intemperate

IPA/ɪnˈtempərət/
KK[ˌɪntˈɛmpɚət]IPA/ɪnˈtempərət/

intemperate — adjective

  • intemperatepositive
  • more intemperatecomparative
  • most intemperatesuperlative

1. describes speech or actions that are extremely angry and violent because the per

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

describes speech or actions that are extremely angry and violent because the person is not trying to control their emotions.

Example

Liam's intemperate remarks at the meeting offended several of his colleagues.

intemperate + remarks (common collocation)

The newspaper criticised the minister for her intemperate language during the debate.

intemperate + language (common collocation)

Common collocations
  • intemperate remarks
  • intemperate language
  • intemperate outburst
  • intemperate response
  • intemperate tirade
Synonyms
  • unrestrained

    broader in scope — can describe any lack of control, not exclusively anger or violence

  • immoderate

    more formal and less emotional — covers excess in any area without the violent connotation

  • vehement

    focuses on strong, passionate expression of feelings, not necessarily uncontrolled or violent

Antonyms
  • restrained

    suggests deliberate control over one's emotions or words

  • temperate

    direct antonym; describes calm, moderate behaviour or language

Usage Note

Frequently pairs with nouns that describe speech: remarks, language, outburst, tirade, response. It describes the expression of anger, not the feeling of anger itself.

Common Mistakes

She was intemperate when the meeting ran late.
She made an intemperate remark when the meeting ran late.
intemperate describes uncontrolled speech or behaviour, not a general feeling of annoyance.
His intemperate anger frightened the children.
His intemperate outburst frightened the children.
intemperate describes how anger is expressed (through words or actions), not the emotion itself.

2. describes someone who drinks far too much alcohol on a regular basis, or who reg

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

describes someone who drinks far too much alcohol on a regular basis, or who regularly overindulges in physical pleasures such as eating and drinking.

Example

Uncle Andre's intemperate habits eventually led to serious health problems.

intemperate + habits (collocation)

The novel's main character is an intemperate old man who spends most of his days in the pub.

Common collocations
  • intemperate habits
  • intemperate lifestyle
  • intemperate drinker
  • intemperate in one's eating
Synonyms
  • excessive

    more general and common — can describe any overindulgence without the formal tone

  • self-indulgent

    focuses on giving in to one's own desires rather than the scale of the excess

  • dissolute

    stronger and more moralistic — implies a corrupt or immoral lifestyle

Antonyms
  • moderate

    common and neutral — describes sensible, controlled habits

  • abstemious

    formal — specifically about restraint in eating and drinking

Usage Note

Intemperate in this sense describes a lasting character trait or habit, not a single act of overindulgence. The most common context is regular heavy drinking, but it may also refer to overeating or other bodily excesses.

Common Mistakes

He had an intemperate dinner last night.
He is an intemperate drinker who finishes a bottle of wine every night.
intemperate describes a habit or character, not a single occasion.
She is intemperate with sweets.
She is intemperate in her eating habits.
intemperate pairs with a domain or sphere of life, not a specific item.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a lack of moderation, but they differ in scope and emotional weight. Unrestrained is the broadest — it can describe any situation where a person, force, or feeling is not held back, from unrestrained laughter to unrestrained military aggression. Immoderate is more formal and intellectual; you might use it for criticism of policy or spending (immoderate demands, immoderate ambition) but rarely for physical violence. Vehement adds a layer of passionate intensity — a vehement denial or protest is forceful but not necessarily wild or out of control. Intemperate, by contrast, always carries a suggestion of something harmful or ugly: intemperate language wounds, an intemperate outburst frightens. If you want a neutral description of excess, choose unrestrained or immoderate. If you want to highlight the destructive force of uncontrolled anger, intemperate is the right word. For example, a critic might call a politician's claims 'immoderate' but call his shouting at a journalist 'intemperate'.

unrestrained ↗immoderate ↗vehement ↗extreme ↗

Common collocations

Prepositions

  • intemperate in

Etymology

LatinEnglish

From Latin intemperatus, formed from in- 'not' and temperatus 'moderate, restrained' (past participle of temperare 'to mix in due proportion, regulate'). The word entered English in the late 14th century with the general meaning 'immoderate, excessive' and later developed the specific senses of violent anger and heavy drinking.