Every character is composed of attributes that you, the writer, must select. These character traits, including both physical traits and personality traits, are infinitely variable and ultimately result in a mix of positive and negative characteristics that propel your story forward.
A careful balance of qualities makes your character come to life for the reader, so it is essential that you take the time to create a character with many layers to their personality. Characters with only one note to their disposition come across as wooden and fake, whereas real people have intricate backstories and many different character traits that develop over time as they grow and change through the experiences of their lives.
In this article, you’ll learn what character traits are and how to use our comprehensive character traits list to build a compelling character.
What are character traits?
Character traits are words that describe how your character behaves and what kind of person they are. They’re how you would describe your character to someone else. Think of your favorite heroes and villains. What are their characteristics?
Remember, your character is not you, but a fictional persona that you can mold to suit your story. Give them an age and gender along with physical attributes, but also consider the many layers of their personality that will have developed over the course of their life.
You can draw from your own past experiences, and even take hidden aspects of your own nature to give your characters life. Often there are aspects of ourselves or others that we wish to examine through the lens of fiction, so borrow liberally!
When determining your character’s traits, think about how they might respond to a certain situation. Is your character foolhardy and stubborn, refusing help even when they desperately need it? Does your character have a soft underbelly that’s only revealed at a critical juncture of the story? Are they honest or duplicitous? The options are infinite.
Often, when you become stuck it’s because your character needs more definition. This is when you must think beyond the surface level and dig for qualities that impact the plot directly.
A character who is not trustworthy is going to lie. A character who is secretly jealous is going to undermine others. A character who is generous to a fault is going to give too much to the wrong people. In this way, character traits can lend direction and momentum to your story.
An example
In Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove, the titular main character is a 59-year-old man who is reeling from the loss of his wife and unborn child. Ove’s been forced into early retirement by his boss at the housing office, leaving Ove feeling useless and directionless for the first time in his life.
Sadly, Ove sets about ending his life to join his wife in the afterlife, a grim task that he goes about in a very methodical way. He’s not hysterical, but patient and dedicated as he pursues his goal. To other characters, Ove is decidedly grumpy, rude, and short-tempered, but the reader feels a strong affection for him as he very practically pursues ending his life.
Ove’s character traits of being detail-oriented, dedicated and stubborn all give the reader a very particular view of him as a person. Had Ove been given other qualities, we would perceive him very differently. It is this unique mix of characteristics that makes Ove feel like a real person.
As the story proceeds, Ove encounters a cat and a woman named Parvaneh, both of whom need his help. He delays his exit plans to give Parvaneh rides to the hospital and to protect the cat from a neighbor’s dog. Despite his initially grumpy demeanor, Ove’s good nature and kindness shine through, preventing him from leaving the world in the face of a community that relies on him.
Ultimately, Ove is not only rude and short-tempered at times, but also selfless and caring at others. Backman chose a careful mix of qualities that not only make Ove more interesting for the reader, but also drive the plot and heart of the story.
This is why we look to character traits to draw readers in.
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How to select character traits
It can feel a little overwhelming to select words from a long list of character traits, so we suggest you indulge in a little reflection to ground yourself in your goals for your character. Remember, you are the maker of this fictional world! What you say goes.
Start by considering your character’s problem, why we might sympathize with them, and why we like them. What words come to mind that best describe their positive traits? Don’t worry about finding the perfect word at this point. That’s what our handy list is for! Just identify your goals in how you want your character to appeal to the reader.
How does your character present early in the story? How do they change over the course of the story? Are they hiding parts of themselves that will be revealed later?
Continue to layer on personality flaws and subtle traits that will make your character so compelling that the reader cannot look away from your story. Remember, a negative trait can be a positive when shared with vulnerability to the reader!
In A Man Called Ove, the main character behaves quite rudely to others early on, but that negative character trait just makes the reader want to understand why Ove is lashing out. We suspect there is deep pain beneath his actions, and as we read on, we find out we are right. This kind of emotional intimacy bonds the reader to your character, so be sure to own their flaws!
Finally, consider the qualities your character may have that are neither positive nor negative. These are called neutral character traits. They are characteristics that could come across as positive or negative depending on the circumstances, such as a character being meticulous. A meticulous person may use that quality to annoy people or to help people. It depends on how you apply the characteristic in the plot.
