Compound adjectives to describe a person
What is a compound adjective? What is an example of a compound adjective? What are compound adjectives examples? What are the types of compound adjectives?
In this post, we’ll define the word compound adjective, give an example of a compound adjective, and list a number of compound adjectives examples with meaning.
A compound adjective (also called compound modifier) is made up of two or more words that work jointly to modify the same noun.
When compound adjectives are used before the noun they modify, they are usually hyphenated (joined together by a hyphen).
‘Hard-working’ and ‘well-known’ are examples of compound adjectives. They can be used to modify or describe a noun. For example, we can say:
- They are hard-working people. they work hard.
- He’s a well-known actor. He satrred in dozens of well-knwon movies.
Notice that the adjective ‘hard-working’ is made up of two words, that is why it is called a COMPOUND adjective. Notice, also, that this compound adjective describes or modifies the noun ‘people’. So it is hyphenated.
Compound adjectives whose first part is self are hyphenated as well. The words joined together by a hyphen are also known as hyphenated words. Below is a list of hyphenated words to describe someone.
How do you identify a compound adjective and what are the types of compound adjectives?
Compound adjectives are not necessarily made up of two adjectives. You can make compound adjectives by joining two different parts of speech. For instance,
| Adjective | Present participle | Compound adjectives examples |
| Hard | working | Hard-working |
| Time | saving | Time-saving |
| Adjective | Past participle | Compound adjectives examples |
| Bad | tempered | Bad-tempered |
| Open | minded | Open-minded |
| Noun | Past participle | Compound adjectives examples |
| level | headed | Level-headed |
| Past participle | Adjective/noun | Compound adjectives examples |
| Laid | back | Laid-back |
As you can notice, the tables above show that a compound adjective can be formed by different parts of speech and cannot be defined by the words it contains. In brief, when two or more words are together to describe a noun, they make a compound adjective.
Here is a compound adjectives list:
Compound adjectives to describe a person (Compound adjectives describing character)
Compound adjectives examples
This list contains a number of compound adjectives examples that can describe a person along with meaning.
- Hard-working
A hard-working person always does a lot of work.
- Good-natured
Naturally friendly and does not get angry easily.
- Over-confident
Too sure about yourself and your abilities.
- Strong-willed
Very determined to do what you want to do.
- Weak-willed
Not determined enough to succeed in what you want to do.
- Strong-minded
Somebody who is strong-minded is not willing to change their opinions and beliefs.
- Broad-minded
Happy to accept ideas and ways of life different from your own.
- Open-minded
Willing to accept opinions and ideas which are different from yours.
Not willing to accept ideas or ways of behaving that are different from your own.
- Bad-tempered
Often annoyed, angry, or impatient.
- Short-tempered
If someone is short-tempered, he or she gets angry easily for no good reason.
- Easy-going
Calm and relaxed; not easily worried or upset.
- Big-headed
You think you are more intelligent or more important than you really are.
- Thick-skinned
If you are thick-skinned, you are not easily hurt by criticism.
- Cold-hearted
If you are cold-hearted, you don’t feel sorry about other people’s suffering.
- Level-headed
Calm and sensible; able to make good decisions even in difficult situations.
- Laid-back
You are not usually worried about other people’s behavior or things that need to be done.
Compound adjectives personality with self
Compound adjectives with self are usually hyphenated. These adjectives describe personality or character.
- Self-assured
You have confidence in your own abilities.
- Well-behaved
Behave in a quiet and polite way.
- Self-centered
Interested only in yourself.
- Self-conscious
uncomfortable or nervous because you are worried about what other people think about you or your behavior.
- Self-absorbed
- Self-aggrandizing
- Self-assertive
- Self-aware
Adjectives to Describe a Person
Here is a list of adjectives to describe a person:
| Positive adjectives to describe a person | Negative adjectives to describe a person |
| Nice | Pessimistic |
| Generous | Jealous |
| Affectionate | intolerant |
| Agreeable | Lazy |
| Ambitious | Mean |
| Good | Bad |
| Great | Nasty |
| Determined | Obstinate |
| Diplomatic | Careless |
| Dynamic | Impolite |
| Calm | Irresponsible |
| Clever | Boring |
| Cheerful | Cruel |
| Compassionate | Impatient |
| Communicative | Selfish |
These adjectives and compound adjectives to describe a person are really interesting. So, which compound adjectives describe your personality?
You might also like:
| Adjectives That Start With N |
| Common Incomparable Adjectives List: 30+ Absolute Adjectives |
| Compound words: 50 + Important Compound Adjectives and Nouns |
| Appearance Vocabulary: 12 Essential Adjectives |
Do this character adjectives quiz here to test your knowledge of compound adjectives.
This list of compound adjectives to describe a person is not exhaustive.
