This list includes 46 personality traits that start with M, from “Machiavellian” to “Mystical”. These entries are single-word or common hyphenated descriptors of habitual behavior, thought, or feeling. You can use them for character development, vocabulary building, teaching, or personal insight.
Personality traits that start with M are stable descriptors of habitual thoughts, feelings, or behaviors beginning with the letter M. For example, “Machiavellian” names a strategic, manipulative interpersonal style that appears in both psychology and popular discussion.
Below you’ll find the table with Trait, Definition, Type, and Example.
Trait: The single-word personality label so you can scan and select terms quickly for writing or study.
Definition: A concise plain-language meaning that helps you understand each trait’s core behavior or attitude.
Type: A brief note on whether the trait is interpersonal, emotional, cognitive, or moral, helping you classify it.
Example: A short usage example or situational cue so you can see the trait applied in real contexts.
Personality traits that start with M
| Trait | Form | Closest psychological dimension | Valence/Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machiavellian | Adjective | Dark Triad (low Agreeableness, low Honesty-Humility) | Negative |
| Magnanimous | Adjective | High Agreeableness / Honesty-Humility | Positive |
| Magnetic | Adjective | High Extraversion / Charisma | Positive |
| Maladroit | Adjective | Low social skill / Low Extraversion | Negative |
| Malevolent | Adjective | Low Agreeableness / Dark Triad | Negative |
| Malicious | Adjective | Low Agreeableness / Spitefulness | Negative |
| Malleable | Adjective | High Openness to Experience / Low Assertiveness | Mixed |
| Manipulative | Adjective | Low Agreeableness / Machiavellianism | Negative |
| Mannered | Adjective | Facet of Extraversion or Agreeableness | Neutral / Mixed |
| Masochistic | Adjective | Subclinical construct related to self-defeating patterns | Negative |
| Masterful | Adjective | High Conscientiousness / High Assertiveness (Extraversion) | Positive |
| Materialistic | Adjective | Values-based construct (often low Agreeableness) | Negative |
| Mature | Adjective | High Conscientiousness / High Agreeableness | Positive |
| Maudlin | Adjective | High Neuroticism | Negative |
| Mean | Adjective | Low Agreeableness / Spitefulness | Negative |
| Meek | Adjective | Low Extraversion (Assertiveness) / High Agreeableness | Negative / Mixed |
| Megalomaniacal | Adjective | Narcissism / Grandiosity | Negative |
| Melancholic | Adjective | High Neuroticism / Low Extraversion (positive affect) | Negative / Neutral |
| Mellow | Adjective | Low Neuroticism / High Agreeableness | Positive |
| Melodramatic | Adjective | High Neuroticism / Histrionic features | Negative |
| Merciful | Adjective | High Agreeableness / Compassion | Positive |
| Mercurial | Adjective | High Neuroticism / Emotional lability | Mixed |
| Messy | Adjective | Low Conscientiousness (Orderliness) | Negative / Neutral |
| Meticulous | Adjective | High Conscientiousness (Orderliness, Industriousness) | Positive |
| Mettlesome | Adjective | High Extraversion / Low Neuroticism / Courage | Positive |
| Mild | Adjective | Low Extraversion (Assertiveness) / High Agreeableness | Neutral / Positive |
| Mindful | Adjective | Dispositional Mindfulness / facet of Conscientiousness | Positive |
| Mischievous | Adjective | High Extraversion / Low Conscientiousness | Mixed / Positive |
| Miserly | Adjective | Low Agreeableness / Greed | Negative |
| Misanthropic | Adjective | Low Agreeableness / Cynicism | Negative |
| Mistrustful | Adjective | High Neuroticism / Low Agreeableness | Negative |
| Modest | Adjective | High Honesty-Humility / High Agreeableness | Positive |
| Moody | Adjective | High Neuroticism / Emotional instability | Negative |
| Moralistic | Adjective | High Conscientiousness / Low Openness | Negative |
| Morbid | Adjective | High Openness to Experience / High Neuroticism | Negative |
| Morose | Adjective | High Neuroticism / Low Extraversion | Negative |
| Motherly | Adjective | High Agreeableness / Nurturance | Positive |
| Motivated | Participial adjective | High Conscientiousness / Achievement-striving | Positive |
| Mousy | Adjective | High Neuroticism / Low Extraversion (Assertiveness) | Negative |
| Mouthy | Adjective | High Extraversion (Assertiveness) / Low Agreeableness | Negative |
| Muddle-headed | Adjective | Low Conscientiousness / Low Intellect (Openness) | Negative |
| Mulish | Adjective | Low Agreeableness / Stubbornness | Negative |
| Munificent | Adjective | High Agreeableness / Generosity | Positive |
| Mushy | Adjective | High Agreeableness / High Neuroticism | Negative / Mixed |
| Mysterious | Adjective | Low Extraversion (gregariousness) / High Openness | Mixed / Neutral |
| Mystical | Adjective | High Openness to Experience / Spirituality | Neutral |
Descriptions
Machiavellian
Cunning, strategic, and willing to exploit others for personal gain.
