temperamental

adjective

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

ˌtem-pər-ˈmen-

1

a

: marked by excessive sensitivity and impulsive mood changes

a temperamental child

b

: unpredictable in behavior or performance

a temperamental computer

2

: of, relating to, or arising from temperament : constitutional

temperamental peculiarities

temperamentally

ˌtem-p(ə-)rə-ˈmen-tᵊl-ē 

ˌtem-pər-ˈmen-

adverb

Synonyms of temperamental

• moody
• volatile
• impulsive
• unstable

Examples of temperamental in a Sentence

The actor is known for being temperamental.

The old computer is temperamental.

They divorced due to temperamental differences.

Recent Examples on the Web

The weather in Florida during England’s stay thus far has been temperamental. — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 11 June 2026

The machine's temperamental nature began to bother her. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 24 June 2026

The temperamental Moon enters your 4th House of Home, bringing a quiet pull toward tidying one corner so the base of life feels steadier. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2026

The physical buttons work fine, but the touch-sensitive temple pad used for adjusting volume (via sliding motion) and skipping tracks (by tapping) is a bit temperamental. — New Atlas, 24 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for temperamental

• coincidental
• developmental
• environmental
• experimental
• intersegmental
• nongovernmental
• transcontinental
• unsentimental
• accidental
• compartmental
• continental
• detrimental

Kids Definition

temperamental

adjective

tem·​per·​a·​men·​tal ˌtem-p(ə-)rə-ˈment-ᵊl 

1

: of or relating to temperament

temperamental peculiarities

2

a

: likely to be easily upset

a temperamental movie star

b

: unpredictable in performance

a temperamental motor

temperamentally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb