temperamental

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'temperamental' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective that is often used to describe someone who has an unpredictable and volatile emotional side. For example, you could say "My little sister is extremely temperamental; one minute she is laughing and the next she's crying."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In his temperamental war with emotion, reason lost.

The Guardian

Since he summarily left the project uncompleted four years ago he has become a kind of Grotowski of architecture, both in Australia and abroad, a mystical figure known only by a chosen few and thought by the rest as either an overly temperamental genius or a charlatan who could not finish what he had begun.

The Guardian - Arts

General Manager Danny Ainge did his best to assure Rondo, who has a reputation for being temperamental, that he was not shopping him, and that even being mentioned in a trade for Paul was a huge compliment.

The New York Times - Sports

ELECTRONICS made a huge leap forward when the delicate and temperamental vacuum tube was replaced by the robust, reliable transistor.

The Economist

ERIC CANTONA, a temperamental footballer, once derided Didier Deschamps, his colleague in the French national team, as a mere "water-carrier".

The Economist

According to Shigeo Yoshida, who is in charge of research for the project, that makes the arrangement 5-8% more efficient in such circumstances than an upwind turbine would be.As a bonus, the downwind design is less temperamental in high winds.

The Economist

Solving that would turn out to be one of the greatest technological spin-offs of the second world war.Beating swords into transistorsThe development of radar did much to revive the fortunes of crystal detectors: although temperamental, they were better than vacuum-tube diodes at rectifying the high frequencies used by radar.

The Economist

As Mr Mallaby and many others have chronicled, the president's management style was often temperamental.

The Economist

The DC police officers are now trying iPhones in place of police radios, crackly and temperamental, that cost $6,000 apiece.

The Economist

As temperamental, creative types, however, Vivendi's media moguls may not succumb happily to an invasion of GE number crunchers: NBC certainly did not.GE will pay for the Vivendi and Amersham purchases with those same company shares that Mr Immelt declares to be undervalued.

The Economist

He has a point: early 3G phones from other handset-makers were temperamental plastic bricks, and the clear lesson from Japan, a testbed for 3G since 2001, is that consumers will buy 3G handsets only when they are as small and reliable as 2G ones.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing machines or software as "temperamental", ensure the context clarifies whether you're referring to complexity, poor instructions, or actual instability.

Common error

Avoid using "temperamental" as a generic term for anything you dislike. Reserve it for situations involving genuine unpredictability or emotional volatility to maintain precision and impact.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "temperamental" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe their tendency towards unpredictable mood swings or erratic behavior. Ludwig examples show it qualifying people, machines, and even weather.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Encyclopedias

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "temperamental" describes something or someone prone to unpredictable changes or mood swings. Ludwig examples confirm its frequent use in News & Media and Encyclopedias to characterize people, machines, or situations as unreliable or difficult to manage. As Ludwig AI validates, "temperamental" is a grammatically correct and usable word in written English. When using "temperamental", ensure the context is clear and the term is reserved for genuine unpredictability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moody

Focuses specifically on shifts in mood, a core aspect of being temperamental.

capricious

Highlights the unpredictable and whimsical nature of the subject.

volatile

Emphasizes the instability and potential for sudden, dramatic changes.

erratic

Indicates inconsistency and a lack of predictable patterns.

unpredictable

A general term for not being able to foresee behavior or changes.

fickle

Implies a tendency to change one's mind or loyalties frequently.

wayward

Suggests a tendency to deviate from what is expected or desired.

unstable

Highlights the lack of a solid or consistent foundation.

sensitive

Emphasizes the ease with which someone is affected emotionally.

impulsive

Highlights the tendency to act without thinking, often leading to unpredictable behavior.

FAQs

How can I use "temperamental" in a sentence?

You can say, "The artist was known for his "temperamental" nature" or "The old engine was quite "temperamental", starting only when it felt like it."

What's a good synonym for "temperamental"?

Synonyms include "moody", "capricious", or "volatile", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to describe inanimate objects as "temperamental"?

Yes, it's perfectly acceptable. You can describe machines, software, or even natural phenomena as "temperamental" to indicate their unpredictable or unreliable nature.

What is the difference between "temperamental" and "sensitive"?

"Temperamental" implies unpredictability and mood swings, while "sensitive" suggests being easily affected by emotions or external stimuli. Someone "temperamental" might react strongly for no apparent reason, whereas someone "sensitive" will react strongly to specific triggers.