intemperate
Americanadjective
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given to or characterized by excessive or immoderate indulgence in alcoholic beverages.
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immoderate in indulgence of appetite or passion.
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not temperate; unrestrained; unbridled.
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extreme in temperature, as climate.
adjective
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consuming alcoholic drink habitually or to excess
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indulging bodily appetites to excess; immoderate
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unrestrained
intemperate rage
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extreme or severe
an intemperate climate
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of intemperate
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word intemperātus. See in- 3, temperate
Explanation
If a climate is intemperate, its temperatures might be extreme. If a person is intemperate, his moods might be extreme. Being intemperate is all about avoiding moderation. Intemperate is a combination of the prefix in- meaning "not" and the Latin temperantia meaning "moderation." When you are intemperate, you are not doing things in moderation; you lack self-control. It's often a word used when describing the tendency someone has to indulge excessively in liquor. An alcoholic is intemperate — overindulging and depending on alcohol.
Vocabulary lists containing intemperate
Behave Yourself! Vocabulary for Good, Bad, and Indifferent Conduct
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Chains
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Hamilton
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Intemperate dozen tweets about the country in question would be the least of it.
From New York Times • Sep. 6, 2016
Intemperate as Tankerville's language had been, it was impossible that things should remain as they were.
From The History of the Post Office From Its Establishment Down to 1836 by Joyce, Herbert
Intemperate Women, Home for, II, 78, 83, 127.
From Julia Ward Howe 1819-1910 by Elliott, Maud Howe
The dilated soul, Intemperate with the enormous moan Of passion, would outleap the strenuous will.
From The Goddess of Atvatabar Being the history of the discovery of the interior world and conquest of Atvatabar by Bradshaw, William Richard
She goes to conferences of women preachers, to peace meetings; to jubilee meetings, in honor of Queen Victoria; she conducts services at the Home for Intemperate Women, and thinks it was a good time.
From Julia Ward Howe 1819-1910 by Elliott, Maud Howe
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
