Temperamental — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˌtem-p(ə-)rə-ˈmen-tᵊl/ tem·per·a·men·tal

Meaning & Definition of Temperamental

Temperamental (adjective)

  1. marked by excessive sensitivity and impulsive mood changes
  2. unpredictable in behavior or performance
  3. of, relating to, or arising from temperament, constitutional

Temperamental (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. frequently influenced by moods and especially bad moods

    "one of those temperamental actresses who can make life difficult for everyone around her"

    similar: moody
    related: capricious, changeable, changeful, fickle, fluctuating, fluid, freakish, impulsive, inconstant, mercurial, mutable, uncertain, unsettled, unstable, unsteady, variable, volatile, whimsical, pouty, sulky, choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, crotchety, grouchy, grumpy, irascible, irritable, peevish, petulant, quick-tempered, short-tempered, snappish, snippety, snippy, testy, waspish
    near: equable, even, immutable, inflexible, invariable, unalterable, unchangeable, changeless, constant, settled, stable, steady, unchanging

  2. likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly

    "stock prices have been pretty temperamental lately, often fluctuating wildly"

    similar: capricious, changeable, changeful, fickle, flickery, fluctuating, fluid, inconsistent, inconstant, mercurial, mutable, skittish, uncertain, unpredictable, unsettled, unstable, unsteady, variable, volatile, up in the air
    related: aimless, arbitrary, desultory, erratic, haphazard, hit-or-miss, irregular, random, scattered, slapdash, stray, ambivalent, hesitating, shaky, shilly-shally, shilly-shallying, vacillating, wavering, dicey, undependable, unreliable, untrustworthy, adaptable, mobile, protean, versatile
    opposite: certain, changeless, constant, immutable, invariable, predictable, settled, stable, stationary, steady, unchangeable, unchanging, unvarying
    near: equable, even, uniform, abiding, durable, lasting, permanent, persistent, dependable, reliable, sure, tried, tried-and-true, true, trustworthy, trusty

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Temperamental

The most common words with a similar meaning to Temperamental:

moody, capricious, changeable, changeful, fickle, flickery, fluctuating, fluid, inconsistent, inconstant, mercurial, mutable, skittish, uncertain, unpredictable, unsettled, unstable, unsteady, variable, volatile, up in the air

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Temperamental

Words with the opposite meaning of Temperamental:

certain, changeless, constant, immutable, invariable, predictable, settled, stable, stationary, steady, unchangeable, unchanging, unvarying

Related Words for Temperamental

freakish, impulsive, whimsical, pouty, sulky, choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, crotchety, grouchy, grumpy, irascible, irritable, peevish, petulant, quick-tempered, short-tempered, snappish, snippety, snippy, testy, waspish, aimless, arbitrary, desultory, erratic, haphazard, hit-or-miss, irregular

Near Antonyms of Temperamental

equable, even, inflexible, unalterable, uniform, abiding, durable, lasting, permanent, persistent, dependable, reliable, sure, tried, tried-and-true, true, trustworthy, trusty

Word Forms of Temperamental

Derived words: temperamentally (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Temperamental

borrowed from New Latin temperāmentālis "of the temperament," from Latin temperāmentum temperament + -ālis -al:1

First known use: 1646

Frequently Asked Questions about Temperamental

What does "Temperamental" mean?

"Temperamental" means marked by excessive sensitivity and impulsive mood changes. As an adjective, it is defined as: marked by excessive sensitivity and impulsive mood changes. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Temperamental"?

Other words for "Temperamental" include moody, capricious, changeable, changeful, fickle, flickery, fluctuating and fluid. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Temperamental" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Temperamental"?

There are 70 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Temperamental". Common alternatives include moody, capricious, changeable, changeful, fickle, flickery, fluctuating, fluid, inconsistent and inconstant.

What is the opposite of "Temperamental"?

Antonyms of "Temperamental" include certain, changeless, constant, immutable, invariable, predictable, settled and stable. Near antonyms include equable, even, inflexible and unalterable.

How do you use "Temperamental" in a sentence?

Examples of "Temperamental" in a sentence: "one of those temperamental actresses who can make life difficult for everyone around her"; "stock prices have been pretty temperamental lately, often fluctuating wildly".

Is "Temperamental" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Temperamental" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Temperamental"?

"Temperamental" is pronounced /ˌtem-p(ə-)rə-ˈmen-tᵊl/ and divided into syllables as tem·per·a·men·tal.

What is the origin of the word "Temperamental"?

"Temperamental" comes from borrowed from New Latin temperāmentālis "of the temperament," from Latin temperāmentum temperament + -ālis -al:1. First known use: 1646.