy.”
maudlin
MAWD-lin, adjective
Excessively sentimental.
“The toast turned maudlin after the second glass.”
mendacious
men-DAY-shuhs, adjective
Habitually lying.
“The memoir was entertaining, mendacious, and a bestseller.”
obsequious
uhb-SEE-kwee-uhs, adjective
Excessively eager to please or obey.
“The obsequious waiter refilled glasses no one had touched.”
perfidious
per-FID-ee-uhs, adjective
Deceitful and untrustworthy; treacherous.
“The alliance ended with one perfidious midnight vote.”
recalcitrant
rih-KAL-sih-truhnt, adjective
Stubbornly resistant to authority, direction, or control.
“The recalcitrant printer ignored every command until it was unplugged.”
sardonic
sahr-DON-ik, adjective
Grimly mocking or cynical.
“Her sardonic toast was the only honest speech of the night.”
truculent
TRUK-yuh-luhnt, adjective
Eager to argue or fight; aggressively defiant.
“The witness grew truculent under cross-examination.”
unctuous
UHNGK-choo-uhs, adjective
Excessively smooth and flattering; oily.
“The unctuous maître d’ upgraded them straight past sincerity.”
contumacious
kon-too-MAY-shuhs, adjective
Stubbornly disobedient to authority.
“The contumacious witness ignored a third summons.”
fatuous
FACH-oo-uhs, adjective
Silly and pointless without knowing it.
“The panel’s most fatuous question got the longest answer.”
obstreperous
uhb-STREP-er-uhs, adjective
Noisy, unruly, and difficult to control.
“The obstreperous crowd drowned out the referee’s whistle.”
oleaginous
oh-lee-AJ-ih-nuhs, adjective
Oily; unctuously flattering.
“The salesman’s oleaginous welcome made everyone check their wallets.”
rebarbative
rih-BAR-buh-tiv, adjective
Repellent; irritating and unattractive.
“The form’s rebarbative layout defeats most applicants by page two.”
saturnine
SAT-er-nahyn, adjective
Gloomy and brooding in temperament.
“The saturnine doorman never once returned a smile.”
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