What do we call people who make us feel particular ways?

September 26, 2008 11:27 PM

There are some people who make everybody they meet feel a particular way. I'm looking for adjectives that describe these people.

I'm trying to make a list of words that describe what type of emotional effect a person will have on on the other people he or she encounters. I've come up with the following preliminary list, but I'm hoping the hive-mind can help me come up with many many more:

• intimidating
• scary
• creepy
• boring
• interesting
• depressing
• calming
• exhausting
• annoying

Thanks!

posted by eisenkr to grab bag (8 comments total)

Keeping the list going...

• revolting
• horrifying
• disgusting
• loathsome
• inspiring
• awesome
• dispiriting
• unsettling
• frightening

posted by eisenkr at 11:45 PM on September 26, 2008

There are some people who make everybody they meet feel a particular way. I'm looking for adjectives that describe these people.

The term is charismatic. Jesus had it. So did Adolf Hitler and Bush3.
posted by KokuRyu at 11:56 PM on September 26, 2008

A list of feeling words...

And yeah, the people Koku listed were charismatic because they had charisma. This characteristic has the effect you describe, but I think the list of effects will answer your question...
posted by Kimothy at 1:02 AM on September 27, 2008

There are some people who make everybody they meet feel a particular way. I'm looking for adjectives that describe these people.

I almost answered this, and then I asked myself..."a particular way?" Only one? I don't know anyone that creates only one response from anyone. I don't think that there is anyone who conforms to your question.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 2:25 AM on September 27, 2008 [1 favorite]

some common ones:
tiring
motivating
mystifying
nauseating
captivating
posted by edtut at 2:41 AM on September 27, 2008

enigmatic
posted by infinityjinx at 5:46 AM on September 27, 2008

My boyfriend, who is like this, calls himself a "projector." As in, he projects emotions onto others.
posted by limeonaire at 9:47 AM on September 27, 2008

I almost answered this, and then I asked myself..."a particular way?" Only one? I don't know anyone that creates only one response from anyone. I don't think that there is anyone who conforms to your question.

I'd agree in general, but one friend of mine has a pretty much universal effect on everyone he meets - all are calmed by his presence, feel very comfortable talking to him, and want to tell him stuff they might usually only tell a close friend. It's a really powerful effect. (And, since we're in the UK, a lot of people like it in the moment, but retrospectively find it pretty discomforting!) I'm basing the 'universal' thing on ten years of introducing people to him, conversations with mutual friends, &c.. Another friend who met this person once, for ten minutes, five or so years ago still asks after him, nicknaming him 'the comfortable man'.

Before reading the 'more inside' and finding the question to be a request for random adjectives, I thought this was an attempt to find a name for people like my friend, who consistently give a certain very specific impression. So, I'll hijack - is there a word for these people? limeonaire's 'projector' is close, but doesn't quite fit, since it implies the ability to project various emotions, rather than eliciting one. Monoresponsees, perhaps?!
posted by jack_mo at 3:17 PM on September 27, 2008