If you say that someone is temperamental, you are criticizing them for not being calm or quiet by nature, but having moods that change often and suddenly.
[disapproval]
He is very temperamental and critical.
...a man given to temperamental outbursts and paranoia.
Synonyms: moody, emotional, touchy, sensitive More Synonyms of temperamental
2. adjective
If you describe something such as a machine or car as temperamental, you mean that it often does not work properly.
I first started cruising in yachts with temperamental petrol engines.
Vickers machine-guns could be temperamental.
Synonyms: unreliable, unpredictable, undependable, inconsistent More Synonyms of temperamental
More Synonyms of temperamental
temperamental in British English
(ˌtɛmpərəˈmɛntəl, -prəˈmɛntəl)
adjective
1.
easily upset or irritated; excitable; volatile
2.
of, relating to, or caused by temperament
3. informal
working erratically and inconsistently; unreliable
a temperamental sewing machine
Derived forms
temperamentally (ˌtemperaˈmentally)
adverb
temperamental in American English
(ˌtɛmpərəˈmɛntəl; ˌtɛmprəˈmɛntəl)
adjective
1.
of or caused by temperament
2.
having an excitable temperament; easily upset
3.
erratic in behavior; unpredictable
Derived forms
temperamentally (ˌtemperaˈmentally)
adverb
Examples of 'temperamental' in a sentence
temperamental
She could be nicer, less temperamental, spend some more time with her mum.
Cassidy, Anne IN REAL LIFE (2003)
`And bearing in mind our temperamental incompatibility," I said to Jon, `even elaborate attempts to be
Howatch, Susan ABSOLUTE TRUTHS (2003)
For a second his mind turned regretfully to Martha: despite her temperamental behaviour, she would have come up with some saving strategy.
Salley Vickers MR GOLIGHTLY'S HOLIDAY (2003)
Molly regarded her temperamental brother-in-law with a fond smile.
Susan Elizabeth Philips THIS HEART OF MINE (2003)
In other languages
temperamental
British English: temperamental ADJECTIVE
If you say that someone is temperamental, you are criticizing them for not being calm or quiet by nature, but having moods that change often and suddenly.
He is very temperamental and critical.
American English: temperamental
Brazilian Portuguese: temperamental
Chinese: 喜怒无常的
European Spanish: temperamental
French: fantasque
German: launisch
Italian: capriccioso
Japanese: 気まぐれな
Korean: 신경질적인
European Portuguese: temperamental
Latin American Spanish: temperamental
Chinese translation of 'temperamental'
temperamental
(tɛmprəˈmɛntl)
adj
[person]喜怒无(無)常的 (xǐ nù wú cháng de)
[car, machine]时(時)好时(時)坏(壞)的 (shí hǎo shí huài de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
(of a person) tending to be moody and have sudden outbursts of anger
The patient was given to temperamental outbursts and paranoia.
Synonyms
moody
Teenagers can become unstable and moody.
emotional
I don't get as emotional as I once did.
touchy
He is very touchy about his past.
sensitive
Young people are very sensitive about their appearance.
explosive
He inherited his father's explosive temper.
passionate
She has a passionate temper.
volatile
She has a volatile temperament.
fiery
I see you have a fiery temper.
impatient
erratic
irritable
He had been waiting for an hour and was starting to feel irritable.
mercurial
his mercurial temperament
excitable
The patient was in a highly excitable state.
capricious
capricious mood swings
petulant
He whined like a petulant child.
hot-headed
chippy (informal)
hypersensitive
highly strung
easily upset
unstable
Opposites
calm
,
level-headed
,
even-tempered
,
easy-going
,
cool-headed
,
unflappable
,
phlegmatic
,
stable
,
unexcitable
,
unperturbable
2 (adjective)
Definition
working erratically and inconsistently
(informal)
My computer at work can be temperamental.
Synonyms
unreliable
She had proved to be an unreliable witness and had lied to police.
unpredictable
Britain's notoriously unpredictable weather
undependable
inconsistent
You are inconsistent and unpredictable.
erratic
the erratic nature of our recent weather
inconstant
unstable
He was emotionally unstable.
Opposites
reliable
,
dependable
,
stable
,
constant
,
steady
3 (adjective)
Definition
of or relating to a person's temperament
Some temperamental qualities are not easily detected by parents.
Synonyms
natural
He has a natural flair for business.
inherent
the dangers inherent in an outbreak of war
innate
As a race, they have an innate sense of fairness.
constitutional
ingrained
Morals tend to be deeply ingrained.
congenital
She has a congenital disease.
inborn
It is clear that the ability to smile is inborn.
hard-wired
Additional synonyms
in the sense of capricious
Definition
having a tendency to sudden unpredictable changes of attitude or behaviour
capricious mood swings
Synonyms
unpredictable,
variable,
unstable,
inconsistent,
erratic,
quirky,
fickle,
impulsive,
mercurial,
freakish,
fitful,
inconstant,
changeful
in the sense of congenital
Definition
(of an abnormal condition) existing at birth but not inherited
She has a congenital disease.
Synonyms
inborn,
innate,
inherent,
hereditary,
natural,
constitutional,
inherited,
inbred,
hard-wired
in the sense of emotional
Definition
showing one's feelings openly, esp. when upset
I don't get as emotional as I once did.
Synonyms
passionate,
enthusiastic,
sentimental,
fiery,
feeling,
susceptible,
responsive,
ardent,
fervent,
zealous,
temperamental,
excitable,
demonstrative,
hot-blooded,
fervid,
touchy-feely (informal)
Synonyms of 'temperamental'
temperamental
Explore 'temperamental' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of erratic
Definition
irregular or unpredictable
the erratic nature of our recent weather
Synonyms
unpredictable,
variable,
unstable,
irregular,
shifting,
eccentric,
abnormal,
inconsistent,
uneven,
unreliable,
wayward,
capricious,
desultory,
changeable,
aberrant,
fitful,
inconstant
in the sense of excitable
Definition
nervous and easily excited
The patient was in a highly excitable state.
Synonyms
nervous,
emotional,
violent,
sensitive,
tense,
passionate,
volatile,
hasty,
edgy,
temperamental,
touchy,
mercurial,
uptight (informal),
irascible,
testy,
hot-headed,
chippy (informal),
hot-tempered,
quick-tempered,
highly strung,
adrenalized
in the sense of explosive
Definition
potentially violent
He inherited his father's explosive temper.
Synonyms
fiery,
violent,
volatile,
stormy,
touchy,
vehement,
chippy (informal)
in the sense of fiery
Definition
displaying strong passion, esp. anger
I see you have a fiery temper.
Synonyms
excitable,
violent,
fierce,
passionate,
irritable,
impetuous,
irascible,
peppery,
hot-headed,
choleric
in the sense of inborn
Definition
existing from birth
It is clear that the ability to smile is inborn.
Synonyms
natural,
inherited,
inherent,
hereditary,
instinctive,
innate,
intuitive,
ingrained,
congenital,
inbred,
native,
immanent,
in your blood,
hard-wired,
connate
in the sense of inconsistent
Definition
unstable or changeable in behaviour or mood
You are inconsistent and unpredictable.
Synonyms
changeable,
variable,
unpredictable,
unstable,
irregular,
erratic,
uneven,
fickle,
capricious,
unsteady,
inconstant
in the sense of inconstant
Definition
variable
Synonyms
unreliable,
variable,
uncertain,
volatile,
unsettled,
unstable,
inconsistent,
erratic,
wavering,
uneven,
fluctuating,
wayward,
fickle,
temperamental,
mercurial,
capricious,
unsteady,
changeable,
vacillating,
blowing hot and cold (informal),
mutable,
irresolute,
undependable,
changeful,
vagarious (rare)
in the sense of ingrained
Definition
(of a habit, feeling, or belief) deeply impressed or instilled
Morals tend to be deeply ingrained.
