Different Kinds of People (Part 1) - Advanced Vocabulary for IELTS

Nehasri Ravishenbagam

7 min read

Updated On Jun 25, 2025

Expand your word power by learning advanced vocabulary for different kinds of people with this guide. Boost your IELTS Reading, Writing, and speaking test scores in people-related topics by learning personality vocabulary, example sentences, & exercises.

Different Kinds of People Advanced Vocabulary for IELTS

Different Kinds of People: Advanced Vocabulary for IELTS
Additional Advanced Vocabulary for IELTS for Describing Different Kinds of People
Exercises Based on Advanced Personality Vocabulary for IELTS 7.0 +
Answer Key for Exercises Based on Advanced Personality Vocabulary for IELTS 7.0 +
Additional Resources for Improving Your Personality Vocabulary for IELTS

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Understanding how to describe different types of people with advanced vocabulary for IELTS is crucial, especially in the speaking and writing sections. You might be asked to describe someone you admire, explain leadership qualities, or analyse social behaviour, and having a strong grasp of personality-related vocabulary can help boost your lexical resource score, a key element for scoring a band 7.0 and above.

In this blog, you will explore an IELTS vocabulary list of personality adjectives, character flaws, and positive traits, complete with meanings and example sentences. They will support your fluency and precision in discussing human nature, behaviour, and social relationships in IELTS contexts.

Different Kinds of People: Advanced Vocabulary for IELTS

To describe different kinds of people, be it for the IELTS exam or in daily life, you must be aware of advanced personality vocabulary for both positive and negative traits in people. Therefore, the table below features key adjectives describing human behaviour and character, both admirable traits and common flaws that will improve your way of describing different kinds of people.

Word	Meaning	Example Sentence
Affable	Friendly, warm, and easy to talk to	The shop owner was so affable that even tourists felt at home in the small town.
Aloof	Distant and emotionally detached	He remained aloof during the meeting, avoiding any interaction with his colleagues.
Belligerent	Hostile and aggressive	His belligerent attitude made it difficult to have a peaceful discussion.
Benevolent	Kind, generous, and well-meaning	The benevolent doctor offered free check-ups to villagers every weekend.
Capricious	Unpredictable, impulsive, and subject to sudden mood changes	The capricious nature of the weather made planning outdoor events nearly impossible.
Cynical	Distrustful of others’ motives	A cynical person might question even the most generous acts.
Dogmatic	Unwilling to consider others’ opinions; stubbornly opinionated	His dogmatic approach to politics alienated many of his peers.
Eccentric	Unconventional or slightly strange	Her eccentric fashion choices made her stand out at every event.
Erudite	Highly educated or knowledgeable	The professor’s erudite lectures were both inspiring and intellectually challenging.
Gregarious	Fond of the company of others; sociable	As a gregarious person, she easily makes friends wherever she goes.
Impetuous	Acting quickly without thought; impulsive	His impetuous decision to quit his job surprised everyone.
Indolent	Lazy and avoiding activity or exertion	His indolent habits were a major reason for his poor academic performance.

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Additional Advanced Vocabulary for IELTS for Describing Different Kinds of People

To score an IELTS band score of 7 and above, you need to stand out from the crowd. In order to do so, only learning what is lexical resource in IELTS is not enough. So, learn some different kinds of people advanced vocabulary for IELTS from the table below and impress your IELTS examiner, especially in the writing and speaking tasks.

Word	Meaning	Example Sentence
Pragmatic	Dealing with things sensibly and realistically	A pragmatic leader focuses on solutions rather than ideology.
Charismatic	Possessing a natural charm or ability to attract others	Her charismatic nature made her a popular guest speaker.
Resilient	Able to recover quickly from difficulties	Resilient individuals often cope better with exam stress.
Altruistic	Showing a selfless concern for others	His altruistic volunteering efforts earned him a community award.
Vindictive	Having a strong desire for revenge	His vindictive remarks during the interview were unprofessional.
Meticulous	Showing great attention to detail	Her meticulous nature helped her succeed in laboratory research.
Narcissistic	Having an excessive interest in oneself and one's appearance	The celebrity was criticised for her narcissistic social media presence.

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Exercises Based on Advanced Personality Vocabulary for IELTS 7.0 +

To truly master personality-related vocabulary for IELTS, it’s essential to apply these words in context. The following exercises are designed to help you practise using high-level character adjectives effectively in real IELTS-style formats.

Whether you are preparing for IELTS Speaking Part 2 or tackling a complex reading passage, these activities will train your brain to use vocabulary naturally, accurately, and confidently.

Different Kinds of People – Good Qualities and Character Flaws

(a) Match each adjective denoting character to its definition.

