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

But for the song to work its magic in the musical, Albin’s interior life must poke through the makeup, dresses and temperamental diva histrionics.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

“God isn’t some old man sitting on a throne in the clouds, who’s, like, very temperamental,” he said.

From Seattle Times

The crossing from the Falkland Islands to reach South Georgia takes several days on a notoriously temperamental ocean.

From Science Daily

In adolescents at temperamental risk for anxiety, higher brain activity was related to increased anxiety symptoms over time and matched the brain activity seen in children diagnosed with an anxiety disorder before treatment.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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