temperamental
gb/tˌɛmpɚmˈɛntəl/ us/tˌɛmpɚmˈɛntəl/
B2
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
adjective
B2
property
1
moody and unpredictable
If someone is temperamental, their mood changes a lot and you cannot easily predict how they will react.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] is (often/a bit/highly) temperamental
Erreur fréquente :
Don’t use it to mean only “bad-tempered” or “angry”; it mainly means “moody/unpredictable.”
Synonymes
moody (More general; less emphasis on unpredictability.)
|
volatile (Stronger; suggests sudden, intense changes and possible anger.)
|
mercurial (More literary; highlights rapid changes.)
Antonymes
even-tempered (Stays calm and consistent.)
|
steady (Reliable and not changeable in mood or reactions.)
Collocations
a temperamental person
|a temperamental child
|a temperamental partner
|a temperamental boss
|temperamental behavior
|temperamental moods
|a temperamental streak
|highly temperamental
|a bit temperamental
|in a temperamental mood
Thèmes
emotions
|personality
|relationships
|daily_life
Exemples
- She can be charming, but she’s also temperamental and gets upset over small things.
- The director was temperamental, so the crew learned to avoid him when he was stressed.
- He’s been more temperamental since he stopped sleeping well.
Exemples pédagogiques
- My brother is temperamental and changes his mood quickly.
- She is temperamental, so I choose my words carefully.
adjective
C1
property
2
unreliable; works inconsistently
If a machine is temperamental, it does not work the same way every time and sometimes stops working.
Schéma d’usage :
[thing] is temperamental
Synonymes
unreliable (Neutral and broad; less person-like.)
|
finicky (Suggests it needs careful handling or exact conditions.)
|
faulty (Suggests an actual defect rather than inconsistency.)
Antonymes
reliable (Works consistently without problems.)
|
dependable (Emphasizes trustworthiness over time.)
Collocations
a temperamental car
|a temperamental engine
|a temperamental printer
|a temperamental laptop
|temperamental equipment
|temperamental electronics
|a temperamental system
|a temperamental heating system
|a temperamental old camera
|temperamental machinery
Thèmes
technology
|daily_life
|work
Exemples
- My old printer is temperamental—it works one day and refuses the next.
- The heating system is temperamental, so we keep a space heater as a backup.
- It’s a great camera, but it can be temperamental in cold weather.
Exemples pédagogiques
- This car is temperamental and sometimes won’t start.
- The printer is temperamental, so I save my work often.
adjective
formal
C1
relation
3
relating to a person’s temperament
Temperamental means connected to a person’s usual way of feeling and behaving.
Schéma d’usage :
temperamental [differences/traits/factors]
Erreur fréquente :
This meaning is different from “moody”; in formal contexts it can mean simply “about temperament.”
Synonymes
dispositional (More technical; common in psychology.)
|
personality (Broader; not limited to temperament.)
Antonymes
situational (Caused mainly by circumstances rather than stable tendencies.)
Collocations
temperamental differences
|temperamental traits
|temperamental factors
|temperamental variation
|temperamental predisposition
|temperamental style
|temperamental profile
|temperamental characteristics
|temperamental sensitivity
|temperamental reactivity
Thèmes
psychology
|personality
|education
Exemples
- The study looked at temperamental differences in how toddlers react to noise and change.
- Teachers may need different approaches for children with different temperamental traits.
- She has a temperamental sensitivity to criticism that shows up in many settings.
Exemples pédagogiques
- People have different temperamental traits.
- The report discusses temperamental differences in children.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
temperamental
API
GB/tˌɛmpɚmˈɛntəl/
US/tˌɛmpɚmˈɛntəl/
Syllabes et accentuation
tem - pera - ment - al (4 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pera)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: temperamental
Expressions
Aucune expression n’est encore associée à cette entrée.