1. An affable person is	a. a slothful or lazy one; someone who tries to do as little as possible.
2. An aloof person is	b. one who appears distant or disinterested; someone with whom it is hard to engage in meaningful conversation
3. A belligerent person is	c. good-willed and generous with their time, resources or praise of others; they desire to help others.
4. A benevolent person is	d. argumentative, and aggressive even; someone looking for a fight or argument.
5. A capricious person is	e. likely to act suddenly without thinking; someone who doesn’t consider the consequences before acting.
6. A cynical person is	f. distrusting of the motives of others; they think the worst of people and are suspicious of good deeds.
7. A dogmatic person is	g. one who has a very odd or peculiar personality; they may have very strange beliefs or behave in a very strange way all the time.
8. An eccentric person is	h. one who forcibly and stubbornly defends their views; they believe they are right and are not willing to consider other ideas.
9. An erudite person is	i. one who is fond of the company of others; somebody who is very sociable.
10. A gregarious person is	j. one who is very learned and knowledgeable; someone who is scholarly, one whose behaviour you can never predict; you never know how they are going to react.
11. An impetuous person is	k. one who is very friendly, warm and polite; a person who is easy to approach.
12. An indolent person is	–

(b) Complete the sentences using the underlined words from section (a) above.

Why do you have to be so ________ ? Look at the fine mess your thoughtlessness has got us into; you should maybe consider the consequences next time.
I do wish you wouldn’t be so ________; after all, how could he know about our vast wealth when we’ve just moved to the area. Maybe he was just offering his help to be a good citizen.
He actively seeks out friendship wherever he goes, such is his desire for company, and he can fit in anywhere. He is possibly the most ________ person I’ve ever known.
He is very ________ ; our new boss Katie walked into the room and immediately he told her that he had been running ‘this joint’ for years and that he would be the one really in charge.
He is an extremely ________ professor of Biology, widely respected throughout the world of academia for his vast knowledge of, in particular, marine ecosystems.
Her enthusiasm for lying in front of the television seems to know no bounds; she is the most ________ person I have ever met.
Forget about trying to convince Jenny; I have yet to meet a more ________teenager; her conviction that she is right would almost be admirable were she not so very, very wrong.
I find him ________ enough; he is pleasant to talk to and always greets me with a smile.
I think, in the case of Mary, it is not fair to say that she is ________ ; her shyness often translates into a need for her to keep some distance from those around her, especially in large social groups.
She is one of the most ________ souls I have ever met in my life; she always speaks so highly of those she meets and I truly believe in doing so that she instils confidence and a sense of optimism in people.
My boss is the most ________ woman on the planet; one minute she’s all happy and full of praise for us; the next she’s screaming and shouting abuse. I never know where I stand with her from one moment to the next.
I wouldn’t call myself ________ per se, but I must admit my lifestyle could hardly be classed as ‘normal’ – whatever that means…

(c) Now match the opposites, using your understanding of the words learnt in (a) and contextualised in (b). There may be more than one correct match possible for some of the words in Column A.

Column A	Answer	Column B
(a) affable		(i) industrious / diligent
(b) aloof		(ii) reserved / introverted / unsociable
(c) belligerent		(iii) submissive / deferential / cooperative
(d) benevolent		(iv) conventional
(e) capricious		(v) uncultured / ignorant
(f) cynical		(vi) dependable / steady
(g) dogmatic		(vii) accommodating / agreeable
(h) eccentric		(viii) trusting / optimistic
(i) erudite		(ix) approachable / friendly
(j) gregarious		(x) standoffish
(k) impetuous		(xi) malevolent
(l) indolent		(xii) cautious / circumspect

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Answer Key for Exercises Based on Advanced Personality Vocabulary for IELTS 7.0 +

Check your answers here and review any unfamiliar terms to reinforce your understanding. This answer key not only provides the correct responses but also helps you reflect on word meanings, usage, and potential IELTS applications. So, use it to identify patterns, clarify doubts, and ensure you’re ready to apply this vocabulary in high-band IELTS tasks.

Good Qualities and Character Flaws

(a)		(b)		(c)
1. l	7. h	1. impetuous	7. dogmatic	a. x/ii	g. iii/vii
2. b	8. g	2. cynical	8. affable	b. ix	h. iv
3. d	9. j	3. gregarious	9. aloof	c. vii/iii	i. v
4. c	10. i	4. belligerent	10. benevolent	d. xi	j. x/ii
5. k	11. e	5. crudité	11. capricious	e. vi	k. xii
6. f	12. a	6. indolent	12.eccentric	f. viii	l. i

Additional Resources for Improving Your Personality Vocabulary for IELTS

Here are some additional links to help you learn more different kinds of people vocabulary for IELTS:

To conclude, describing people accurately is a valuable skill in IELTS and beyond. Using advanced character-related vocabulary allows you to express yourself clearly, make strong arguments, and understand complex reading materials. So, do not just memorise definitions; use these words in context through writing practice, speaking responses, and vocabulary gap-fill exercises. That is the key to pushing your IELTS Lexical Resource score to Band 7.0+.

Useful Links: