What Are Some Adjectives That Describe Strengths and Weaknesses?

Some adjectives that describe strengths include “adventurous,” “decisive,” “passionate,” “brilliant,” “versatile” and “self-assured”; some adjectives that describe weaknesses include “dreary,” “insensitive,” “short-tempered,” “meddlesome,” “unpleasant” and “impatient.” Sometimes, however, the same adjective can be used to describe both a strength and a weakness.

For example, “deferential” means submitting to someone else’s judgment call or showing respect. Some people see this trait as a positive, as it could mean showing respect for a boss, while others may see it as negative when showing too much deference results in someone not providing enough of his own opinion when needed or not being decisive.