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Dictionary definitions of Character Traits

The relationship between character traits

This page includes dictionary definitions of key character traits and personality qualities. It includes definitions, synonyms, and examples to clarify meaning. The qualities listed below are all inter-related to some extent. There is a group that centers around whether a person reaches out aggressively or holds back cautiously. Some individuals are efficient and organized while others easy-going and carefree. People tend to be outgoing or introverted. They can be compassionate or cold and suspicious. People can have various levels of emotional wellbeing. Children, especially, need to develop positive character traits that will benefit themselves and those around them. Knowing specific definitions shows differences between various personality types and will assist in effectively working with them.

Active
Engaged in action; characterized by energetic work, participation, etc.; busy: an active life. Having the power of quick motion; nimble: active as a gazelle. Causing activity or change; capable of exerting influence.

Adaptable
To make suitable to or fit for a specific use or situation. Change expectations to make a situation acceptable. Able to work with others to come to a mutually agreeable solution.

Affectionate
Showing, indicating, or characterized by affection or love; fondly tender: an affectionate embrace. Having great affection or love; warmly attached; loving: your affectionate brother.

Ambitious
Having ambition; eagerly desirous of achieving or obtaining success, power, wealth, a specific goal, etc.: ambitious students. Showing or caused by ambition: an ambitious attempt to break the record. Strongly desirous; eager: ambitious of love and approval. Requiring exceptional effort, ability, etc.: an ambitious program for eliminating all slums.

Attentive
Characterized by or giving attention; observant: an attentive audience. Thoughtful of others; considerate; polite; courteous: an attentive host.

Brave
Having or showing courage under difficult or dangerous conditions.

Brilliant
Distinguished; illustrious: a brilliant performance by a young pianist. Having or showing great intelligence, talent, quality, etc.: a brilliant technician.

Busy
Actively and attentively engaged in work or a pastime: busy with her work. Not at leisure; otherwise engaged: He couldn't see any visitors because he was busy.

Calm
Free from excitement or passion; tranquil: a calm face; a calm manner. Also freedom from agitation, excitement, or passion; tranquillity; serenity: She faced the possibility of death with complete calm.

Capable
Having the ability or capacity for: a man capable of judging art. Predisposed to; inclined to: capable of winning.

Careful
Attentive to potential danger, error, or harm; cautious. Thorough and painstaking in action or execution; conscientious.

Cautious
React carefully and slowly to circumstances. Not quick to act without substantial information.

Charismatic
A special virtue ability for leadership, worthiness of veneration, or the like. Personality for leadership.

Charming
A power of pleasing or attracting, as through personality or beauty. To delight, fascinate or please greatly.

Cheerful
In good spirits: a cheerful person. Promoting a pleasant environment. Hearty or ungrudging goodwill.

Compassionate
Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.

Kindly concern aroused by the misfortune, affliction, or suffering of another. Compassion denotes deep awareness of the suffering of another and the wish to relieve it: Commiseration signifies the expression of pity or sorrow. Sympathy denotes the act of or capacity for sharing in the sorrows or troubles of another. Condolence is a formal, conventional expression of pity, usually to relatives upon a death. Empathy is an identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives.

Concerned
Attention to detail. Involved in or affected by or having a claim to or share in. Connected by participation or association or use.

Confident
Feeling or showing no doubt. Belief based on experience or evidence: Assurance founded on faith or reliance in oneself or in others. Full, emphatic certainty.

Conscientious
Characterized by extreme care and great effort. Exercising caution or showing care or attention. Guided by or in accordance with conscience or sense of right and wrong.

Considerate
Having or marked by regard for the needs or feelings of others. Having or showing a sense of what is fitting. Anticipate needs or wishes of others.

Cooperative
Willingness to participate with others. Work in harmony to accomplish tasks or goals.

Courageous
implies consciously rising to a specific test by drawing on a reserve of inner strength. Fearless emphasizes absence of fear and resolute self-possession. Bold stresses readiness to meet danger or difficulty and often a tendency to seek it out. Dauntless refers to courage that resists subjection or intimidation.

Creative
Characterized by originality and expressiveness; imaginative. Producing something fresh or unusual. Able to work around problems to reach solutions or goals.

Daring
To have the necessary courage or boldness for something; be bold enough: You wouldn't dare! To have the boldness to try; venture; hazard. Challenge others to take decisive steps.

Decisive
Able to deal with issues conclusively and thoroughly. Can resolve problems and move toward completion. Makes decisions with firmness and resolve.

Dependable
Worthy of reliance or trust. Trustworthy, believable. Able to overcome obstacles to get the expected results. Can be counted on for reliable information. Devote full strength and concentrated attention to issues. Does not easily yield to opposition. Strong desire to succeed.

Determined
Resolve to reach a conclusion. Defend under adverse circumstances.

Dependable
To be counted on to complete an assignment. Able and willing to protect possessions or assets. Worthy of trust; reliable:

Diligent
Active or sustained effort. Stays persistently dedicated to tasks at hand. Follows directions closely. Does not deviate from planned direction.

Efficient
Acting or producing results with a minimum of waste, expense, or unnecessary effort. Able tp complete tasks on a timely basis.

Encouraging
To inspire with hope. To stimulate; spur on. To advance a cause. Give confidence to.

Energetic
Able to sustain enthusiastic activity. Implies healthy strength and robustness. Alert, energetic activity; stays busy.

Enthusiastic
showing great excitement and interest. A positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something. Lively interest in an activity or project.

Fair
Free of favoritism or bias; impartial. In a dispute, is just to all parties. Gives out rewards according to what is earned. Follows the rules for the activity involved.

Faithful
Adhering firmly and devotedly, as to a person, cause, or idea; loyal. A steadfast adherent of a faith or cause. Loyalty that is not easily deflected. Unshakable attachment or allegiance.