Synonyms
fixed,
rooted,
deep-seated,
fundamental,
constitutional,
inherent,
hereditary,
in the blood,
intrinsic,
deep-rooted,
indelible,
inveterate,
inborn,
inbred,
inbuilt,
ineradicable,
brassbound
in the sense of inherent
Definition
existing as an inseparable part
the dangers inherent in an outbreak of war
Synonyms
intrinsic,
natural,
basic,
central,
essential,
native,
fundamental,
underlying,
hereditary,
instinctive,
innate,
ingrained,
elemental,
congenital,
inborn,
inbred,
inbuilt,
immanent,
hard-wired,
connate,
inherited,
in your blood
in the sense of innate
Definition
existing from birth, rather than acquired
As a race, they have an innate sense of fairness.
Synonyms
inborn,
natural,
inherent,
essential,
native,
constitutional,
inherited,
indigenous,
instinctive,
intuitive,
intrinsic,
ingrained,
congenital,
inbred,
immanent,
in your blood,
hard-wired,
connate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of irritable
Definition
easily annoyed or angered
He had been waiting for an hour and was starting to feel irritable.
Synonyms
bad-tempered,
cross,
snappy,
hot,
tense,
crabbed,
fiery,
snarling,
prickly,
exasperated,
edgy,
touchy,
petulant,
ill-tempered,
irascible,
cantankerous,
tetchy,
ratty (British, New Zealand, informal),
testy,
chippy (informal),
fretful,
peevish,
crabby,
dyspeptic,
choleric,
crotchety (informal),
oversensitive,
snappish,
ill-humoured,
narky (British, slang),
out of humour
in the sense of mercurial
Definition
lively and unpredictable
his mercurial temperament
Synonyms
capricious,
volatile,
unpredictable,
erratic,
variable,
unstable,
fickle,
temperamental,
impulsive,
irrepressible,
changeable,
quicksilver,
flighty,
inconstant
in the sense of passionate
She has a passionate temper.
Synonyms
quick-tempered,
violent,
fiery,
stormy,
irritable,
excitable,
tempestuous,
irascible,
peppery,
hot-headed,
hot-tempered,
choleric
in the sense of petulant
Definition
unreasonably irritable or peevish
He whined like a petulant child.
Synonyms
sulky,
cross,
moody,
sour,
crabbed,
impatient,
pouting,
perverse,
irritable,
crusty,
sullen,
bad-tempered,
ratty (British, New Zealand, informal),
fretful,
waspish,
querulous,
peevish,
ungracious,
cavilling,
huffy,
fault-finding,
snappish,
ill-humoured,
captious
in the sense of sensitive
Definition
easily offended or shocked
Young people are very sensitive about their appearance.
Synonyms
touchy,
defensive,
paranoid,
uptight (informal),
twitchy (informal),
chippy (informal),
thin-skinned,
oversensitive,
easily upset,
easily offended,
hyper-sensitive,
easily hurt,
umbrageous (rare)
in the sense of touchy
Definition
easily upset or irritated
He is very touchy about his past.
Synonyms
oversensitive,
irritable,
bad-tempered,
cross,
crabbed,
grumpy,
surly,
petulant,
irascible,
tetchy,
ratty (British, New Zealand, informal),
testy,
chippy (informal),
thin-skinned,
grouchy (informal),
querulous,
peevish,
quick-tempered,
splenetic,
easily offended,
captious,
pettish,
toey (New Zealand, slang)
in the sense of unpredictable
Definition
not easy to predict or foresee
Britain's notoriously unpredictable weather
Synonyms
extraordinary,
erratic,
changeable,
variable,
chance,
random,
doubtful,
unstable,
unreliable,
fickle,
hit-and-miss (informal),
iffy (informal),
hit-or-miss (informal),
inconstant,
unforeseeable,
fluky (informal),
scattershot
in the sense of unstable
Definition
(of a person) having abrupt changes of mood or behaviour
He was emotionally unstable.
Synonyms
unpredictable,
irrational,
erratic,
inconsistent,
unreliable,
temperamental,
capricious,
changeable,
untrustworthy,
vacillating
in the sense of volatile
Definition
(of people) liable to sudden changes of mood and behaviour