intemperate
adjective
in·tem·per·ate
(ˌ)in-ˈtem-p(ə-)rət 
: not temperate
intemperate criticism
especially
: given to excessive use of intoxicating liquors
intemperately
adverb
intemperateness
noun
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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
Blaming heated and even intemperate words for the violent actions of madmen invites censorship and deflects responsibility from those who actually commit violent acts.
—
airmail.news, 20 July 2024
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
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
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airmail.news, 20 July 2024
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Intemperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intemperate. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
intemperate
adjective
in·tem·per·ate
(ˌ)in-ˈtem-p(ə-)rət
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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