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

• 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

On a more positive note, the U-2 also showed that the Soviets had been playing a fantastic game of bluff that made the world believe that a handful of bombers and temperamental missiles were a vast nuclear arsenal. —David Szondy august 10, New Atlas, 10 Aug. 2025

The show was largely local in its preoccupations, and Hank’s conservatism was portrayed as more temperamental than political. —Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2025

Reliability issues make current AI resemble temperamental toddlers at times. —Arafat Kabir, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025

Sonny is superstitious and temperamental and unpredictable. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025

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