temperamental

[ tem-per-uh-men-tl, -pruh-men-, -per-men- ]

adjective

1. having or exhibiting a strongly marked, individual temperament.
2. moody, irritable, or sensitive:

   a temperamental artist.

   Synonyms: emotional, volatile, excitable

3. given to erratic behavior; unpredictable.
4. of or relating to temperament; constitutional:

   temperamental differences.

temperamental

/ -prəˈmɛntəl; ˌtɛmpərəˈmɛntəl /

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

• ˌtemperaˈmentally, adverb

Other Words From

• temper·a·mental·ly adverb
• nontem·per·a·mental adjective
• nontem·per·a·mental·ly adverb
• untem·per·a·mental adjective
• untem·per·a·mental·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of temperamental¹

First recorded in 1640–50; temperament + -al ¹

Example Sentences

There’s no position in football more tumultuous and temperamental.

From Los Angeles Times

Most poorer vignerons, more concerned about feeding and sheltering their families than the lofty ambitions and tastes of a royal prince, appreciated the Gamay for its easy harvest and high yield, which offered a reprieve that the temperamental and needy Pinot could not provide.

From Salon

“The California poppy is temperamental; it requires certain conditions to bloom,” Lake Elsinore Mayor Steve Manos said recently.

From Los Angeles Times

His spiritual, temperamental and physical opposite, Louie runs a kettle corn stand, a burlesque nightclub and other concessions on the site; he pounds Red Bull like it’s a contest, and is determined to buy the festival — his family is rich — beef it up with “new and immersive technology” and, above all, make a lot of money.

From Los Angeles Times

Serving as a temperamental counterweight to Vincent is Det.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• capricious
• erratic
• excitable
• fickle
• headstrong
• high-strung
• impatient
• irritable
• mercurial
• moody
• ornery
• passionate
• petulant
• thin-skinned
• unpredictable
• unreliable
• unstable
• volatile