Fearless
Being able to overcome feelings of distress, apprehension, or alarm caused by impending danger, pain, etc. Act courageously without holding back.

Forgiving
Able to not hold wrongdoing against others. Show mercy. Has a tolerance for errors. Has the best interests of the offending parties at heart.

Friendly
Favorably disposed toward others; not antagonistic or hostile. Warm and responsive. Open, approachable, and hospitable personality.

Generous
Tending to give freely. Willing to give of resources, time, and money with no expectation of return. Is not concerned about what resources have been given up.

Gentle
Handle with special care and kindness. Restrain harsh or rough treatment. Soothing and comforting. Calming.

Giving
The builtin desire to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation; bestow: to give a birthday present to someone. To furnish, provide, or proffer: to give evidence; Let me give you my umbrella before you go out in this rain. To relinquish or sacrifice: to give one's life for a cause.

Gracious
to be pleasantly kind, benevolent, and courteous. To be merciful or compassionate: our gracious king.

Grateful
To be warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful: I am grateful to you for your help.

Happy
To be delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing: to be happy to see a person. Characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy: a happy mood; a happy frame of mind.

Helpful
To give or render aid or assistance; of service: Your comments were very helpful.

Honesty
Adherence to moral principles. Conformity to high standards of ethics or excellence. The quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech. Truthful.

Hospitable
Inclined to making others feel welcome. Treats guests and strangers cordially and generously. Looks for opportunities to meet needs.

Humble
Marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful. Does not promote self unseemingly. Not prideful of personal position or ability.

Imaginative
Characterized by independent and creative thought or action. Having the ability or power to originate new methods and direction.

Impartial
Not prejudiced towards or against any particular side or party; fair; unbiased. Treats everyone the same.

Independent
Is not influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion, conduct, etc.; thinking or acting for oneself: an independent thinker. Is not subject to another's authority or jurisdiction; autonomous; free: an independent businessman. Is not influenced by the thought or action of others: independent research. Is not relying on another or others for aid or support.

Industrious
Working energetically and devotedly; hard-working; diligent: an industrious person. Is it characterized by effort and attention.

Integrity
Knowing the difference between right and wrong and being committed to the adherence of moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

Loyal
Is faithfulness to commitments or obligations. Includes faithful adherence to a sovereign, government, leader, cause, etc: A man with fierce loyalties.

Mercy
Alleviating distress; bringing relief: Kind, sympathetic, or forgiving treatment toward others. Reduce or eliminate punishment. Giving additional chances to others to succeed in there work or activities.

Meticulous
Ability to take or show extreme care about minute details; precise; thorough: a meticulous craftsman; meticulous personal appearance. This person is finicky; fussy: shows a meticulous adherence to technicalities.

Obedient
Dutifully complying with the commands, orders, or instructions of one in authority. Adhering stedfastly to directions given. Willing to be taught. Easilly managed.

Observant
Tends to quickly notice or perceive; alert. Will look at, watch, or regard attentively; is very watchful. Typically is careful in the observing of a law, custom, religious ritual, or the like.

Patience
Capacity to endure hardship, difficulty, or inconvenience without complaint. Emphasizes calmness, self-control, and the willingness or ability to tolerate delay. Long endurance waiting for resolution of issues.

Peaceful
not aggressive; not given to fighting or excessive assertiveness. Works through issues without agitation. Minimizes conflict.

Persevering
Adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a purpose; steadfastness. Continuing under difficult circumstances without interruption.

Persuasive
Tending to have the power to induce action or belief. Capable of convincing. Passionate in beliefs.

Positive
Characterized by or displaying certainty, acceptance, or affirmation. Expresses confidence in the future. Is optimistic about people and their performance.

Reliable
This person is dependable in achievement, accuracy, honesty, etc.: will yield reliable information. They are able to be trusted; predictable.

Respectful
Courteous. Showing good manners. Willing to submit to authority gladly.

Responsible
Is accountable for actions or of the discharge of a duty. Able to be trusted or depended upon; reliable. Characterized by good judgment or sound thinking. Fulfills obligations. Reports problems and concerns to proper authority.

Self-control
Control of one's emotions, desires, or actions by one's own will. The act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses. Act or practice of refraining from indulging an appetite. Ability in a crisis to say or do the right thing in an emergency.

Sensitive
Attuned to the attitudes, feelings, or circumstances of others. Perceives changes in conditions. Responds to others well, taking into account their best interests.

Sincere
Does not put on false fronts; genuine. Being without hypocrisy or pretense; true to beliefs and people. Not deceptive or fraudulent. Concerned with work or important matters.

Tactful
Has a sense of what is fitting and considerate in dealing with others, so as to avoid giving offence or to win good will; discretion. Possesses the skill or judgment to handling difficult or delicate situations; diplomacy.

Tenacious
Will hold fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold (often fol. by of ): a tenacious grip on my arm. Persistent, stubborn, or obstinate. Holding together; cohesive; not easily pulled asunder; tough

Thorough
Painstakingly accurate or careful. Exhaustively complete. Exercising caution or showing care or attention. Covering every component or step.

Tolerant
Able to withstand or endure an adverse conditions. Inclined to live with the beliefs, practices, or traits of others; forbearing.

Trustworthy
Worthy of reliance or trust. Steadfast in affection or allegiance. Worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust. Not disposed to cheat or defraud.

Unselfish
Willing to give and share of self without expecting return. Being willing to take on a lesser role or benefit so that others may expand. Give others on the team credit for work accomplished.

Wise
Having the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting. Exhibiting common sense; prudent. Being able to apply knowledge to skillfully carry out work.

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SBI!