intemperate

[ in-tem-per-it, -prit ]

adjective

1. given to or characterized by excessive or immoderate indulgence in alcoholic beverages.
2. immoderate in indulgence of appetite or passion.
3. not temperate; unrestrained; unbridled.
4. extreme in temperature, as climate.

intemperate

/ ɪnˈtɛmpərɪt; -prɪt /

adjective

1. consuming alcoholic drink habitually or to excess
2. indulging bodily appetites to excess; immoderate
3. unrestrained

   intemperate rage

4. extreme or severe

   an intemperate climate

Derived Forms

• inˈtemperance, noun
• inˈtemperately, adverb

Other Words From

• in·temper·ate·ly adverb
• in·temper·ate·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of intemperate¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word intemperātus. See in- ³, temperate

Example Sentences

For that we have Dmitry Rogozin—an intemperate man in what demands to be a temperate business—to blame.

From Time

Nevertheless, some progressives who want action now are in favor of this option, ignoring the risk of intemperate use of power down the line.

From Time

It means “them,” the 18- and 19-year-old volunteers who take on the brunt of our intemperate, accountability-free military policy.

From The Daily Beast

His conduct is boorish and intemperate; his views are anachronistic and absurd; his moral authority is zilch.

From The Daily Beast

But in so doing he appeared to be either forgetful of or intemperate towards a sizeable chunk of his own governing coalition.

From The Daily Beast

He is often intemperate in tone—Morris "heaps deceit upon deceit"—which almost always is a sign of a weak argument.

From The Daily Beast

Such intemperate exchanges will hardly count as edifying but they may, alas, be unavoidable.

From The Daily Beast

But Griffith was not so intemperate as most squires; he could always mount the stairs to tea, and generally without staggering.

From Project Gutenberg

And yet the older artist's natural disposition was congenial to that of the younger one, only intemperate habits had vitiated it.

From Project Gutenberg

With my temper and some of my associations, intemperate profanity's been the easiest thing in the world to fall into.

From Project Gutenberg

Not so in the interior of the country, where the whites are remarkable for intemperate drinking.

From Project Gutenberg

She expressed the most poignant anguish for having indulged such unjust suspicions and intemperate passions.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• unrestrained