Once you have a rough idea of your character’s positive, negative, and neutral traits, scroll through our list below to refine them further. You may come across a word that appeals to you, but you aren’t sure why. That’s an opportunity to explore your character’s backstory, which may reveal why you were drawn to that quality.
Remember, your first job as a writer is to tell yourself the story, so it’s okay to have fun with this and play and explore all the traits your character could embody, even characteristics you had not considered prior.
We’ve compiled the most comprehensive list of character traits to assist you in this task, as you build your own unique and compelling character.
Scroll through and select the qualities that resonate most with you!
Positive character traits
While character traits can be seen as positive or negative depending on your perspective, positive traits are those that generally foster positive relationships in your character’s life.
Positive character traits are the qualities that make readers fall in love with your character and root for them to succeed. Often, we see these qualities quite early on.
In A Man Called Ove, we are introduced to Ove’s preparations to end his life from the compelling angle of his concern for how others may find him. He wants to control his exit to be as practical and harmless as possible. This fastidiousness is appealing to the reader. Even though Ove is outwardly grumpy, we see that he is a considerate person right away.
Positive character traits can take many forms, from emotional traits to intellectual, interpersonal, and moral qualities. We’ve broken our list into these four categories to make your selections easy.
Keep scrolling for our lists of negative and neutral traits!
Emotional traits
Accepting
Active
Adventurous
Affectionate
Amiable
Appreciative
Balanced
Cheerful
Content
Daring
Decisive
Delighted
Dynamic
Eager
Ecstatic
Energetic
Enthusiastic
Expressive
Fearless
Funny
Grateful
Happy
Hopeful
Interested
Joyful
Optimistic
Patient
Peaceful
Playful
Powerful
Proud
Resilient
Satisfied
Tenacious
Unpretentious
Valiant
Versatile
Vibrant
Vigilant
Warmhearted
Whimsical
Worldly
Intellectual traits
Adaptable
Ambitious
Articulate
Artistic
Bright
Brilliant
Creative
Curious
Educational
Focused
Imaginative
Ingenious
Inquisitive
Open-minded
Passionate
Persistent
Resolute
Scholarly
Smart
Visionary
Well-read
Wise
Witty
Interpersonal traits
Accommodating
Affable
Amiable
Appreciative
Approachable
Authentic
Benevolent
Caring
Charismatic
Charming
Communicative
Compassionate
Considerate
Cooperative
Empathetic
Forgiving
Friendly
Hospitable
Humorous
Impressed
Kind
Leader-like
Loving
Respectful
Romantic
Smiling
Sociable
Supportive
Sweet
Sympathetic
Team-worker
Trusting
Understanding
Warm
Moral traits
Accountable
Adaptable
Brave
Committed
Conscientious
Courageous
Ethical
Fair
Faithful
Hardworking
Having integrity
Honest
Honorable
Humble
Just
Principled
Proactive
Punctual
Reliable
Responsible
Righteous
Selfless
Steadfast
Thankful
Trustworthy
Truthful
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Negative character traits
On the flip side, your character will have less desirable traits that impact their relationships negatively, both with others and with themselves.
Some common character flaws include our heroes being vain, conceited or narcissistic; lustful, libidinous or predatory; proud, deluded or boastful; angry, vengeful or rash. Your character might be more on the pathetic side of flawed—miserable, helpless and isolated; slothful, apathetic, small-minded or indifferent.
In A Man Called Ove, the main character is abrasive, short-tempered and argumentative. Backman does not shield us from these negative characteristics. He shows them to us plainly, so we can become curious as to why Ove behaves this way.
Take your time considering how a few negative traits might enrich your character as you scroll through our comprehensive list, and keep going for our list of neutral traits!
