Here you’ll find 29 Personality traits that start with H, organized from “Hardworking” to “Hypocritical”. These entries describe common, stable patterns of behavior, thought, and emotion useful for writing, study, and self-reflection.
Personality traits that start with H are single-word or hyphenated descriptors of habitual behavior, cognition, or emotion. Historically, trait lists help psychologists and storytellers categorize recurring human tendencies.
Below you’ll find the table with [COLUMN_NAMES].
Trait: The one-word personality label you see; use it to scan and select traits for writing or study quickly.
Definition: A concise meaning of the trait that explains how it shows up in behavior, thought, or emotion.
Category: A short label grouping related traits so you can compare similar tendencies like social, cognitive, or emotional styles.
Synonyms: Common alternative words or close concepts that help you find broader or more precise terms when researching or writing.
Notes: Brief usage tips, context, or warnings that help you apply the trait accurately in character descriptions or self-assessment.
Personality traits that start with H
| Trait | Source/Domain | Synonyms | Typical behaviors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardworking | Big Five (Conscientiousness) | Industrious, diligent, assiduous, sedulous | Putting in extra hours, staying focused on tasks, taking pride in completed work. |
| Hardy | Health Psychology | Resilient, tough, robust, unflappable | Persisting through setbacks, viewing challenges as opportunities, staying committed under stress. |
| Harmonious | Interpersonal | Agreeable, conflict-avoidant, cooperative, peaceable | Seeking consensus in groups, avoiding arguments, smoothing over disagreements. |
| Harsh | Interpersonal | Severe, stern, critical, unforgiving | Using a severe tone, making sharp criticisms, showing little leniency for mistakes. |
| Hasty | Big Five (Conscientiousness) | Impulsive, rash, reckless, impetuous | Making quick decisions without all the facts, rushing through tasks, acting on impulse. |
| Haughty | Colloquial | Arrogant, proud, disdainful, supercilious | Talking down to others, displaying a sense of superiority, dismissing others’ opinions. |
| Headstrong | Colloquial | Stubborn, willful, obstinate, pig-headed | Insisting on one’s own way, resisting advice, refusing to change one’s mind. |
| Hedonistic | Philosophical | Pleasure-seeking, self-indulgent, sybaritic | Prioritizing immediate gratification, pursuing sensory pleasures, avoiding discomfort or difficulty. |
| Heedful | Big Five (Conscientiousness) | Careful, attentive, mindful, cautious | Paying close attention to instructions, considering consequences before acting, noticing details. |
| Heedless | Big Five (Conscientiousness) | Careless, inattentive, reckless, unmindful | Ignoring warnings or advice, acting without thinking, making careless mistakes. |
| Helpful | Big Five (Agreeableness) | Altruistic, supportive, cooperative, accommodating | Offering assistance to others, volunteering time, being a good team player. |
| Helpless | Clinical Psychology | Powerless, dependent, ineffectual | Giving up easily on difficult tasks, seeking excessive reassurance, avoiding challenges. |
| Heroic | Positive Psychology | Brave, courageous, valiant, selfless | Standing up for others despite personal risk, acting courageously in a crisis. |
| Hesitant | Big Five (Neuroticism) | Indecisive, tentative, uncertain, reluctant | Pausing before speaking or acting, having difficulty making choices, showing reluctance. |
| High-minded | Colloquial | Principled, noble, idealistic, ethical | Upholding strong moral principles, discussing ideals and ethics, prioritizing fairness. |
| Histrionic | Clinical Psychology | Theatrical, dramatic, attention-seeking, melodramatic | Exaggerating emotions, seeking to be the center of attention, being overly dramatic. |
| Honest | HEXACO | Truthful, sincere, candid, forthright | Telling the truth, avoiding deception, being straightforward in dealings with others. |
| Honesty-Humility | HEXACO | Sincerity, fairness, greed-avoidance, modesty | Being sincere, avoiding manipulation, being modest about accomplishments. |
| Honorable | Colloquial | Upright, principled, ethical, virtuous | Keeping promises, acting with integrity, adhering to a personal code of conduct. |
| Hopeful | Positive Psychology | Optimistic, expectant, positive, confident | Expecting positive outcomes, persisting toward goals despite setbacks, seeing the best in situations. |
| Hospitable | Interpersonal | Welcoming, friendly, generous, cordial | Making guests feel welcome, sharing food and resources, being a gracious host. |
| Hostile | Big Five (Agreeableness) | Antagonistic, aggressive, unfriendly, belligerent | Being easily angered, expressing cynicism and resentment, being argumentative. |
| Hot-headed | Colloquial | Impetuous, quick-tempered, rash, fiery | Getting angry easily, reacting impulsively to provocation, having a short fuse. |
| Humble | HEXACO | Modest, unassuming, unpretentious, meek | Downplaying achievements, not seeking the spotlight, acknowledging one’s own limitations. |
| Humorous | Colloquial | Witty, funny, amusing, jocular | Making jokes, telling funny stories, appreciating and creating humor. |
| Humanitarian | Positive Psychology | Altruistic, compassionate, benevolent, philanthropic | Donating to charity, volunteering for social causes, expressing concern for global issues. |
| Hypercritical | Colloquial | Overcritical, fault-finding, censorious, judgmental | Constantly pointing out flaws, setting impossibly high standards for self or others. |
| Hypersensitive | Clinical Psychology | Overly sensitive, thin-skinned, easily hurt, touchy | Reacting strongly to criticism, being easily overwhelmed by sensory input. |
| Hypocritical | Colloquial | Deceitful, two-faced, insincere, disingenuous | Preaching one standard while living by another, judging others for personal faults. |
Descriptions
Hardworking
A tendency to exert a high level of effort and diligence towards one’s goals and responsibilities. It is a key facet of the broader trait of Conscientiousness.
