Negative character traits

Traits generally treated as flaws, each with a definition, synonyms, antonyms and example sentences.

⌘ K

Abrasive

Harsh and wearing in manner, rubbing people the wrong way over time.

harsh · caustic · grating

Anxious

Persistently uneasy about what might go wrong, often without a specific cause.

apprehensive · uneasy · nervous

Apathetic

Lacking interest or concern about things that ought to matter.

indifferent · uninterested · unmoved

Arrogant

Convinced of one's own superiority and dismissive of everyone else's worth.

haughty · conceited · supercilious

Biased

Unfairly favouring one person, group or outcome over another.

prejudiced · partial · one-sided

Bitter

Soured by long-held disappointment or resentment.

embittered · jaded · sour

Boastful

Talking about one's own achievements far more than others want to hear.

bragging · swaggering · self-aggrandising

Callous

Unfeeling toward the suffering of others, usually through hardened indifference.

unfeeling · indifferent · hardened

Careless

Failing to give something the attention it needs, so that mistakes follow.

negligent · slapdash · sloppy

Complacent

So satisfied with how things are that one stops making any effort to improve them.

self-satisfied · smug · unconcerned

Conceited

Excessively pleased with one's own abilities or appearance.

vain · self-satisfied · boastful

Condescending

Treating others as less capable while appearing to be helpful or kind.

patronising · supercilious · high-handed

Cowardly

Lacking the courage to face danger or do what is right, in a way that lets others down.

craven · spineless · gutless

Craven

Contemptibly cowardly, especially in abandoning duty or principle.

cowardly · abject · pusillanimous

Cruel

Willing to cause pain or suffering to others, and untroubled by doing so.

callous · heartless · merciless

Cynical

Believing that people are motivated mainly by self-interest.

distrustful · jaded · sceptical

Deceitful

Given to actively creating a false impression in other people's minds.

duplicitous · double-dealing · scheming

Defeatist

Assuming failure is certain, and giving up before genuinely trying.

fatalistic · resigned · despairing

Dishonest

Willing to lie, cheat or mislead in order to gain something.

deceitful · untrustworthy · crooked

Dogmatic

Asserting beliefs as unquestionable fact and refusing to consider alternatives.

doctrinaire · opinionated · rigid

Evasive

Avoiding direct answers in order to keep something concealed.

cagey · elusive · equivocal

Fainthearted

Lacking the nerve to begin or continue something difficult.

timorous · irresolute · hesitant

Foolhardy

Bravely taking a risk that no sensible assessment could justify.

reckless · madcap · daredevil

Gloomy

Persistently low in mood and inclined to see the dark side of things.

morose · melancholy · downcast

Haughty

Coldly proud in a way that treats others as beneath notice.

disdainful · lofty · imperious

Heartless

Completely lacking in pity or warmth toward other people.

pitiless · cold-blooded · unfeeling

Hesitant

Slow to act or decide because of uncertainty or self-doubt.

indecisive · irresolute · tentative

Hot-tempered

Quick to lose one's temper over small provocations.

irascible · quick-tempered · volatile

Hypocritical

Claiming standards that one's own behaviour does not meet.

two-faced · sanctimonious · self-serving

Idle

Not working or occupied, especially when there is work available.

unoccupied · inactive · loafing

Impulsive

Acting suddenly on feeling, without pausing to think it through.

rash · spur-of-the-moment · hasty

Inconsiderate

Failing to think about how one's actions affect other people.

thoughtless · selfish · careless

Insecure

Persistently uncertain of one's own worth or ability, and needing reassurance.

self-doubting · unconfident · uncertain

Insincere

Saying things one does not actually mean, especially warmth or praise.

hollow · affected · insubstantial

Irritable

Easily annoyed and inclined to show it.

testy · tetchy · grumpy

Lazy

Unwilling to work or make an effort when effort is expected.

idle · slothful · workshy

Manipulative

Skilled at steering other people's choices for one's own ends, usually without their knowing.

scheming · calculating · exploitative

Materialistic

Valuing possessions and money above relationships, ideas or principles.

acquisitive · worldly · money-minded

Merciless

Refusing to show leniency even when there is every reason to.

pitiless · unrelenting · implacable

Naive

Lacking the experience or judgement to see how things really work.

credulous · gullible · unworldly

Needy

Requiring more attention and reassurance than others can comfortably give.

clingy · demanding · dependent

Negligent

Failing to take proper care over something one is responsible for.

neglectful · remiss · derelict

Obnoxious

Loudly and persistently unpleasant to be around.

insufferable · boorish · objectionable

Obstinate

Stubbornly refusing to change, in a way that is unreasonable and frustrating to others.

intransigent · pigheaded · immovable

Paranoid

Convinced without good reason that others intend harm or are working against one.

suspicious · distrustful · mistrustful

Pessimistic

Expecting things to turn out badly.

gloomy · despondent · defeatist

Pompous

Self-important in a stiff, showy, faintly ridiculous way.

grandiose · bombastic · self-important

Pretentious

Trying to appear more important, cultured or intelligent than one actually is.

affected · pompous · showy

Rash

Acting or deciding too quickly, without weighing the obvious risks.

hasty · precipitate · ill-considered

Reckless

Acting without regard for danger or consequences, to oneself or others.

heedless · foolhardy · irresponsible

Resentful

Holding onto a sense of having been treated unfairly.

aggrieved · embittered · begrudging

Rude

Behaving in a way that disregards ordinary good manners toward others.

impolite · discourteous · brusque

Ruthless

Willing to do whatever a goal requires, regardless of who is harmed.

merciless · remorseless · hard-nosed

Self-conscious

Uncomfortably aware of being watched and judged by others.

awkward · ill-at-ease · sheepish

Shallow

Lacking depth of thought or feeling, and concerned only with surfaces.

superficial · frivolous · trivial

Smug

Openly and irritatingly satisfied with one's own cleverness or good fortune.

self-satisfied · complacent · priggish

Spineless

Lacking the firmness to stand up for oneself or for what is right.

weak-willed · submissive · gutless

Tactless

Saying the wrong thing at the wrong moment without noticing the harm.

insensitive · gauche · clumsy

Thoughtless

Acting without pausing to consider the consequences for others.

careless · heedless · unthinking

Timid

Easily frightened and reluctant to act with confidence.

shy · bashful · hesitant

Vain

Excessively proud of one's own appearance or qualities.

conceited · narcissistic · preening

Vicious

Deliberately savage or spiteful in attacking someone.

savage · brutal · malicious

Vindictive

Determined to punish or get revenge on someone for a wrong.

vengeful · spiteful · unforgiving

What makes a trait negative?

Negative character traits are the qualities that cause harm or hold a person back: cruel, arrogant, dishonest, lazy. They are also, for anyone writing fiction, the more useful half of the list.

A flaw is not the same as a villain. The most memorable characters are usually sympathetic people carrying one real weakness, rather than unpleasant people carrying ten. Note also how many entries here carry a "depends on context" note — traits like lazy and needy are judged far more often than they are understood.

Browse the other categories

Positive character traits — Traits generally seen as strengths — qualities people admire and try to build.
Neutral character traits — Traits that are neither good nor bad on their own — their value depends on context.
All character traits — the full searchable database.