Definition of personalitynext
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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 These games were phenomenally designed, full of cheeky British wit and personality. Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 7 Mar. 2026 Then again, that just depends on your kids' personality. Alex Shoemaker, Parents, 6 Mar. 2026 These are not creative embellishments of personality. Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2026 So much ahead of him, especially just a personality that maintains that discipline, that consistency, that takes you so far. Marissa Armas, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for personality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for personality
Noun
  • Speaking of celebrity picks, the Harlee Shoulder Bag was named among Oprah’s Favorite Things of 2025.
    Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 8 Mar. 2026
  • That rare child actor to evolve into an indomitable leading man, Bale is notoriously dismissive of celebrity.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • But some experts say Iranians with government ties don’t need to risk border crossings and have access to fake identities.
    Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
  • That consistency became woven into ENHYPEN’s identity — which is part of why this departure registers as more than a personnel shift for fans who were there from the beginning.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Get out there and make your true self known!
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Last year, the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, overseer of Miami International Airport and two smaller airports in the county, entered into agreements with the University of Miami and Wisk Aero, developer of self-flying air taxis, to explore steps toward autonomous flying.
    David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Several leaned out of their windows to shout insults or raise middle fingers.
    Jodi Bondi Norgaard, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Left-wing social media users launched a volley of insults at 23-year-old Brooke Slusser in recent days.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Once inside, the Euphoria star was photographed with a slim gold band on her wedding finger.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2026
  • If that role is on the bench, be a star there.
    Cody Thorn, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Gosling is a beautiful crier, and his character’s journey seems destined to end in tears.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
  • In the movie’s fuzzy metaphysics, Shelley wills herself into the consciousness of a character named Ida (also played by Buckley), a young woman angling for survival in 1930s Chicago — a colorful, dangerous world of bawdy lotharios and lethal gangsters.
    Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • This discovery sheds light not only on the nature of our solar system, but the evolution of the galaxy itself.
    Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Consider moving a meeting to protect family time, because a small adjustment could restore steadiness without sacrificing your supportive nature.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Harrison Ford was honored with the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award, a prize presented with warm sarcasm by Woody Harrelson.
    Jake Coyle, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
  • First seen at a night-club table of menacing lowlifes, Ida, whose mother tongue is Brooklynese, suddenly switches to a heavy British accent and dispenses a torrent of highly literary sarcasms.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Personality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/personality. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

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