Emotional traits
Agitated
Angry
Annoyed
Anxious
Bitter
Conceited
Defeated
Disgusted
Dramatic
Emotional
Enraged
Envious
Frenetic
Furious
Grumpy
Hateful
Hopeless
Hysterical
Indignant
Insecure
Irritated
Jealous
Jittery
Miserable
Moody
Numb
Obstinate
Overbearing
Overwhelmed
Paranoid
Pessimistic
Petty
Phony
Pretentious
Resentful
Restless
Self-pitying
Smug
Stubborn
Superficial
Tense
Vain
Willful
Intellectual traits
Close-minded
Critical
Disagreeable
Dismissive
Impulsive
Indifferent
Judgmental
Rigid
Skeptical
Interpersonal traits
Abrasive
Abusive
Aggressive
Argumentative
Arrogant
Belligerent
Boastful
Bullying
Cold-hearted
Conceited
Cruel
Defensive
Destructive
Difficult
Disagreeable
Dishonest
Distant
False
Frustrated
Haughty
Hostile
Immature
Impatient
Insensitive
Know-it-all
Manipulative
Narcissistic
Offended
Passive-aggressive
Patronizing
Pretentious
Rebellious
Resentful
Rude
Sadistic
Selfish
Short-tempered
Uncharitable
Unfriendly
Unreliable
Violent
Moral traits
Amoral
Bigoted
Conniving
Cowardly
Deceitful
Disingenuous
Duplicitous
Evasive
Greedy
Hypocritical
Intolerant
Irresponsible
Lazy
Liar
Misleading
Prideful
Shifty
Sneaky
Unethical
Vengeful
Neutral character traits
Some character traits can be seen as either positive or negative depending on the context and perception of the situation. In this case, what matters is how you apply these character traits.
In A Man Called Ove, Ove’s stubborn determination to end his life transitions to stubborn determination to protect a cat. In this way, his stubborn character trait has both positive and negative connotations.
Neutral traits are a great way to develop your character and play a bit of a game with the reader. Here are some of the most common neutral character traits. Select a few and have fun creating your multi-layered, perfectly unique character!
Emotional traits
Alarmed
Amused
Apathetic
Ashamed
Audacious
Balanced
Bewildered
Bored
Busy
Calm
Cautious
Confused
Consistent
Depressed
Despairing
Discerning
Embarrassed
Frightened
Grounded
Guilty
Hesitant
Horrified
Humiliated
Impartial
Indifferent
Let-down
Moderate
Neutral
Plain
Practical
Relaxed
Sad
Sensitive
Sentimental
Shocked
Steady
Stoic
Strange
Stubborn
Successful
Surprised
Terrified
Timid
Tired
Unassuming
Worried
Intellectual traits
Analytical
Capable
Clever
Contemplative
Efficient
Expert
Fastidious
Intelligent
Knowledgable
Logical
Methodical
Meticulous
Objective
Observant
Perceptive
Popular
Pragmatic
Reflective
Resourceful
Thoughtful
Interpersonal traits
Assertive
Bold
Compliant
Confident
Discreet
Easygoing
Flexible
Impartial
Independent
Lonely
Loyal
Melancholic
Mischievous
Nervous
Nonchalant
Odd
Perceptive
Quiet
Reserved
Scared
Shy
Solitary
Tolerant
Unbiased
Vulnerable
Withdrawn
Moral traits
Ambitious
Diplomatic
Frugal
Modest
Obedient
Perfectionist
Rational
Realistic
Sensible
Sensitive
Serene
Serious
Why use character traits?
The key to a nuanced and thoughtful character is making them as real and flawed as real human beings. All people have a deep mix of conflicting qualities that comprise their personality, from traits we admire to those that we regard as undesirable.
Ultimately, a balance of traits lives within each of us. Everyone has gifts. Everyone has flaws. And everyone changes over time.
To create a realistic character, we must set aside our authorial judgment and allow our characters to inhabit the complexity of a human life. Humans struggle and fail at times and grow and succeed at others. We are never any one thing, but a mix of things at all times.
If you allow yourself to accept your character’s flaws, you will merely present them as an authentic person to your reader. The more vulnerable you and your character are, the more the reader will follow them. So be honest, be vulnerable, and build your character with authenticity.
Remember to aim for a balance of virtues and flaws and to introduce them slowly over the course of the story, revealing compelling subtleties with each page turn. We don’t want to dump every detail about our character on the reader’s lap on page one!
Instead, allow yourself to reveal each aspect of your character with actions that show who they are, ultimately allowing the reader to connect with their humanity and invest in their story.
When in doubt, refer to this comprehensive list of character traits and make bold choices. Selecting a compelling mix of character traits is the key to creating unforgettable characters!
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