Your character is a nice person who does nice things. Meh. What if, instead, you said your character was kind-hearted, generous, and altruistic? Doesn’t that make them sound more interesting?
Using positive adjectives to describe characters helps bring them to life. When you use descriptive words, it reveals much more about your characters, conveying feelings, physical appearances, sensory perceptions, and fostering a connection to your readers.
A positive adjective is a descriptive word that conveys a favorable quality, often used to highlight the good traits of a character. Readers can learn about the character’s personality, their appearance, and even their inner world.
Why Use Positive Adjectives?
Using positive adjectives helps readers understand more about your characters and evoke feelings of admiration, sympathy, relatability, or even affection. Getting your readers to root for characters may keep them reading. You can use positive adjectives to contrast the differences between the characters you want readers to identify with versus the antagonists or villains. This heightens tension and creates potential conflict.
A positive adjective clarifies the tone attached to a noun to reflect happy feelings, admirable traits, physical beauty, or some other positive attribute. It helps readers understand what you are saying and why it matters.
Perhaps they express the joyful aftermath of selfless actions or the delight regarding a happy situation or circumstance. They can paint a glowing picture of a character’s mood, the magnificence of their inner personality, or the exquisiteness of their outer loveliness.
Nice Adjectives
When choosing adjectives to convey “nice” in your writing, consider the tone and level of formality of your story. Some adjectives will reflect a casual, familiar tone, while others will suggest a reserved, conventional one. Here are some examples:
- Alright: Acceptable, okay
- Amicable: Good-natured, agreeable, cordial
- Cheery: Happy, positive, optimistic
- Chivalrous: Mannerly, polite, gracious
- Cool: Imperturbable, serene, collected
- Cozy: Appealing, friendly, intimate
- Dear: Beloved, precious, valued
- Decent: Upright, suitable, good
- Game: Willing, inclined, disposed
- Genteel: Refined, discreet, polite
- Jolly: Ebullient, cheerful, bright
- Nifty: Clever, deft, adroit
- Posh: Stylish, elegant, fashionable
- Proper: Fitting, apt, suitable
- Sacred: Holy, revered
- Special: Exceptional, unique, extraordinary
- Tickled: Ecstatic, delighted, amused
- Wonderful: Magnificent, great, delightful
Good Adjectives to Describe a Person
There are many positive ways to describe a person. While you can merely say “good” or “nice,” there are far more descriptive words to convey character attributes to your readers. Consider these adjectives to succinctly express key aspects of a character:
Personality Traits
- Adroit: Clever, resourceful
- Adventurous: Willing to take risks or try new things
- Affectionate: Demonstrative, friendly, warm
- Amiable: Friendly, likable, good-natured
- Authentic: Realistic, genuine
- Bold: Confident, self-assured
- Brave: Courageous, not afraid to face danger or difficulty
- Bright: Cheery, lively, upbeat
- Clever: Quick-witted, intelligent, resourceful
- Cooperative: Accommodating, willing, supportive
- Courageous: Plucky, fearless, dauntless
- Daring: Heroic, adventurous, valiant
- Decisive: Able to make decisions quickly and confidently
- Dedicated: Devoted, staunch, committed
- Dependable: Trustworthy, responsible, steadfast
- Determined: Strongly motivated to achieve a goal, resolute
- Devoted: Dutiful, faithful, constant
- Diligent: Hard-working, industrious, conscientious
- Diplomatic: Tactful, discreet, subtle
- Discreet: Cautious, careful, tactful
- Eager: Enthusiastic, excited, fervent
- Easy-going: Relaxed, casual, laid-back
- Fearless: Brave, not afraid of danger or risk
- Fierce: Powerful, passionate
- Flamboyant: Colorful, glitzy
- Flexible: Compliant, acquiescent, amenable
- Forgiving: Lenient, magnanimous, tolerant
- Friendly: Kind, sociable, approachable
- Generous: Giving, charitable, willing to share
- Gentle: Kind, mild, tender
- Genuine: Sincere, open, unpretentious
- Gracious: Cordial, well-mannered, genial
- Hard-working: Diligent, industrious, conscientious
- Insightful: Astute, discerning, intuitive
- Intellectual: Cerebra, academic, scholarly
- Intuitive: Instinctive, perceptive
- Inventive: Ingenious, resourceful
- Keen: Sharp, precise, accurate
- Kind: Benevolent, compassionate, caring
- Knowledgeable: Informed, erudite, informed
