temper

[ tem-per ]

/ ˈtɛm pər /

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See synonyms for: temper / tempered / tempering on Thesaurus.com

noun

a particular state of mind or feelings.

habit of mind, especially with respect to irritability or patience, outbursts of anger, or the like; disposition: an even temper.

heat of mind or passion, shown in outbursts of anger, resentment, etc.

calm disposition or state of mind: to be out of temper.

a substance added to something to modify its properties or qualities.

Metallurgy.

the degree of hardness and strength imparted to a metal, as by quenching, heat treatment, or cold working.
the percentage of carbon in tool steel.
the operation of tempering.

Archaic. a middle course; compromise.

Obsolete. the constitution or character of a substance.

verb (used with object)

to moderate or mitigate: to temper justice with mercy.

to soften or tone down.

to bring to a proper, suitable, or desirable state by or as by blending or admixture.

to moisten, mix, and work up into proper consistency, as clay or mortar.

Metallurgy. to impart strength or toughness to (steel or cast iron) by heating and cooling.

to produce internal stresses in (glass) by sudden cooling from low red heat; toughen.

to tune (a keyboard instrument, as a piano, organ, or harpsichord) so as to make the tones available in different keys or tonalities.

to modify (color) by mixing with a medium.

Archaic. to combine or blend in due proportions.

Archaic. to pacify.

verb (used without object)

to be or become tempered.

OTHER WORDS FOR temper

1 cheer, frame of mind, humor; attitude, inclination, outlook, perspective, point of view.

2 disposition, grain, habit, makeup, nature, spirit, temperament.

3 annoyance, crossness, irritability, irritation, petulance, resentment, crabbiness, irascibility, peevishness, snappishness.

4 coolness, equanimity, composure.

See synonyms for temper on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of temper

before 1000; (v.) Middle English tempren,Old English temprian<Latin temperāre to divide or proportion duly, temper; (noun) Middle English: proportion, derivative of the v.

synonym study for temper

1. See disposition. 10. See modify.

OTHER WORDS FROM temper

tem·per·a·ble, adjectivetem·per·a·bil·i·ty, nountem·per·er, nounnon·tem·per·a·ble, adjective

re·tem·per, verb (used with object)un·tem·per·a·ble, adjectiveun·tem·per·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use temper in a sentence

The money, I soon discovered, was compensation for the founder’s temper — and I put up with those tirades because taking home an extra $30 per week means a lot when you’re living paycheck to paycheck.
The Toxicity of Restaurant Kitchens Is Exactly Why I Never Reported Abuses|Lindsey Danis|February 4, 2021|Eater
OK, call it what you want, but I had to get control of my temper.
Making a Killing With Jim Cramer|Eugene Robinson|February 1, 2021|Ozy
In the past few days, as regulations change in my corner of the world, tempers are growing shorter, and I find myself and my co-workers to be a sort of lightning rod for customers' frustrations.
Miss Manners: Service workers deserve respect — no matter what|Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin|January 26, 2021|Washington Post
Four of the Capitals' games against the Sabres will come in the season's first 10 days, and players and coaches already have seen tempers get short.
New Capitals season, old names in the goal column as Caps beat Sabres in opener|Samantha Pell|January 15, 2021|Washington Post

There, they are vulnerable to disease and predation — not to mention one another’s bad tempers.
Invasion of the hippos: Colombia is running out of time to tackle Pablo Escobar’s wildest legacy|Sarah Kaplan|January 11, 2021|Washington Post
But I question whether we have achieved the proper balance of patriotic expression tempering dissent that Obama championed.
Open Zion Should Not Mean Open Season on Israel|Gil Troy|July 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Even more so than Donilon, however, she has a temper that needs tempering.
Hats Off to Tom Donilon|Leslie H. Gelb|June 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And your current brand of persuasion entails tempering pushiness with aplomb, brute force with benevolence.
Horoscopes for June 12-18, 2011|Starsky + Cox|June 12, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Tempering the turn toward the dark are a bevy of classes on comedy.
Fall's Hottest College Courses|Josh Dzieza, Daniel D'Addario|September 6, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Now for the tempering of the Gudgeons, I leave it to the judgment of the Workman; but a word or two of the polishing of it.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing|Richard Duckworth and Fabian Stedman
The ministers of religion possess the secret of tempering the alarms which they have the art to excite.
Letters To Eugenia|Paul Henri Thiry Holbach
The tempering of steel after it has been forged into shape is a specialty, almost a natural gift.
Steam Steel and Electricity|James W. Steele
It is interesting to note that age and misfortune and illness had a tempering influence on Mark Twain's nature.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete|Albert Bigelow Paine
Glycerine is a good tempering substance, and to this may be added a small amount of sulphate of potash.
Practical Mechanics for Boys|J. S. Zerbe

British Dictionary definitions for temper

temper

/ (ˈtɛmpə) /

noun

a frame of mind; mood or humoura good temper

a sudden outburst of anger; tantrum

a tendency to exhibit uncontrolled anger; irritability

a mental condition of moderation and calm (esp in the phrases keep one's temper, lose one's temper, out of temper)

the degree of hardness, elasticity, or a similar property of a metal or metal object

verb (tr)

to make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else; moderatehe tempered his criticism with kindly sympathy

to strengthen or toughen (a metal or metal article) by heat treatment, as by heating and quenching

music

to adjust the frequency differences between the notes of a scale on (a keyboard instrument) in order to allow modulation into other keys
to make such an adjustment to the pitches of notes in (a scale)

a rare word for adapt

an archaic word for mix

Derived forms of temper

temperable, adjectivetemperability, nountemperer, noun

Word Origin for temper

Old English temprian to mingle, (influenced by Old French temprer), from Latin temperāre to mix, probably from tempus time

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with temper

temper

see hold one's temper; lose one's temper.

temper

OTHER WORDS FOR temper

Origin of temper

synonym study for temper

OTHER WORDS FROM temper

Words related to temper

How to use temper in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for temper

Derived forms of temper

Word Origin for temper

Other Idioms and Phrases with temper