3/29/2019 28 Negative Adjectives and Idioms to Describe People in English

28 Negative
Adjectives to
Describe People in
English
Jul 26, 2017 | 15 comments

Oh, I’m so excited about today’s lesson! Over the past few months,
I shared lessons with you on how to answer How Would You
Describe Yourself in English and 23 New Ways to Describe People
Positively.

Today is the third and nal lesson in our series on how to describe
people and their personalities in English.

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3/29/2019 28 Negative Adjectives and Idioms to Describe People in English

As you and I know, sometimes there are things we don’t like about people. There are
colleagues we don’t get along with or characteristics we don’t appreciate. And today
you’ll learn how to talk about those negative characteristics in English with
common words and idioms.

In the video, you’ll some of my favorites and some expressions that are particularly
challenging. Then below the video, you have a list of 28 new ways to describe people
negatively in English.

And don’t forget to review the practice opportunity below!

Curious how to say

what you don’t like
about people?
Here’s how.
Lesson by Annemarie

28 Negative Adjectives to Describe People in English

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3/29/2019 28 Negative Adjectives and Idioms to Describe People in English

Aloof

someone who is generally unfriendly, distant, or cold toward others.

Aggressive

someone who is always ready to ght or argue; someone who might be very forceful
to get what they want

Armchair critic

someone who often gives unhelpful criticism and rarely offers their own ideas or
solutions.

Big-headed

someone who believes they are better or more important than other people;
egotistical

Bossy

someone who often tells others what to do or gives orders

Busy body

someone who is too involved or interferes too much in other people’s lives

Clingy

someone who needs another person or needs emotional support all the time

Couch potato

a lazy person who spends a lot of time sitting, watching TV, playing video games, or
doing some other activity that doesn’t involve physical activity.

Cynical

someone who believes the worst about others or believes people are generally
dishonest or sel sh

Full of hot air

someone who talks a lot without saying anything of value or meaning

Goody-goody or goody two shoes

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someone who is always good or always follows the rules BUT is a little arrogant about
it, thus it has a negative connotation

Grumpy

to have a bad mood or bad temper

Impulsive

someone who makes decisions without thinking or considering the consequences;

doing things without thought or care

Indecisive

someone who cannot make a decision

Know it all

someone who pretends or likes to appear as if they know everything but they are not;
someone who pretends to be an expert on everything

Materialistic

someone who is focused or obsessed with material wealth and possessions

Obnoxious

someone who is annoying or unpleasant; offensive

Pain in the neck

someone who is annoying; a situation that is annoying or inconvenient

Picky

someone who is never pleased or happy with their choices

Set in one’s ways

someone who refuses to change; to be in exible

Tactless

someone who tends to offend or upset people

Thoughtless

someone who never shows concern or care for others

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Wet Blanket (Party Pooper / Spoilsport / Killjoy / Stick-In-The-Mud)

someone who spoils or steals other people’s fun; disapproving

After you’ve watched the video and reviewed the key language for today, review
my challenge question for you. This is your opportunity to practice and get
feedback!

1. Use some of the new language you’ve learned in this lesson to describe someone
you know. BUT, because we’re describing negative characteristics, be sure to keep
your description anonymous. Please don’t use the person’s name or share any
personal details about them. For example, you can say, “I know someone who is ______.”

I look forward to hearing from you on today’s topic!

~ Annemarie

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15 Leave a Reply

Join the discussion...

7  8 0     10
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  Subscribe    newest  oldest  most voted

Susana 

I sometimes feel like a couch potato, I can’t help it. That is why I push myself to
Guest workout to avoid my natural tendency. This situation makes me a bit grumpy
and moody

 0    Reply  1 month ago

Shasha 

Thank you so much,now I learn a new words to describe a person in a positive

Guest way..Thanks

 0    Reply  3 months ago 

leisha 

ummmm sis these are not positive

Guest

 0   Reply  1 month ago 

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3/29/2019 28 Negative Adjectives and Idioms to Describe People in English

Annemarie with Speak Con dent English 

Yes, the lesson is focused on ’28 Negative Adjectives…’

Author

 0   Reply  1 month ago

Valentina 

Hello, Annemarie! Thank You so much for Your lessons! They are very useful!
Guest My example: I know one person who is a busy body and a kind of clingy. And I
am aware of one person who is a big-headed and very picky.

 0    Reply  11 months ago 

Annemarie with Speak Con dent English 

Hello Valentina,
Author

You’re so welcome. I’m thrilled to know you enjoy them. Great use of
busybody, kind of clingy, big-headed, and picky!

 0   Reply  10 months ago

Valentina 

A friend of mine has thousands of positive traits but she is mentally lazy person.
Guest What is the word to describe such person?

Thank you very much

 0    Reply  1 year ago 

Annemarie with Speak Con dent English 

What an interesting question, Valentina. I cannot think of a speci c

Author
adjective we have for a mentally lazy person but we could say that
someone like that “lacks initiative.” I hope that answers your question.

 0   Reply  1 year ago

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Nicole is Spudinkel/TactlessMe and y friend Nadia have a joke 

that we say and i call her aloof and
she calls me tactless…
Guest

 0    Reply  1 year ago

Ibrahim 

Hello Annemarie,
Guest The lesson is very useful, rich with many new words and phrases. my example
is: I know a person who is armchair critic, because he afraid of responsibility .

 0    Reply  1 year ago 

Annemarie with Speak Con dent English 

Hello Ibrahim,
Author

Thank you for the comment and I’m glad you enjoyed the lesson.

Could you tell me why someone is an armchair critic if he’s afraid of

responsibility? This expression is used to say that someone is always
criticizing others but not because of responsibility.

 0   Reply  1 year ago

Rewaj bhutia 

The lesson is very helpful..

Guest
Just implementing the newly learnt words and phrases..😃
I know someone who is an aloof , aggressive , obnoxious,goody – goody,
Sometimes wet blanket ..and an introvert…coming to the conclusion it is
me…!!😃

 0   Reply  1 year ago 

Annemarie with Speak Con dent English 

Hello, Ibrahim.
Author

I’m happy to know this lesson was helpful. Now that you’ve
focused on the negatives, what about some positive adjectives?
🙂
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 0   Reply  1 year ago

Olga 

Hello Annemarie! The lesson is fantastic, so many new words and phrases. Now
Guest my example: I know a person who is always picky and he sees everything in the
negative light. Sometimes he is really a wet blanket for me at our weekends or
vacation but in spite of everything I love him so much because he is my elder
son:)))

 0    Reply  1 year ago 

Annemarie with Speak Con dent English 

I’m so glad you liked this lesson, Olga. Great use of the word picky and
Author
the expression to be a wet blanket! I suppose every family has one
person who is a bit picky, which can make things challenging for others.
🙂

 0   Reply  1 year ago

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