dishevelled
Having untidy hair and clothes, as if after a rush or a very long day.
Example: He arrives dishevelled after cycling through the rain.
C222 words · Proficient
Describing People vocabulary — C2
Describing People vocabulary that draws a person while quietly judging them, including willowy, sallow and ruddy, plus aloof and erudite.
22 questions
Words in this set
22attire
/əˈtaɪər/Clothing, especially the kind chosen for a formal or special occasion.
Example:
The invitation suggests formal attire for the evening.
willowy
/ˈwɪləwi/Tall, thin and graceful in the way you move.
Example:
The ballerina had a willowy figure that suited her movements.
sallow
Skin with an unhealthy yellowish colour, often from tiredness or poor health.
Example:
Years of shift work had left his skin looking sallow.
ruddy
/ˈrʌdi/Having a healthy reddish colour in the face, often from cold air or outdoor work.
Example:
The farmer had ruddy cheeks from working outside all day.
aquiline
A nose that curves outward slightly, like the beak of an eagle.
Example:
His sharp, aquiline nose gave him a distinguished look.
portly
/ˈpɔrtli/Having a fairly large, round body, especially used to describe an older man.
Example:
A portly gentleman in a waistcoat greeted the guests.
lanky
/ˈlæŋki/Very tall and thin, often moving in an awkward way.
Example:
The lanky teenager towered over his classmates.
wiry
/ˈwɪri/Thin but strong, with muscles that look tight rather than large.
Example:
The old climber was small and wiry, but surprisingly strong.
androgynous
/ænˈdrɔdʒənəs/Looking neither clearly male nor clearly female in appearance.
Example:
The model's androgynous look suited both the men's and women's collections.
svelte
/svɛlt/Slim and graceful in an attractive way.
Example:
She looked svelte in a coat that would have swamped anyone else.
gregarious
/ɡrəˈɡɛriəs/Enjoying the company of other people and happiest in a large group.
Example:
My gregarious flatmate knows everyone in the building.
aloof
/əˈluf/Keeping a cool distance from other people and choosing not to join in.
Example:
He's aloof at team events and always leaves early.
erudite
/ˈɛrəˌdaɪt/Showing deep knowledge gained from years of serious reading and study.
Example:
Her erudite replies impress everyone on the panel.
pedantic
/pəˈdæntɪk/Too concerned with small details or rules, especially in a way that annoys other people.
Example:
He's so pedantic he corrects everyone's grammar mid-sentence.
sanguine
/ˈsæŋɡwɪn/Confidently hopeful, even when a situation is difficult.
Example:
He remained sanguine despite the company's falling sales.
taciturn
/ˈtæsɪˌtɜrn/Saying very little and not liking to talk much.
Example:
The old fisherman was taciturn, answering questions in a single word.
mercurial
/mərˈkjʊriəl/Changing mood or behaviour suddenly and unpredictably.
Example:
The director had a mercurial temper that kept the whole crew on edge.
magnanimous
/mæɡˈnænəməs/Generous and forgiving, especially towards someone you have beaten or who has less power than you.
Example:
She was magnanimous in victory, praising her opponent's effort.
self-effacing
Not liking to talk about your own achievements or draw attention to yourself.
Example:
Despite his fame, he remained remarkably self-effacing.
garrulous
/ˈɡɛrələs/Talking a great deal, especially about unimportant things.
Example:
The garrulous taxi driver talked non-stop for the whole journey.
phlegmatic
/flɛɡˈmætɪk/Calm and not easily upset or excited.
Example:
A phlegmatic captain is worth more than a brilliant one in a storm.