Hardy
A personality style characterized by resilience and the ability to cope effectively with stress. Hardy individuals possess a sense of commitment, control, and see challenges as opportunities for growth.
Harmonious
A preference for accord and a tendency to avoid conflict and dissent in social situations. These individuals value group cohesion and work to maintain peaceful relationships.
Harsh
A tendency to be overly critical, severe, or cruel in judgment and treatment of others. This trait is often associated with low Agreeableness.
Hasty
A tendency to act or decide quickly without sufficient thought. It is a facet of impulsivity and is negatively related to the trait of Conscientiousness.
Haughty
A disdainfully proud and arrogant attitude. Haughty individuals perceive themselves as superior and often treat others with contempt or condescension.
Headstrong
A personality trait characterized by a determined, often stubborn, desire to have one’s own way. These individuals are not easily persuaded and stick to their own plans.
Hedonistic
A tendency to be motivated by the desire for pleasure and the avoidance of pain. This trait involves prioritizing immediate gratification and sensory enjoyment.
Heedful
A tendency to be aware of and attentive to one’s actions, surroundings, and potential consequences. It is closely related to carefulness and thoughtfulness.
Heedless
A tendency to act without proper care or attention to risks and consequences. It represents the opposite of heedful and is associated with impulsivity and carelessness.
Helpful
A disposition to be of service or assistance to others. It is a key component of altruism and is a facet of the broader trait of Agreeableness.
Helpless
A tendency to feel powerless and unable to control events. This can lead to passivity and a reliance on others, a concept central to “learned helplessness” theory.
Heroic
A disposition toward extraordinary courage, nobility, and self-sacrifice for the sake of others. It involves acting on moral convictions even in the face of significant personal risk.
Hesitant
A tendency to be slow to act or speak due to uncertainty or a lack of confidence. It is often linked to anxiety, self-consciousness, or risk aversion.
High-minded
Having strong moral principles and ideals. High-minded individuals are often motivated by ethical concerns and a desire to do what is right, even when it is difficult.
Histrionic
A personality style characterized by a pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking. Individuals with this trait often feel uncomfortable when they are not the center of attention.
Honest
The quality of being truthful, sincere, and free of deceit. It is a fundamental component of integrity and a core element of the Honesty-Humility factor in the HEXACO model.
Honesty-Humility
A major personality dimension in the HEXACO model. High scorers are sincere, fair, and unassuming, while low scorers are deceitful, greedy, and arrogant.
Honorable
A trait characterized by adherence to high principles and a strong sense of personal integrity. Honorable people are trustworthy and respected for their ethical behavior.
Hopeful
A tendency to expect the best possible outcome and to believe that goals can be achieved. It is a key component of optimism and psychological well-being.
Hospitable
A friendly and generous disposition toward guests and strangers. Hospitable individuals enjoy entertaining others and making them feel comfortable and welcome.
Hostile
A tendency to feel anger and to act in an unfriendly or aggressive way. It is a facet of low Agreeableness and involves a cynical view of others’ intentions.
Hot-headed
A tendency to become angry very easily and act impulsively based on that anger. This trait is associated with low emotional regulation and high reactivity.
Humble
Having a modest or low view of one’s own importance. It is a core component of the Honesty-Humility factor and is the opposite of arrogance or vanity.
Humorous
The tendency to appreciate, create, and share humor. It can be a social skill, a coping mechanism, and a core part of an individual’s interpersonal style.
Humanitarian
A trait characterized by a deep concern for promoting human welfare and reducing suffering. It reflects a broad, altruistic orientation toward humanity as a whole.
Hypercritical
A tendency to judge others or oneself too severely. This trait involves an excessive focus on perceived faults and a habit of making negative judgments.
Hypersensitive
A tendency to be highly responsive to physical or emotional stimuli. This can manifest as being easily hurt by criticism or easily overstimulated by one’s environment.
Hypocritical
The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform. It involves an inconsistency between one’s words and actions.