- Lively: Animated, vivacious, bubbly
- Lovable: Endearing, engaging, captivating
- Loyal: Faithful, steadfast
- Merciful: Forgiving, understanding, benevolent
- Meticulous: Fastidious, precise
- Mindful: Sensible, thoughtful, heedful
- Modest: Humble, unassuming
- Natural: Genuine, unpretentious, sincere
- Nice: Polite, cordial, considerate
- Nurturing: Fostering, supporting, encouraging
- Observant: Attentive, vigilant, watchful
- Optimistic: Hopeful, positive
- Outgoing: Gregarious, extroverted
- Passionate: Enthusiastic, avid
- Paternal: Fatherly, protective
- Patient: Tolerant, able to endure delay or difficult situations without getting upset
- Perceptive: Keen, sharp, aware
- Personable: Likable, affable
- Pioneering: Innovative, groundbreaking, original
- Playful: Spirited, frisky
- Precocious: Clever, advanced, gifted
- Quirky: Original, unpredictable
- Resilient: Durable, buoyant, tough
- Reverent: Respectful, reverential
- Romantic: Amorous, adoring, tender
- Sagacious: Wise, discerning
- Saintly: Virtuous, angelic, righteous
- Sane: Well-balanced, rational, stable
- Selfless: Altruistic, noble, gallant
- Shrewd: Astute, crafty, sharp-witted
- Sociable: Convivial, hospitable, jolly
- Soft-hearted: Tender, gentle, kind
- Soulful: Expressive, emotional, moving
- Spiritual: Devout, saintly, heavenly
- Vibrant: Lively, animated, effervescent
- Vigilant: Watchful, observant, aware
- Warm: Kindhearted, welcoming, cordial
- Wise: Prudent, sensible, sage
Physical Descriptions
- Adorable: Cute, charming, lovable
- Athletic: Agile, lithe, muscular
- Agile: Dexterous, responsive, sprightly
- Alluring: Tempting, fascinating, captivating
- Appealing: Enticing, pleasing, interesting
- Bedazzling: Dazzling, blinding
- Bouncy: Playful, vivacious, animated
- Boyish: Youthful, fresh-faced
- Cute: Pretty, adorable, appealing
- Dainty: Delicate, exquisite, petite
- Dapper: Elegant, debonair, stylish
- Dazzling: Sensational, splendid, stunning
- Erect: Upright, firm
- Fabulous: Wonderful, magnificent, extraordinary
- Fair: Pearly, light, blond(e)
- Fetching: Attractive, appealing, becoming
- Fit: Healthy, robust, buff
- Flexible: Bendable, lithe, stretchy
- Glowing: Radiant, rosy, shining
- Good-looking: Lovely, attractive, handsome
- Gorgeous: Beautiful, stunning, striking
- Grinning: Cheerful, genial, radiant
- Lithe: Nimble, flexible, supple
- Majestic: Dignified, stately, regal
- Pretty: Lovely, graceful, attractive
- Suave: Polished, debonair
- Sexy: Seductive, sensuous, inviting
- Sinewy: Lean, muscly, strong
- Sleek: Shiny, glossy, lustrous
- Smiling: Cheery, sunny, bright
- Splendid: Grand, impressive, lavish
- Spry: Nimble, supple, agile
- Strapping: Burly, sturdy, well-built
- Striking: Eye-catching, stunning, dazzling
- Sturdy: Muscular, strong, robust
- Wholesome: Natural, fresh-faced, clean-cut
- Winsome: Fetching, attractive, lovely
- Young: Youthful, fresh
Emotional States
- Amazed: Astonished, surprised, flabbergasted
- Assertive: Positive, confident, self-assured
- Blessed: Pleasant, happy, lucky
- Blissful: Delightful, joyful, peaceful
- Calm: Peaceful, composed, serene
- Comforted: Gladdened, heartened, bolstered
- Ecstatic: Overjoyed, delighted, rapturous
- Enamored: Captivated, besotted, attracted
- Enchanted: Charmed, mesmerized, beguiled
- Enthralled: Entranced, captivated, engrossed
- Enthused: Excited, impassioned, motivated
Entranced: Rapt, absorbed, fascinated - Euphoric: Overjoyed, elated, exultant
- Exhilarated: Thrilled, energized, joyful
- Expectant: Eager, keen, hopeful
- Fascinated: Beguiled, enticed, awestruck
- Flattered: Pleased, grateful, thrilled
- Forgiving: Understanding, magnanimous, sympathetic
- Fulfilled: Contented, happy, pleased
- Grateful: Appreciative, thankful, glad
- Hopeful: Optimistic, confident, encouraged
- Incandescent: Glowing, radiant, luminous
- Joyful: Elated, jubilant, exultant
- Jubilant: Ecstatic, thrilled, euphoric
- Motivated: Determined, inspired, driven
- Optimistic: Hopeful, cheerful, positive
- Proud: Pleased, satisfied, fulfilled
- Satisfied: Contented, gratified, assured
- Self-confident: Poised, secure, assured
- Serene: Sedate, peaceful, tranquil
- Stoic: Tolerant, patient, enduring
- Strengthened: Emboldened, bolstered, heartened
- Unaffected: Unmoved, impervious, sincere
- Undaunted: Unafraid, carefree, unworried
- Victorious: Triumphant, exultant, gleeful
- Yearning: Craving, coveting, thirsting
Dialogue and Voice
- Animated: Energetic, vigorous, vivacious
- Articulate: Coherent, lucid, communicative
- Cheerful: Merry, jovial
- Clear: Distinct, pure
