intemperance
/ɪnˈtempərəns/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈtempərəns/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)in-ˈtem-p(ə-)rən(t)s/ (ame, mw)
intemperance — noun
1. the habit of drinking far more alcohol than is wise or healthy, especially as a
the habit of drinking far more alcohol than is wise or healthy, especially as a long-running pattern.
The pastor warned his congregation against intemperance and other vices of the age.
abstract noun in a formal moral context
After years of intemperance, Christopher's liver finally gave out at age fifty.
after + years of + intemperance — long-term pattern
Dickens's novels often link intemperance to ruined families, jailed fathers, and empty kitchens.
Hannah signed the temperance pledge as a public stand against intemperance.
The judge cited the defendant's intemperance as a factor in the crash.
- drunkenness
more direct and informal; names the state rather than the long pattern
- alcoholism
modern clinical term; treats heavy drinking as a disease
- inebriety
rare and archaic; mostly appears in nineteenth-century medical writing
- temperance
the direct opposite — abstaining from or moderating alcohol
- sobriety
the state of not drinking; narrower than temperance
用法筆記
Frequently appears in religious, legal, and historical writing rather than everyday speech. Distinguish from sense 2 (general lack of self-control): this sense is specifically about alcohol.
常見錯誤
2. a habit of giving in to physical desires or strong feelings without checking the
a habit of giving in to physical desires or strong feelings without checking them, especially for food, pleasure, or appetite of any kind.
Aristotle treated intemperance as a serious flaw of character, ranking it alongside cowardice and greed.
treat X as Y — formal evaluation frame
Aarav's coach blamed his poor finish on weeks of dietary intemperance before the race.
dietary intemperance — modifier + noun pattern
Sofie's diary records months of spending intemperance that left her family bankrupt by spring.
Camila admitted that her holiday intemperance had undone six months of careful training.
Seneca taught his pupils that intemperance in any pleasure slowly weakens the will.
- self-indulgence
more neutral and modern; doesn't imply moral judgement as strongly
- immoderation
very formal; close synonym but rarer
- excess
broader and more common; often plural ('committed many excesses')
- moderation
the standard everyday opposite
- self-restraint
emphasises the active act of holding back
- temperance
formal opposite often paired with this sense
用法筆記
Often paired with a domain modifier (`dietary intemperance`, `spending intemperance`) or the preposition `in` (`intemperance in pleasure`). Distinguish from sense 1: this sense covers any appetite, not only alcohol.
常見錯誤
3. an outburst of anger, harsh language, or violence that is too strong for the sit
an outburst of anger, harsh language, or violence that is too strong for the situation and clearly out of the speaker's control.
Élise apologised the next morning for the intemperance of her remarks at dinner.
intemperance of one's remarks — formal apology phrasing
The newspaper criticised the senator's intemperance during the televised debate.
criticise + intemperance — public commentary frame
Liam regretted the intemperance he had shown towards the waiter over a cold meal.
Ambassador Zayd was trained to meet intemperance from foreign envoys with calm silence.
Folake's intemperance during the meeting cost her the promotion she had been promised.
- outburst
names a single event rather than a quality; more common
- vehemence
stresses force and intensity, more neutral about whether it's excessive
- ill temper
everyday phrase; less formal and less severe
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person, and the anger is treated as a noticeable lapse rather than ordinary annoyance. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is specifically about angry or violent speech and behaviour, not appetite.