tempered

tem·pered | \ ˈtem-pərd

How to pronounce tempered (audio)

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Definition of tempered

1 : treated by tempering especially, of glass : treated so as to impart increased strength and the property of shattering into pellets when broken

2 : having a specified temper —used in combinationshort-tempered

3a : having the elements mixed in satisfying proportions : temperate

b : qualified, lessened, or diluted by the mixture or influence of an additional ingredient : moderated a pale gleam of tempered sunlight fell through the leaves— W. H. Hudson †1922

4 : conforming to adjustment by temperament —used of a musical interval, intonation, semitone, or scale

Examples of tempered in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Had the hit been harder, or perhaps his leg in a more vulnerable position, the good-tempered coach could have been training camp’s first casualty. — BostonGlobe.com, "“Yeah, that was unfortunate, flying into Bruce there,” said a somewhat sheepish Petrovic, a 6-foot-4-inch blueliner with a penchant for hitting, albeit usually against more prepared and better protected targets. “I lost an edge . . . kind of not the best spot to lose your edge.”," 14 Sep. 2019 Fed officials have been starkly divided over the flurry of rate cuts, with many supporting them and others preferring more tempered moves or none at all. — Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, "Fed lowers rates again but hints it may be done cutting in the near-term," 30 Oct. 2019 The only black Republican in the Senate, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., also offered a tempered response that stopped short of criticizing Trump. — Author: Colby Itkowitz, Anchorage Daily News, "Trump compares impeachment probe to ‘lynching,’ draws widespread condemnation," 22 Oct. 2019 Cleveland has a more tempered approach to securing proper representation for Clear Lake, including possibly tapping a local point person to act as an advocate for the community’s particular needs. — Carissa D. Lamkahouan, Houston Chronicle, "Election topic: Should Clear Lake get its own council district?," 1 Oct. 2019 Avossa texted reporters to criticize their news coverage and publicly scolded officials with quick-tempered attacks. — Lois K. Solomon, sun-sentinel.com, "Palm Beach County School Board gives high grades to first-time superintendent," 18 Sep. 2019 And the seemingly sweet-tempered Bing turns out to be just as terrifying once his true nature is revealed. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Review: NOS4A2 is a haunting fable about the steep cost of creative gifts," 31 July 2019 The Giants entered the 2019 season with tempered hopes and played down to expectations through the first three months of the season. — Gary Peterson, The Mercury News, "Giants offer fans a lift in the form of ‘free’ flight, much needed change of scenery," 11 Sep. 2019 That's the simple, tempered pleasure of embracing something popular. — Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, "Critic's Notebook: The End of 'Baskets' and the Struggle of Loving Niche TV," 22 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tempered.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near tempered

temperature spot

temperature wave

tempers begin to fray

Statistics for tempered

Last Updated

6 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Tempered.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tempered?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=t&file=temper13. Accessed 11 December 2019.

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