Hands Which Cannot Write

List of Physical Descriptions

Master List of Physical Descriptions!

Visit the source here (c): https://www.bryndonovan.com/2015/06/16/master-list-of-physical-descriptions/

Character description, when done well, helps the readers see characters in their minds. But sometimes when you’re in the middle of writing, it can be hard to think of physical adjectives and distinguishing features for characters. This list is kind of like a character physical description generator, and it’ll help you when you’re trying to think of how to describe a character’s appearance.

EYES – GENERAL

Note: For all the words about describing facial features, I’m focusing more on physical descriptions rather than emotional expressions.

large
small
narrow
sharp
squinty
round
wide-set
close-set
deep-set
sunken
bulging
protruding
wide
hooded
heavy-lidded
bedroom
bright
sparkling
glittering
flecked
dull
bleary
rheumy
cloudy
red-rimmed
beady
birdlike
cat-like
jewel-like
steely
hard
fringed with long lashes
with sweeping eyelashes
with thick eyelashes

EYES – COLOR

Brown is the most common eye color by far. Green is quite rare.

chestnut
chocolate brown
cocoa brown
coffee brown
mocha
mahogany
sepia
sienna brown
mink brown
copper
amber
cognac
whiskey
brandy
honey
tawny
topaz
hazel
obsidian
onyx
coal
raven
midnight
sky blue
sunny blue
cornflower blue
steel blue
ice blue
Arctic blue
glacial blue
crystal blue
cerulean
electric blue
azure
lake blue
aquamarine
turquoise
denim blue
slate blue / slate gray
storm blue / storm gray
silver / silver gray
chrome
platinum
pewter
smoky gray
ash gray
concrete gray
dove gray
shark gray
fog gray
gunmetal gray
olive
emerald
leaf green
moss green

EYEBROWS

arched
straight
plucked
sparse
trim
dark
faint
thin
thick
unruly
bushy
heavy

SKIN — COLOR

amber
bronze
cinnamon
copper
dark brown
deep brown
ebony
honey
golden
pale
pallid
pasty
fair
light
cream / creamy
alabaster
ivory
bisque
milk
porcelain
chalky
sallow
olive
peach
rose / rosy
ruddy
florid
russet
tawny
fawn

SKIN – GENERAL

Note: Some of these are better for the face, and some are better for other parts of the body.

lined
wrinkled
seamed
leathery
sagging
drooping
loose
clear
smooth
silken
satiny
dry
flaky
scaly
delicate
thin
translucent
luminescent
baby-soft
flawless
poreless
with large pores
glowing
dewy
dull
velvety
fuzzy
rough
uneven
mottled
dimpled
doughy
firm
freckled
pimply
pockmarked
blemished
pitted
scarred
bruised
veined
scratched
sunburned
weather-beaten
raw
tattooed

FACE – STRUCTURE

square
round
oblong
oval
elongated
narrow
heart-shaped
catlike
wolfish
high forehead
broad forehead
prominent brow ridge
protruding brow bone
sharp cheekbones
high cheekbones
angular cheekbones
hollow cheeks
square jaw
chiseled
sculpted
craggy
soft
jowly
jutting chin
pointed chin
weak chin
receding chin
double chin
cleft chin
dimple in chin
visible Adam’s apple

NOSE

Note: People don’t write much about noses, but they can be distinguishing features for characters!

snub
dainty
button
turned-up
long
broad
thin
straight
pointed
crooked
aquiline
Roman
bulbous
flared
hawk
strong

MOUTH/LIPS

thin
narrow
full
lush
Cupid’s bow
rosebud
dry
cracked
chapped
moist
glossy
straight teeth
gap between teeth
gleaming white teeth
overbite
underbite

FACIAL HAIR
(or lack thereof)

clean-shaven
smooth-shaven
beard
neckbeard
goatee
moustache
sideburns
mutton-chop sideburns
stubble
a few days’ growth of beard
five o’ clock shadow

HAIR – GENERAL

Note: I threw a few hairstyles in here, though not many.

long
short
shoulder-length
loose
limp
dull
shiny
glossy
sleek
smooth
luminous
lustrous
spiky
stringy
shaggy
tangled
messy
tousled
windblown
unkempt
bedhead
straggly
neatly combed
parted
slicked down / slicked back
cropped
clipped
buzzed / buzz cut
crewcut
bob
mullet
curly
bushy
frizzy
wavy
straight
lanky
dry
oily
greasy
layers
corkscrews
spirals
ringlets
braids
widow’s peak
bald
shaved
comb-over
afro
thick
luxuriant
voluminous
full
wild
untamed
bouncy
wispy
fine
thinning

HAIR – COLOR

Note: There are some repeats here from the eye color section!

black
blue-black
jet black
raven
ebony
inky black
midnight
sable
salt and pepper
silver / silver gray
charcoal gray
steel gray
white
snow-white
brown
brunette
chocolate brown
coffee brown
ash brown
brown sugar
nut brown
caramel
tawny brown
toffee brown
red
ginger
auburn
Titian-haired
copper
strawberry blonde
butterscotch
honey
wheat
blonde
golden
sandy blond
flaxen
fair-haired
bleached
platinum

BODY TYPE – GENERAL

tall
average height
short
petite
tiny
compact
big
large
burly
beefy
bulky
brawny
barrel-chested
heavy / heavy-set
fat
overweight
obese
flabby
chunky
chubby
pudgy
pot-bellied
portly
thick
stout
lush
plush
full-figured
ample
rounded
generous
voluptuous
curvy
hourglass
plump
leggy / long-legged
gangling
lanky
coltish
lissome
willowy
lithe
lean
slim
slender
trim
thin
skinny
emaciated
gaunt
bony
spare
solid
stocky
wiry
rangy
sinewy
stringy
ropy
sturdy
strapping
powerful
hulking
fit
athletic
toned
built
muscular
chiseled
taut
ripped
Herculean
broad-shouldered
sloping shoulders
bowlegged

HANDS

delicate
small
large
square
sturdy
strong
smooth
rough
calloused
elegant
plump
manicured
stubby fingers
long fingers
ragged nails
grimy fingernails
ink-stained