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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 But the combination wouldn’t work if the businesses lost their personality. Evan Clark, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2025 Third, all the things that come with buying a home, including its trappings of personality, aren't selling well. Jim Cramer, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025 Viewers could seek to understand a celebrity’s personality by studying their domestic environment. Kim Hew-Low, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025 In 2020, Lawrence celebrated her 30th birthday and received a sweet message from Kris Jenner, the matriarch of the media personalities. Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for personality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for personality
Noun
  • Korean skin care drew standing-room-only crowds, celebrity makeup artist Hung Vanngo gave his first masterclass, and in the bustling fragrance halls niche perfume houses attracted international distributors eager to understand how Arabic fragrance is reshaping global perfumery standards.
    Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • He was known to the university only as Justin Phillips and none of the school’s records indicated a prior identity, according to the statement.
    Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Each image will be accompanied by personal stories exploring themes of identity and resilience.
    Sophie Williams, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Unless the category could be brought under control, the excess threatened to self-propagate.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Recently, Weng has co-authored two studies that help ensure smooth motion and self-balance in robots.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Weston said stripping Andrew of the medal would be an insult to those who have served in the British armed forces.
    Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
  • In popular discourse, the word has taken on a life of its own, as an insult deployed without clear reference to any theory of psychology.
    David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • But the game did end with Vanderbilt safety CJ Heard showing blitz at the line of scrimmage, then bailing out to help Jordan Matthews double Auburn star receiver Cam Coleman in the end zone.
    Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • But the very nature of the connection between stars and their audience is now evolving, according to the IMDb report.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Phillips croons about a mother’s bond with her child as Swinton walks off, her character freshly wrecked by a visit with her son in prison.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Most of your favorite characters, including Will, are returning, too — just not the same actors.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Crown and dignity Catalina Ruiz Navarro, a Colombian feminist activist and journalist based in Mexico City, argued that the nature of beauty pageants like Miss Universe places women in a patriarchal position.
    Anabella González, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Plus, the very nature of recording your live stream of thoughts means a lot of editing later down the line.
    Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Cleveland says narcissists often disguise sarcasm as humor, slipping in cutting remarks about your intelligence, competence, or appearance but framing them as playful.
    Angela Haupt, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
  • While the track leans toward sarcasm, the soon-to-be-anthem perfectly captures a generational sentiment.
    Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Personality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/personality. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.

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