Magnanimous
Noble, forgiving, and generous, especially toward rivals or the less powerful.
Magnetic
Describes a compelling and attractive personality that draws others in.
Maladroit
Awkward, clumsy, and ineffective in social situations.
Malevolent
Having or showing a wish to do evil or harm to others.
Malicious
Intending to do harm, often out of spite.
Malleable
Can mean adaptable (positive) or easily influenced and weak-willed (negative).
Manipulative
Skillful at influencing people or situations for personal gain.
Mannered
Can mean well-behaved, or artificial and pretentious.
Masochistic
Deriving pleasure or gratification from one’s own pain or humiliation.
Masterful
Showing great skill, authority, and control.
Materialistic
Excessively concerned with material possessions and wealth.
Mature
Emotionally and mentally well-developed; behaving like a responsible adult.
Maudlin
Self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental.
Mean
Unkind, spiteful, or unfair.
Meek
Quiet, gentle, and easily imposed upon; submissive.
Megalomaniacal
Obsessed with one’s own power and importance.
Melancholic
A tendency toward sadness, pensiveness, and introspection.
Mellow
Easygoing, relaxed, and pleasant.
Melodramatic
Exaggerated, sensationalized, or overly emotional.
Merciful
Showing or exercising mercy, compassion, or forgiveness.
Mercurial
Subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind.
Messy
Untidy or disorganized in habits or appearance.
Meticulous
Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
Mettlesome
Full of spirit, courage, and fortitude.
Mild
Gentle and not easily provoked; not severe or harsh.
Mindful
A stable tendency to be attentive to and aware of the present moment.
Mischievous
Fond of causing trouble in a playful, harmless way.
Miserly
Hating to spend money; hoarding wealth.
Misanthropic
Having or showing a dislike and distrust of other people.
Mistrustful
Tending to be wary and suspicious of others.
Modest
Having an unassuming or moderate estimate of one’s own importance.
Moody
Prone to frequent and unpredictable changes in mood.
Moralistic
Overly fond of making moral judgments about others’ behavior.
Morbid
Characterized by an abnormal and unhealthy interest in disturbing subjects.
Morose
Sullen, gloomy, and ill-tempered.
Motherly
Kind, caring, and protective, like a mother.
Motivated
Having a strong internal reason or drive to do something.
Mousy
Timid, shy, and quiet, with an unremarkable appearance.
Mouthy
Tending to talk a lot in a rude, opinionated, or impudent way.
Muddle-headed
Tending to be confused and disorganized in thought.
Mulish
Resembling a mule in being stubborn and obstinate.
Munificent
Extremely liberal in giving or spending; very generous.
Mushy
Excessively emotional or sentimental.
Mysterious
Difficult or impossible to understand, explain, or identify.
Mystical
Having a spiritual nature beyond ordinary human understanding.