intemperate

adjective

in·​tem·​per·​ate (ˌ)in-ˈtem-p(ə-)rət How to pronounce intemperate (audio)
: not temperate
intemperate criticism
especially : given to excessive use of intoxicating liquors
intemperately adverb
intemperateness noun

Did you know?

Intemperate means "not well tempered"—in other words, not well mixed or balanced. The word comes from Latin intemperatus, a combination of in- and the verb temperare, meaning "to temper" or "to mix."

Examples of intemperate in a Sentence

intemperate anger that is so extreme that the man should be in therapy a serious course in wine appreciation that does not welcome intemperate drinkers and party animals
Recent Examples on the Web The shooting unfolded just as Biden was attempting to focus his campaign even more sharply on criticizing Trump, including for his intemperate rhetoric and divisive message, as an effort to move the conversation beyond his performance in the June 27 presidential debate. Tyler Pager, Washington Post, 14 July 2024 Edsall has developed a knack for soliciting revealing quotes from his sources, lulling them into a sense of false security only to tease out their most intemperate inner thoughts. Noah Rothman, National Review, 3 Apr. 2024 The results in Germany, argued Jan-Werner Müller, a professor of politics at Princeton University, offer a riposte to the conventional wisdom in much of the West that sees restive publics inexorably attracted to polarizing, intemperate anti-establishment forces. Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2021 Accustomed to Russian threats, officials in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, took Moscow’s warnings as mostly bluster — the latest in a series of increasingly intemperate statements by a country that is severely stretched militarily by its invasion of Ukraine. New York Times, 20 June 2022 See all Example Sentences for intemperate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intemperate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English intemperat, from Latin intemperatus, from in- + temperatus, past participle of temperare to temper

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of intemperate was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near intemperate

Cite this Entry

“Intemperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intemperate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

intemperate

adjective
in·​tem·​per·​ate (ˌ)in-ˈtem-p(ə-)rət How to pronounce intemperate (audio)
1
: not moderate or mild : severe
intemperate weather
2
: lacking or showing lack of restraint
intemperate language
3
: given to excessive use of alcoholic beverages
intemperately adverb
intemperateness noun

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