temperamental
adjective
tem·per·a·men·tal
ˌtem-p(ə-)rə-ˈmen-tᵊl 
ˌtem-pər-ˈmen-
1
a
: marked by excessive sensitivity and impulsive mood changes
a temperamental child
b
: unpredictable in behavior or performance
a temperamental computer
2
: of, relating to, or arising from temperament : constitutional
temperamental peculiarities
Examples of temperamental in a Sentence
The actor is known for being temperamental.
The old computer is temperamental.
They divorced due to temperamental differences.
Recent Examples on the Web
Those are the numbers attached to a 6-year-old cat named Mia, a slightly temperamental girl who is long overdue to find that special someone who will give her another chance at a comfortable life, an Indiana shelter says.
—
Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2025
John Feinstein, the Washington Post sportswriter and columnist who famously spent a season with temperamental Indiana University men’s basketball coach Bobby Knight to write the admired 1986 book A Season on the Brink, died Thursday.
—Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2025
Lovable, charming and generous, yet temperamental, arrogant and obscene.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2025
Steve Mariucci and the coaching staff didn’t seem to know what to make of Rice, who had become more temperamental and withdrawn.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for temperamental
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Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2025
John Feinstein, the Washington Post sportswriter and columnist who famously spent a season with temperamental Indiana University men’s basketball coach Bobby Knight to write the admired 1986 book A Season on the Brink, died Thursday.
—Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2025
Lovable, charming and generous, yet temperamental, arrogant and obscene.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2025
Steve Mariucci and the coaching staff didn’t seem to know what to make of Rice, who had become more temperamental and withdrawn.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for temperamental
Cite this Entry
“Temperamental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/temperamental. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
temperamental
adjective
tem·per·a·men·tal
ˌtem-p(ə-)rə-ˈment-ᵊl
1
: of or relating to temperament
temperamental peculiarities
2
a
: likely to be easily upset
a temperamental movie star
b
: unpredictable in performance
a temperamental motor
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