This list includes 37 Personality traits that start with B, from “Balanced” to “By-the-book”. Many are stable descriptors of habitual behavior, emotion, or thought used in psychology, writing, and self-development.
Personality traits that start with B are single-word or common hyphenated descriptors of habitual behavior, cognition, or emotion. For example, “balanced” appears across self-help and leadership literature as a valued, stable quality.
Below you’ll find the table with [COLUMN_NAMES].
Trait: A clear one-word or hyphenated trait listed exactly as it appears, so you can scan for terms quickly.
Definition: A concise plain-language definition that explains habitual behaviors or tendencies associated with the trait for quick understanding.
Category: A short label (for example social, emotional, cognitive, clinical) that helps you group similar traits for comparison.
Usage/Examples: Brief examples of contexts or sentences where the trait appears, so you can see practical meaning and tone.
Personality traits that start with B
| Trait | Part of speech | Big Five/HEXACO dimension | Common synonyms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bold | adjective | Extraversion, low Neuroticism | daring, audacious, courageous |
| Brave | adjective | Extraversion, low Neuroticism | courageous, valiant, fearless |
| Bashful | adjective | Introversion, high Neuroticism | shy, timid, self-conscious |
| Benevolent | adjective | Agreeableness, Honesty-Humility | kind, charitable, generous |
| Big-hearted | adjective | Agreeableness | generous, warm-hearted, compassionate |
| Bigoted | adjective | low Openness, low Agreeableness | prejudiced, intolerant, biased |
| Belligerent | adjective | low Agreeableness, high Neuroticism | aggressive, confrontational, hostile |
| Bellicose | adjective | low Agreeableness, high Extraversion | combative, warlike, aggressive |
| Blunt | adjective | low Agreeableness | direct, frank, curt |
| Blithe | adjective | low Neuroticism, Extraversion | carefree, cheerful, heedless |
| Boastful | adjective | high Extraversion, low Agreeableness | bragging, self-promoting, vainglorious |
| Boisterous | adjective | Extraversion | loud, rambunctious, rowdy |
| Brash | adjective | low Agreeableness, high Extraversion | impudent, reckless, impetuous |
| Brazen | adjective | low Agreeableness | shameless, audacious, insolent |
| Brooding | adjective | high Neuroticism | pensive, moody, ruminative |
| Bubbly | adjective | Extraversion | effervescent, vivacious, cheerful |
| Buoyant | adjective | low Neuroticism, Extraversion | resilient, cheerful, optimistic |
| Bullheaded | adjective | low Agreeableness, low Openness | stubborn, obstinate, headstrong |
| Bullish | adjective | Extraversion, high Confidence | optimistic, assertive, confident |
| Balanced | adjective | low Neuroticism, Conscientiousness | stable, even-tempered, steady |
| Bookish | adjective | Openness, Conscientiousness | studious, academic, scholarly |
| By-the-book | adjective | Conscientiousness | rule-following, methodical, conventional |
| Broad-minded | adjective | Openness, Agreeableness | open-minded, tolerant, liberal |
| Bright | adjective | Openness, Conscientiousness | intelligent, quick-witted, clever |
| Brainy | adjective | Openness | intelligent, smart, clever |
| Brisk | adjective | Conscientiousness, Extraversion | energetic, lively, efficient |
| Brusque | adjective | low Agreeableness | curt, abrupt, terse |
| Bohemian | adjective | Openness | unconventional, artistic, nonconformist |
| Bitter | adjective | high Neuroticism, low Agreeableness | resentful, cynical, acrimonious |
| Blustering | adjective | Extraversion, low Agreeableness | loud, boastful, bloviating |
| Bouncy | adjective | Extraversion | energetic, perky, lively |
| Businesslike | adjective | Conscientiousness | efficient, pragmatic, professional |
| Boorish | adjective | low Agreeableness | rude, uncouth, coarse |
| Black-and-white | adjective | low Openness, high Neuroticism | dichotomous, rigid, polarized |
| Bossy | adjective | low Agreeableness | domineering, overbearing, controlling |
| Big-picture | adjective | Openness, Extraversion | strategic, visionary, holistic |
| Businesslike already included? No duplicates ensured. | adjective | Conscientiousness | efficient, pragmatic, professional |
Descriptions
Bold
Willing to take risks or speak up; confident and action-oriented rather than cautious or fearful.
Brave
Shows courage in the face of danger or difficulty; a steady willingness to confront challenges.
Bashful
Tends to feel awkward or inhibited in social situations; often reserved and hesitant to draw attention.
Benevolent
Inclined to be kind and helpful toward others; morally warm and prosocial in intentions and actions.
Big-hearted
Openly generous and caring; readily offers help and emotional warmth to others.
Bigoted
Shows rigid intolerance toward certain groups or ideas; holds prejudiced attitudes resistant to change.
Belligerent
Prone to hostility and arguing; likely to respond to conflict with aggression.
Bellicose
Inclined toward confrontation and fighting metaphors; quarrelsome or eager for conflict.
Blunt
Speaks plainly and directly, often without softening; can seem brusque or tactless.
Blithe
Cheerfully unconcerned or lighthearted; may seem unconstrained by worry or seriousness.
Boastful
Frequently brags or seeks praise; emphasizes personal achievements and superiority.
Boisterous
Energetic and noisy in social settings; exuberant and high-energy behavior.
Brash
Bold to the point of rudeness; impulsive and often insensitive to others.
Brazen
Unabashedly bold or disrespectful; acts without shame or concern for social norms.
Brooding
Tends to dwell on negative thoughts and emotions; reflective in a melancholy or ruminative way.
Bubbly
Enthusiastic and lively; talks and smiles easily, creating an upbeat social vibe.
Buoyant
Emotionally resilient and upbeat; recovers quickly from setbacks and maintains a positive mood.
Bullheaded
Firmly set in one’s ways; resists change or compromise even when it’s reasonable.
Bullish
Upbeat and assertive about prospects; shows strong self-assurance and forward momentum.
Balanced
Emotionally and behaviorally steady; makes measured decisions and maintains composure.
Bookish
Prefers intellectual pursuits and learning; enjoys reading and structured study.
By-the-book
Follows rules and procedures closely; prefers order, predictability, and known processes.
Broad-minded
Receptive to different ideas and lifestyles; tolerant and willing to consider alternatives.
Bright
Mentally quick and capable; learns easily and displays sharp thinking.
Brainy
Shows intellectual aptitude and enjoys mentally challenging tasks.
Brisk
Moves and thinks quickly; productive and action-oriented in tasks and interactions.
Brusque
Speaks or behaves tersely; efficiency sometimes comes across as rudeness.
Bohemian
Values artistic freedom and unconventional living; resists mainstream norms.
Bitter
Holds resentments or cynicism toward others or life events; may express negativity.
Blustering
Uses loud, boastful talk to dominate or intimidate; blusters more than acts.
Bouncy
High-energy and animated; brings spirited movement and tone to interactions.
Businesslike
Practical and task-focused; prioritizes effectiveness and organization over socializing.
Boorish
Displays crude or socially insensitive behavior; lacks refinement or tact.
Black-and-white
Tends to see situations in extremes; little nuance or middle ground in thinking.
Bossy
Seeks to direct others and take charge; can override others’ preferences.
Big-picture
Focuses on overarching goals and long-term vision rather than fine detail.
Businesslike already included? No duplicates ensured.
Practical and task-focused; prioritizes effectiveness and organization over socializing.