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Appendix 5. Character Traits that Cluster around Humility and Pride
by Dr. Ralph F. WilsonAudio (3:26)
I've found it helpful to group English words that cluster around the term "humble" and contrast them with words that orbit around "pride." These charts are suggestive, not exhaustive. In each, words are grayed out to show that, while popular culture may see the humble as non-assertive and servile, that doesn't follow a Bible definition of assertiveness. (See Lessons 1.5, 5.2, and 6.5). Likewise, boldness and ambition are not only in the realm of the proud, but also the truly humble (See Lesson 5.2).
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Text of the charts for accessibility purposes.
Humble
Patient: forbearing, long-suffering
Respectful: courteous, considerate, kind, encouraging, thoughtful, understanding, nonjudgmental
God-Fearing: devout, pious, reverent, repentant, penitent
Compassionate: altruistic, empathetic, gracious, merciful, tender
Generous: serving, welcoming, receiving, hospitable, magnanimous
Gentle: lowly, meek, mild, patient, modest, unpretentious, temperate, self-controlled, cooperative, submissive.
Proud
Willful: stubborn, stiff-necked, unrepentant
Boastful: bragging, ostentatious, vain, immodest
Selfish: narcissistic, arrogant, haughty, conceited, egotistical
Entitled: jealous, envious, covetous, presumptuous
Disrespectful: contemptuous, discourteous, disdainful, rude
Insolent: insulting, mocking, scoffing, belittling, slanderous
Domineering: overbearing, pushy, manipulative, intrusive, threatening
Hypocritical: judgmental, flattering
Contentious: belligerent, combative, defiant, rebellious
Copyright © 2025, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastorjoyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.
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