Is a character in your novel a psychopath? Do you need some interesting words to describe this character? This post will help you. In it, we share examples of how to describe a psychopath in a story using 10 adjectives.
1. Threatening
Definition
Someone with aggressive behavior that may harm someone else.
Examples
“The policeman gulped as he locked eyes with the threatening man. His psychotic gaze was as cold as ice.”
“The medical team confirmed that the threatening psychopath was a danger to society.”
How it Adds Description
If you want to show that your psychopath is a dangerous character, “threatening” is the word to use. This shows that the character has the potential to harm others, and thus other characters may try to hunt them down and isolate them from society. Most other characters will likely be scared of a “threatening” psychopath as they don’t want to be physically or mentally hurt.
2. Unnoticeable
Definition
Someone who’s not easily detected or seen.
Examples
“Once out of jail and in the city, the psychotic woman was unnoticeable. The authorities couldn’t find him anywhere.”
“Most people thought she was a lovely lady, but underneath her charming personality was an unnoticeable psychopath.”
How it Adds Description
“Unnoticeable” can be used to describe a psychopath that doesn’t draw lots of attention to themselves. This could be because they hide their psychopathic tendencies or because they’re very high functioning. Other characters may never even notice their true personality throughout the novel.
3. Furious
Definition
Someone who is very angry.
Examples
“Whenever he spoke, you could hear the rage in the furious psychopath’s voice.”
“The police officers didn’t know the psychopath was furious and that they were the target of her fury.”
How it Adds Description
If your psychopath has been wronged or wants to get revenge, they may be “furious.” This emotion might provoke them to go on a rampage or to hurt other characters, even if they don’t deserve it. A “furious” psychopath likely scares most other characters away due to their insatiable moods and unpredictable behavior.
4. Reserved
Definition
Someone who is quiet or keeps their emotions hidden.
Examples
“Unlike the TV stereotypes of psychopaths, she was much more reserved than the jury expected.”
“The reserved woman sat amongst her colleagues, hiding her psychopathic nature while observing their actions.”
How it Adds Description
Not all psychopaths are loud and aggressive. Many are quiet and calculating, especially when watching others to try and mimic their behavior. “Reserved” shows that your psychopath is staying quiet and hiding their true thoughts from the characters around them. This might make them more difficult to connect with, and other characters may ignore them.
5. Peculiar
Definition
Someone who acts in an unusual and unpleasant way.
Examples
“Though he wasn’t officially diagnosed as a psychopath, he knew there was something peculiar about him.”
“The FBI checked through their psychopath files to find the peculiar man.”
How it Adds Description
Sometimes psychopaths act in strange ways that stand out to the average person. If your fictional psychopath does this, they might be deemed “peculiar,” and other characters may try to find them and work out why they’re behaving strangely. Their “peculiar” actions may also be off-putting to others, leaving them alone in society.
6. Sharp
Definition
Someone who’s quick to notice and understand things.
Examples
“The escaped psychopath was sharp and realized the CIA was trailing him long before they tried to make a move.”
“Emma has always been a sharp girl, but everyone was shocked when the doctor deemed her a psychopath.”
How it Adds Description
Many psychopaths are very intelligent, and you can show your reader that your character is clever by using the word “sharp.” This adjective also hints that they notice things quickly, and this could help them when trying to outsmart others or get their own way.
7. Deceitful
Definition
Someone who is dishonest and tricks others.
Examples
“He was a charming man, but none of the ladies he swooned knew that he was a deceitful psychopath — his looks clouded their vision every time.”
“The lady didn’t even realize her actions were deceitful. It was just how she journeyed through life as a psychopath.”
How it Adds Description
“Deceitful” is perfect to describe a psychopathic character who takes advantage of others and lies frequently. This will make them very hard to trust, especially if they’re the narrator of your story. Many characters won’t notice their lies, as “deceitful” psychopaths are very good at hiding their true intentions.
8. Frightening
Definition
Something or someone that makes you feel anxious and afraid.
Examples
“There was nothing more frightening than a psychopath with a motive.”
“Jenny knew her best friend was a psychopath, but unlike most people, she didn’t find him frightening. In fact, she was fascinated by his mind.”
How it Adds Description
If your psychopath displays aggressive or unpredictable behavior, many other characters may find them “frightening.” This shows they’re no longer hiding their psychopathic traits and that other people have noticed their behavior is scary.
9. Creepy
Definition
Someone or something that makes you feel nervous.
Examples
“The creepy man gave everyone on the train a nervous feeling. But they still didn’t realize he was a dangerous psychopath.”
“Despite the psychopath’s best attempts to reign in his personality, he still appeared creepy to most people.”
How it Adds Description
Unlike scary or frightening, “creepy” shows that the psychopath makes others feel nervous but not completely afraid. They likely notice something is off about the psychopath but can’t put their finger on why. Psychopaths who are “creepy” are likely showing common symptoms, such as the tendency to lie or disregard other characters’ rights.
10. Infuriating
Definition
Someone that is very annoying.
Examples
“I’ve had it with that infuriating man! Something needs to be done — we can’t have a psychopath in our town any longer.”
“The infuriating woman showed no remorse for her actions in court. However, this was common behavior for someone with psychotic tendencies.”
How it Adds Description
If a psychopath is “infuriating,” it hints that other characters are getting fed up with their actions. Characters who are trying to stop them or arrest them may call them “infuriating,” especially if they’ve just escaped or evaded police custody.