- Effervescent: Bubbly, bouncy, sparkling
- Eloquent: Expressive, fluent
- Engaging: Engrossing, absorbing
- Expressive: Animated, vivid
- Lively: Buoyant, spirited
- Lulling: Reassuring, pacifying, quietening
- Melodious: Pleasant, lyrical, harmonious
- Persuasive: Influential, swaying, believable
- Refined: Sophisticated, cultured, cultivated
- Resonant: Meaningful, significant, evocative
- Soothing: Calming, comforting, mollifying
Interactions/Social Dynamics
- Candid: Frank, sincere, forthright
- Charismatic: Magnetic, compelling, captivating
- Collaborative: United, mutual, cooperative
- Courteous: Well-mannered, polite, considerate
- Friendly: Affable, welcoming, approachable
- Gregarious: Outgoing, expressive, unreserved
- Loyal: Trustworthy, devoted, steadfast
- Supportive: Helpful, reassuring, empathetic
Kind Adjectives
When you create characters that possess kindness and warmth, readers connect with them. Consider some of these adjectives to describe them:
- Affectionate: Demonstrative, warm
- Benevolent: Generous, kindly
- Caring: Sensitive, attentive
- Charitable: Giving, helpful
- Compassionate: Caring, empathetic
- Considerate: Understanding, mindful
- Forgiving: Magnanimous, tolerant
- Gracious: Polite, cordial
- Kind-hearted: Humane, considerate
Merciful: Sympathetic, lenient - Sociable: Friendly, welcoming, responsive
- Selfless: Altruistic, noble
- Tender: Gentle, warm
Complimentary Adjectives
Do you want your character to earn points with someone? Imagine how a character might react when describing them with one of these complimentary adjectives:
- Approachable: Welcoming, amicable
- Artistic: Creative, talented
- Astute: Perceptive, incisive, clever
- Beautiful: Lovely, striking
- Bewitching: Captivating, enchanting, enthralling
- Blushing: Modest, coy
- Capable: Skilled, competent
- Charming: Pleasant, charismatic
- Creative: Imaginative, original, inventive
- Friendly: Kind, responsible, gracious
- Funny: Amusing, comical
- Handsome: Fine-looking, gorgeous
- Helpful: Obliging, accommodating, supportive
- Inspiring: Encouraging, enthusing, moving
- Intelligent: Smart, knowledgeable, intellectual
- Modest: Humble, unassuming
- Neighborly: Helpful, hospitable, caring
- Pioneering: Innovative, groundbreaking, original
- Sensible: Practical, reasonable, logical
- Stunning: Gorgeous, exquisite, striking
- Talented: Gifted, brilliant, artistic
- Thoughtful: Considerate, kindhearted, solicitous
- Versatile: Resourceful, flexible, adaptable
- Witty: Humorous, clever, amusing
Tips for Using Great Adjectives
Effective use of positive adjectives can enhance your fiction writing by creating vivid and engaging characters. Consider these tips when using adjectives:
- Be Precise: Use specific words that pinpoint the emotion or quality you want to convey. Avoid generic words like “nice” and consider “charming,” “engaging,” or “friendly” as alternatives.
- Use Adjectives to enhance “Show, Don’t Tell”: When you’re using positive adjectives to portray character traits, it improves your prose. Rather than saying “She was pretty,” try “Her stunning beauty awed those around her.”
- Use Balance and Variety: Use adjectives sparingly and purposefully. Overdoing may dilute their impact. It’s also a good idea to mix up positive, neutral, and negative adjectives to provide contrast and balance.
- Deepen Character Development: Use positive adjectives effectively to help readers connect with your characters.
- Avoid Clichés: Some words are overused. Be creative with your adjectives by replacing tired words like “pretty” with “exquisite,” “breathtaking,” or “gorgeous.”
- Use a Consistent Voice: Ensure the adjectives you use fit your story and tone. Pay attention to words that fit the degree of formality of your writing and the overall mood you wish to convey.
- Study Other Authors: Read works by authors you identify with, making note of how they incorporate positive adjectives in their prose.
- Analyze Your Work: Using tools to evaluate your work can help ensure you’re using adjectives most effectively. There are applications that identify your use of mundane words. Make sure you’re using them in the right context for your story. Fictionary software provides a means of analyzing your manuscript to confirm you’re tapping into the senses and staying true to your characters and the tone of your story.
In a nutshell, using positive adjectives can bring your writing to a new level. It affirms the uplifting traits of your sympathetic characters, contrasts them with unpleasant players, and makes your intent clear.