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temper

/ˈtɛmpɚ/noun, verb2 syllables

Temper means: a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger.

Synonyms for temper22

noun, as in a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger

biliousness, irritability, peevishness, pettishness, snappishness, surliness

noun, as in a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling

noun, as in a sudden outburst of anger

pique, irritation

noun, as in the elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before cracking

verb, as in make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else

season, mollify, moderate

verb, as in bring to a desired consistency, texture, or hardness by a process of gradually heating and cooling

anneal, normalize

verb, as in harden by reheating and cooling in oil

verb, as in change by restraining or moderating

chasten

also used for temper

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What does temper mean?9

noun

1

a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger“his temper was well known to all his employees”

2

a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling“whether he praised or cursed me depended on his temper at the time”

3

a sudden outburst of anger“his temper sparked like damp firewood”

4

the elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before cracking

verb

1

make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else“she tempered her criticism”

2

bring to a desired consistency, texture, or hardness by a process of gradually heating and cooling“temper glass”

3

harden by reheating and cooling in oil“temper steel”

4

change by restraining or moderating

5

adjust the pitch (of pianos)

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Temper in a sentence

  • He was, which was rare for him, in a bad temper.unknown
  • In spite of being insulted, he managed to keep his temper.CK
  • Misato tried to be calm, but finally she lost her temper.CN
  • I shall endeavor to enliven morality with wit, and to temper wit with morality.Scott
  • Before you make the candy, make sure to temper the chocolate.mhattick
  • Your temper is quick, but the way you speak is terrible.astynk
  • Lieutenant, my temper is shorter than my blade.Scott
  • Although my supervisor has a bad temper, he's generally a pleasant person.Nuel

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of temper

as a noun

plural
tempers

as a verb

past tense
tempered
present participle
tempering
third-person singular
tempers
past participle
tempered