temperamental

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/ˌtɛm.pəɹ.əˈmɛn.təl//-pə.ɹə-//-pɹə-//-pə(ɹ)-/

adjective

Of, related to, or caused by temperament.

Similar
moodyemotionalerraticunreliableundependable
OriginProto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? ← English temperament →
UncommonScrabble 19
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Meanings

adjectivetemperamental (comparative more temperamental, superlative most temperamental)

comparative more temperamental · superlative most temperamental

  1. not comparableOf, related to, or caused by temperament.
  2. Subject to changing and unpredictable emotional states; moody, capricious.
  3. figurativelyUser-unfriendly, unstable, that is complicated or has poorly written instructions and is subsequently difficult to operate; unpredictable and erratic.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivesubject to sharply varying moods

Similar
moodyemotional

adjectivelikely to perform unpredictably

Similar
erraticunreliableundependable
Also see
cholericemotionalerratichotheadedirritablemoodyquick-temperedundependableunreliablevariable

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Englishtemperament
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
  4. Englishtemperamental

From temperament + -al.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Czech náladový, vrtošivý
  • náladovýemotional or moody, inconsistent
  • vrtošivýemotional or moody, inconsistent
Danish temperamentsfuld
  • temperamentsfuldemotional or moody, inconsistent
Finnish temperamenttinen, oikutteleva
  • temperamenttinenemotional or moody, inconsistent
  • oikuttelevaemotional or moody, inconsistent
French caractériel
  • caractérielemotional or moody, inconsistent
Māori hārakiraki, hūkokikoki
  • hārakirakiemotional or moody, inconsistent
  • hūkokikokiemotional or moody, inconsistent
Norwegian Bokmål temperamentsfull
  • temperamentsfullemotional or moody, inconsistent
Polish kapryśny, temperamentny
  • kapryśnyemotional or moody, inconsistent
  • temperamentnyemotional or moody, inconsistent
Portuguese temperamental
  • temperamentalemotional or moody, inconsistent
Romanian temperamental
  • temperamentalemotional or moody, inconsistent
Slovak náladový
  • náladovýemotional or moody, inconsistent
Spanish temperamental
  • temperamentalemotional or moody, inconsistent

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with temperamental

environmentalrentaldentalexperimentalcontinentaldevelopmentalgentleinstrumentaldepartmentalaccidentalelementalintergovernmentaloccidentaltranscendentalnongovernmentalcoincidentallentiljudgmentalinterdepartmentalentalcompartmentalunsentimentalcentalthiopental
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

temperamental. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/temperamental

MLA

“temperamental.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/temperamental. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “temperamental,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/temperamental.

Source: temperamental on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.