PERSONALITY Synonyms: 154 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'personality' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of personality are character , disposition , temperament , and temper . While all these words mean "the dominant quality or qualities distinguishing a person or group," personality applies to an aggregate of qualities that distinguish one as a person. // a somber personality

Q: When is it sensible to use 'character' instead of 'personality'?

Although the words character and personality have much in common, character applies to the aggregate of moral qualities by which a person is judged apart from intelligence, competence, or special talents. // strength of character

Q: In what contexts can 'disposition' take the place of 'personality'?

In some situations, the words disposition and personality are roughly equivalent. However, disposition implies customary moods and attitude toward the life around one. // a cheerful disposition

Q: When would 'temper' be a good substitute for 'personality'?

While in some cases nearly identical to personality , temper implies the qualities acquired through experience that determine how a person or group meets difficulties or handles situations. // a resilient temper

Q: When is 'temperament' a more appropriate choice than 'personality'?

The words temperament and personality can be used in similar contexts, but temperament implies a pattern of innate characteristics associated with one's specific physical and nervous organization. // an artistic temperament

personality

noun

ˌpər-sə-ˈna-lə-tē

Definition of personality

as in celebrity

a person who is widely known and usually much talked about a local television personality who is beloved by area residents

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in identity

the set of qualities that make a person different from other people she's got a great personality

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in self

the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others it has never been in the nation's personality to adhere to a rigid class system

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in insult

an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings every debate that was supposedly about the issues quickly degenerated into a juvenile exchange of personalities

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word personality distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of personality are character, disposition, temperament, and temper. While all these words mean "the dominant quality or qualities distinguishing a person or group," personality applies to an aggregate of qualities that distinguish one as a person.

a somber personality

When is it sensible to use character instead of personality?

Although the words character and personality have much in common, character applies to the aggregate of moral qualities by which a person is judged apart from intelligence, competence, or special talents.

strength of character

In what contexts can disposition take the place of personality?

In some situations, the words disposition and personality are roughly equivalent. However, disposition implies customary moods and attitude toward the life around one.

a cheerful disposition

When would temper be a good substitute for personality?

While in some cases nearly identical to personality, temper implies the qualities acquired through experience that determine how a person or group meets difficulties or handles situations.

a resilient temper

When is temperament a more appropriate choice than personality?

The words temperament and personality can be used in similar contexts, but temperament implies a pattern of innate characteristics associated with one's specific physical and nervous organization.

an artistic temperament

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of personality It is characterized by a distinct group of personality, behavioral and emotional traits. — David Dematteo, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026 But there is so much more to these characters than their surface personalities. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026 In the last few months, Raman and Bass have both been courting supporters of Spencer Pratt, the conservative reality television personality who got 26% of the vote in June’s primary by running an anti-establishment, tough on crime campaign. — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026 Rather than imposing a particular aesthetic on his subjects, McClellan allows their personalities and individual styles to shape the images. — Robert Lang, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for personality

Recent Examples of Synonyms for personality

Noun

Another factor contributing to the hero item phenomenon is the cult of the celebrity designer.

— Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
Some outcry over the Polymarket contract has been aimed at its celebrity promoters.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of celebrity

Noun

On his first new music since getting sober, the prolific 30-year-old singer-songwriter offers a sense of adult clarity—and some welcome self-editing.

— Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026
That is among the top eight in self-funding for a candidate in California history, according to CalMatters.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of self

Noun

Try to remember that your teen’s eyes were focused squarely on the $100 prize and so this is an issue of overlooking rather than one of insult.

— R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Yet in a land where machismo still reigns, it’s considered a rather severe insult.

— Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of insult

Noun

Longies, which make up the majority of GRBs, are associated with collapsing supermassive stars, whereas shorties are linked to crashes between two neutron stars.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
The Oscar-winning actress and former child star, who had a stroke in 2020, shared a rare photo of herself Friday on social media.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of star

Noun

Earlier versions looked unnaturally green, while the team also considered how the character’s skin would react to different lighting.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Coleman said each design has its own distinct character and can be styled individually, either as a subtle everyday detail or a sculptural statement.

— Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of character

Noun

In North Georgia’s mountains, autumn already is transforming ridges, forests and streambanks into dazzling palettes of reds, yellows, maroons and deep oranges — all part of nature’s annual leaf color spectacle.

— Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 17 Oct. 2026
As nature trades its summer greens for a rich tapestry of amber, rust, burgundy, and gold, our wardrobes are following suit—and with all manner of vibrant, textured, statement-making accessories piled on top.

— Ciarra Lorren Zatorski, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of nature

Cite this Entry

Style

“Personality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/personality. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of personality

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on personality

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

vocation

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes