NOTE:
This vocabulary lesson explores 34 words to describe a person who smiles. Definitions as well as examples in specific contexts are provided.
Table of Contents
What do you call a person who always smiles?
What do you call people who smile a lot?
The answer to this question needs additional context. It varies on whether the smile is sincere or fake and on what caused that individual to be happy.
If the smile is genuine, smiling people can be described as cheerful, happy, lively, approachable, or friendly. However, if the smile is fake, this indicates that the individual puts a fake smile that hides dissatisfaction, unhappiness, sorrow, or even sarcasm.
What is a smile?
A smile is a facial expression of happiness. It can be achieved by the contraction of muscles around the eye, mouth, and nose. Smiles are often associated with happiness, but they can also indicate other emotions including embarrassment, nostalgia, pity, or even sarcasm.
One of the most common and simple ways to identify facial emotions is a smile. According to psychology theory on emotional expressions, smiling is a biologically based and reasonably straightforward way to indicate pleasant emotions like amusement or enjoyment.
Moreover, a sincere smile serves as an open invitation that you’re friendly approachable, and eager to socialize. With a smile on your face, people see you as being more likable and trustworthy. A genuine smile communicates your willingness to work with others and shows your value as a person.
The following list of terms describe people who always smile. The list contains terms that describe both people with fake smiles as well as genuinely happy smiling people. The latter group is characterized by being happy, approachable, and friendly.
How would you describe a smile? (Fake vs genuine smile)
A smile can be either fake or genuine. This section lists relevant vocabulary items that are related to both phony and real smiles.
34 words to describe A person who smiles
A. What do you call someone who has a fake smile?
A fake smile is when someone only smiles with their mouth, but their eyes remain emotionless.
A fake smile or artificial smile hides feelings of unhappiness, dissatisfaction, sarcasm, or endurance of pain. Here are some of the terms that describe fake smiles.
1. Grin
The term “grin“, may function as a verb or as a noun:
As a noun
I don’t like his mischievous grin.
As a verb
She grinned slyly and refused to tell me where the money came from.
We use the word “grin” to refer to a broad smile. It may refer to anything cunning, malicious, or devious. It is another word for smiling evilly.
He grinned wickedly when he saw her car terribly damaged by the storm.
The word grin may also describe a person who is enduring pain or difficulties without complaining. It may be used as another word for smiling through pain.
She was hopeless and couldn’t do anything except grin and bear it and hope for the best.
The term grin may also have a positive connotation as in:
He had a big grin on his face because he won the lottery and things seemed to go well for him.
2. Stoic smile
As with the word grin which may refer to a smile that hides suffering, a stoic describes a person who can endure suffering and adversity without expressing emotion or grumbling (i.e., complaining.) People who are undergoing pain may put a stoic smile on their face.
3. Plastic smile
Sometimes the smile is phony and hides extreme unhappiness or dissatisfaction. People with a fake smile may appear happy all the time but are actually terribly unhappy on the inside. Such people can be described as having a plastic smile.
4. Eccedentesiast
Eccedentesiast refers to a person who fakes a smile. The term comes from Latin and is derived from Latin:
- ecce → I present to you
- dentes → teeth
- isst → performer
Combining these parts
results in:
- “I present to you my teeth as a performer.“
B. What do you call a person who always has a pleasant smile? (Genuine smile)
Depending on the cause of the person’s happiness and contentment, a variety of terms could be used to describe a smiling person if the smile is a symptom of their nice disposition.
5. Affable
An affable person is friendly, pleasant, and approachable.
She dates an affable and courteous gentleman.
6. Amiable
Very much like affable, amiable refers to a person who is friendly and pleasant to be with.
I was surprised at how amiable and polite he was to her.
7. Blithe
The adjective blithe describes someone who is pleasant, happy, carefree, and cheerful. However, over time this word has also evolved to mean “not paying attention as much as they ought to.”
She was appreciated by everyone thanks to her blithe spirit.
He showed a blithe disregard for the authority.
8. Carefree
A carefree person is free from responsibility, worries, or anxiety.
They were young and carefree.
He has always had a carefree attitude toward life.
9. Cheerful
Someone who is cheerful is happy and exhibits happiness through behaviors. Your friends probably refer to you as cheerful if you’re upbeat and optimistic. A cheerful person makes your day much better.
The term cheer, which first meant face or head in Greek and Latin, evolved to imply “happy mood or spirit,” in the 13th century
She met a cheerful old man who made her day.
He had a cheerful spirit that everybody liked.
10. Convivial
If someone is convivial, they are friendly and make you feel happy and welcome.
He is such a convivial host.
11. Cordial
If someone is cordial, they are friendly and warm but at the same time formal and polite.
The term cordial comes from the Medieval Latin “cordialis” meaning “of or for the heart,” from the Latin cor (genitive cordis) “heart.”
Our hosts were hospitable and cordial.
12. Devil-may-care
The expression devil-may-care describes a person who is cheerful but reckless. People who are designated by this attribute are usually worry-free, relaxed, and smile a lot.
She has a rather devil-may-care attitude to her problems.
13. Extrovert
If someone is an extrovert, they are outgoing, active, and socially confident. An extrovert socializes easily and is generally always smiling.
She is a public relations officer, an extrovert who is like a magnet attracting everybody to her.
14. Exuberant
Exuberant describes a person who is energetic, enthusiastic, and cheerful.
I met a bunch of exuberant youngsters at the park.
15. Friendly
A friendly person is always smiling, kind, and pleasant to be with.
She has a friendly smile.
He was always friendly to her.
16. Genial
If you describe someone as genial, you mean they are friendly, warm, and cheerful.
Its original meaning was “related to marital rites,” and it was first used in the 1560s. The Latin word genialis means “pleasant, festive.”
Our host is genial.
17. Good-natured
Good-natured refers to a naturally nice and helpful person. Someone who is good-natured is not easily made angry. The opposite is ill-natured.
He is good-natured, the kind of person you immediately trust and feel at ease with.
18. Gregarious
A gregarious person is someone who is friendly, outgoing, and prefers to be with other people. Another synonym for gregarious is sociable.
The term gregarious derives from the Latin word grex, which means “herd” or “flock.”
When the word gregarious first started to appear in English texts in the 17th century, it was mostly used to describe animals, but by the 18th century, it started to be used to describe sociable humans.
Being part of the herd evolved to mean sociable when describing people with the term gregarious.
He is a gregarious and outgoing person.
19. Hail-fellow-well-met
A man or his acts are said to be “hail-fellow-well-met” if they are cordial and enthusiastic, yet sometimes not in a sincere way. The expression dates back to the 16th century.
He greeted his new colleague with the usual hail-fellow-well-met.
20. Happy
The word happy simply means feeling pleased and satisfied. People display happiness with signs of liveliness and a smile on their faces. It is good to be around happy people.
Jane and Alan seem very happy when they are together.
When he discovered the truth about his father, he felt happy for the first time in his life.
She was happy about her new job.
21. Happy-go-lucky
A happy-go-lucky person takes pleasure in life and does not worry about the future.
I like Nancy’s forever happy-go-lucky attitude.
22. Jocular
Someone who is jocular is characterized by joking and good humor.
He is not as jocular as usual.
She was in a jocular mood at the party.
23. Jovial
Someone who is jovial is friendly and in a good mood.
She was jovial, making everyone feel relaxed, entertained, and comfortable with her.
24. Joyful
A joyful person is extremely happy.
They were joyful at the news.
He was described as joyful, smart, and always looking out for others.
25. Lighthearted
Someone who is lighthearted is happy and not burdened with worry or trouble.
She is amazingly lighthearted.
26. Lively
A lively person behaves enthusiastically and cheerfully.
He was a lively colleague. I will always remember him as having a smile on his face and helping everyone.
27. Optimist
Someone who is an optimist tends to always expect that good and happy things will happen. People who smile a lot are characterized by an optimistic view of life.
She is an optimist smiling mature woman.
28. Outgoing
Outgoing people are very friendly and like to be with others.
She’s an outgoing girl.
He is someone who makes an impact wherever he goes through his amazing smile, outgoing personality, and excitement to meet new people.
29. Pleasant
Someone who is pleasant is friendly and likable.
She had a pleasant smile.
I like to be around people who are pleasant and cheerful.
30. Radiant
if someone is radiant, their happiness shows on their face. A smile can be also described as radiant if it t is bright with hope and happiness.
We met radiant people at the party.
She had a radiant smile.
31. Shining
If someone is shining, they have a bright and happy disposition.
The kid looked at his mother with shining eyes.
32. Sociable
People who are sociable like the company of others. Another synonym for sociable is gregarious.
She is such a sociable guest.
The ideal salesperson always wears a smile and is patient and sociable.
33. Sunny
If someone is sunny, they are cheerful, bright, and optimistic.
He had a sunny disposition.
34. Warm
Someone who is warm is friendly and shows affection, love, or enthusiasm.
He greeted me with a broad smile and a warm handshake.
She was a warm and loving mother.
His friendly warm voice made everybody feel welcome.
Summary
The following table provides a summary of all the vocabulary that describes people who smile:
| Fake smile | Genuine smile |
|---|---|
| 1. grin* 2. stoic 3. plastic smile 4. eccedentesiast | 5. affable 6. amiable 7. blithe 8. carefree 9. cheerful 10. convivial 11. cordial 12. devil-may-care 13. extrovert 14. exuberant 15. friendly 16. genial 17. good-natured 18. gregarious 19. hail-fellow-well-met 20. happy 21. happy-go-lucky 22. jocular 23. jovial 24. joyful 25. lighthearted 26. lively 27. optimist 28. outgoing 29. pleasant 30. radiant 31. shining 32. sociable 33. Sunny 34. warm |
| grin = can have a positive meaning, referring to a genuine smile as in “he grinned cheerfully.” | |
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