A good character sketch — in a GRE essay, an editorial, or a novel — rarely uses simple words like "greedy" or "brave" more than once. Instead, skilled writers reach for precise nouns that name a trait outright. This lesson collects eleven such words, ranging from very negative traits like chicanery to admirable ones like tenacity and aplomb.

The Core Idea

These words name enduring qualities of character or conduct — not passing emotions, but the kind of trait you would use to describe what someone is generally like.

Eleven Character and Personality Nouns
WordMeaningExample
ChicaneryTrickery; using cleverness to deceive people.After two years of financial chicanery, he was finally caught.
AvariceExtreme greed for wealth or material gain.Driven by avarice, the employee stole money from the company vault.
BigotryUnreasonable attachment to one's own opinions, and intolerance of others'.Religious bigotry was dividing the people of the region.
TenacityPersistence in holding firmly to a course, position, or belief.The soldier's tenacity in holding his post till the very end was admirable.
CompunctionA feeling of guilt or moral hesitation.He could cheat anyone without the slightest compunction.
AsceticA self-denying person who avoids worldly pleasures.Jain monks are ascetics who renounce worldly pleasures.
OpulenceGreat wealth; luxuriousness.The movie star lived in complete opulence.
FelicityIntense, blissful happiness.I was overcome with felicity when my son was born.
GustoEnjoyment and enthusiasm in doing something.We celebrated her birthday with real gusto.
AplombCalm self-confidence, especially in a demanding situation.She handled the difficult interview with perfect aplomb.
ÉclatBrilliant, conspicuous success or effect.She finished her dance performance with tremendous éclat.
Don't Confuse These

Ascetic vs. aesthetic: these look and sound alike but mean very different things. An ascetic renounces comfort and pleasure; something aesthetic relates to beauty and art appreciation. A monk can be deeply ascetic while having no interest in aesthetics at all.

Quick Tip

Sort these words by tone before you memorise them — it cuts your work in half. Negative traits: chicanery, avarice, bigotry, compunction (the lack of it is the flaw). Positive or neutral traits: tenacity, ascetic, felicity, gusto, aplomb, éclat. Neutral/context-dependent: opulence.

✏️ Quick Practice — Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct word: chicanery, avarice, bigotry, tenacity, compunction, ascetic, opulence, felicity, gusto, aplomb, éclat.

  1. The politician was caught using ___________ to manipulate the election results.
  2. The CEO's ___________ caused him to prioritise profits over his employees' well-being.
  3. The speaker's ___________ prevented him from listening to other viewpoints.
  4. Despite the setbacks, her ___________ helped her achieve her goals.
  5. He felt a sense of ___________ after realising the harm his actions had caused.
  6. The monk chose to live an ___________ lifestyle, giving up all worldly possessions.
  7. The couple's ___________ was apparent in their luxurious home and expensive cars.
  8. The young girl's ___________ was contagious as she laughed and played with her friends.
  9. He ate the delicious meal with ___________, savouring every bite.
  10. Despite the challenging situation, she faced it with ___________ and grace.
  11. Her latest novel was received with great ___________.

Answers: 1. chicanery  |  2. avarice  |  3. bigotry  |  4. tenacity  |  5. compunction  |  6. ascetic  |  7. opulence  |  8. felicity  |  9. gusto  |  10. aplomb  |  11. éclat

Summary

Chicanery, avarice, and bigotry describe dishonest or narrow-minded conduct. Compunction is the guilt a decent person feels — and its absence is often more telling than its presence. Tenacity, ascetic, felicity, gusto, aplomb, and éclat describe admirable qualities: persistence, self-discipline, joy, enthusiasm, composure, and dazzling success.

Key takeaway: The next time you want to praise or criticise someone's character in writing, reach for one of these precise nouns instead of a string of adjectives — it will read as more confident and more exact.