well-tempered

IPA/wˈɛltˈɛmpəd/
IPA/wˈɛltˈɛmpɚd/

well-tempered — adjective

1. describes someone who stays calm, patient, and does not become easily angry or u

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

describes someone who stays calm, patient, and does not become easily angry or upset

Example

Even when the airline lost his luggage, Mateo remained well-tempered and polite at the counter.

pattern: remain + well-tempered (linking verb + adjective)

The kindergarten teacher's well-tempered nature meant she never raised her voice at the children.

collocation: well-tempered nature / disposition

Common collocations
  • well-tempered disposition
  • well-tempered nature
  • well-tempered response
  • well-tempered personality
  • remain well-tempered
  • stay well-tempered
Synonyms
  • even-tempered

    very similar in meaning; more common in everyday speech

  • composed

    suggests deliberate emotional control, especially in difficult moments

  • placid

    implies a naturally calm, peaceful nature that is rarely disturbed

  • level-headed

    informal; emphasises good judgement and emotional stability

Antonyms
  • irritable

    easily annoyed by small things

  • volatile

    likely to change mood or become angry suddenly

Usage Note

Only this sense describes a person's character. Subject is always a person or their disposition, never an object or situation.

Common Mistakes

The weather was well-tempered today.
The weather was mild today.
well-tempered describes a person's calm character, not the condition of things or the weather.
She stayed well-tempered about the broken vase.
She stayed well-tempered despite the broken vase.
well-tempered is a stable character trait, not a short reaction to a single event.

2. describes metal, glass, or clay that has been heated and then cooled in a contro

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

describes metal, glass, or clay that has been heated and then cooled in a controlled process to achieve the right balance of hardness and flexibility

Example

The well-tempered steel blade could bend under heavy pressure without snapping in two.

technical register: well-tempered steel / glass / clay

Mira insisted on well-tempered glass for the balcony doors to keep them safe in storms.

Common collocations
  • well-tempered steel
  • well-tempered glass
  • well-tempered chocolate
  • well-tempered clay
  • well-tempered aluminium
Synonyms
  • tempered

    the more common shorter form; 'well-tempered' adds emphasis on the quality of the process

  • hardened

    focuses on increased hardness, may miss the flexibility aspect

  • annealed

    a different heat process that softens metal to relieve stress, not the same as tempering

Antonyms
  • brittle

    hard but breaks easily under stress

  • untreated

    not processed through any heat treatment

Usage Note

Technical term used in materials science, metalworking, construction, and pastry-making. Frequently appears in the phrases 'well-tempered steel', 'well-tempered glass', and 'well-tempered chocolate'.

Common Mistakes

The well-tempered sofa was very comfortable.
The well-tempered steel was strong but flexible.
well-tempered (material sense) applies only to processed materials, not furniture or general objects.

3. describes a mixture, such as concrete, plaster, or clay, that has been blended t

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

describes a mixture, such as concrete, plaster, or clay, that has been blended to exactly the right thickness and texture for its purpose

Example

The well-tempered concrete poured smoothly into the foundation mould without air bubbles.

technical register: well-tempered concrete / plaster / mortar

Kasia checked that the wall plaster was well-tempered before spreading it across the cracks.

Common collocations
  • well-tempered concrete
  • well-tempered plaster
  • well-tempered mortar
  • well-tempered clay
Synonyms
  • well-blended

    more general; can apply to any mixture including food

  • uniform

    emphasises consistency throughout the mixture without lumps

Antonyms
  • lumpy

    containing solid pieces in an otherwise smooth mixture

  • uneven

    not consistent in texture or thickness

Usage Note

Primarily used in construction, ceramics, and art contexts. Describes mixtures that have reached the ideal working consistency through careful blending.

Common Mistakes

The well-tempered soup tasted delicious.
The well-tempered concrete was easy to spread.
well-tempered refers to the physical consistency of building materials, not the flavour of food.

4. describes a person whose body has been hardened and strengthened through repeate

4.adjectiveC1
Definition

describes a person whose body has been hardened and strengthened through repeated physical exertion or challenging conditions

Example

Mathieu's 18th-century medical guide states that a well-tempered constitution helps the body resist common illnesses.

historical register: well-tempered constitution

Tempered by years of rowing across Finnish lakes, the old boatman's frame was well-tempered for endurance.

pattern: well-tempered for [purpose]

Common collocations
  • well-tempered constitution
  • well-tempered for [purpose]
  • attribute [one's] well-tempered constitution to [cause]
Synonyms
  • robust

    emphasises strength and health; used for people and systems

  • sturdy

    suggests solid build, often used for body types

  • hardy

    implies ability to survive difficult physical conditions

Antonyms
  • frail

    weak and delicate in body

  • feeble

    lacking physical strength, often due to age or illness

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four synonyms describe a person who is not easily upset, but each carries a different shade of meaning. Even-tempered is the closest everyday synonym and can replace well-tempered in most contexts (e.g. 'an even-tempered teacher'). Composed emphasises deliberate control during a difficult situation: you can be composed at a tense meeting even if you are not naturally calm. Placid suggests an innately peaceful nature that rarely shows agitation, like a placid lake — it can sound passive when applied to people. Level-headed is informal and focuses on practical judgement under pressure: 'a level-headed pilot landed the damaged plane safely'. Well-tempered sits closest to even-tempered but is noticeably less common in modern speech, giving it a slightly literary or old-fashioned tone.

even-tempered ↗composed ↗placidlevel-headed ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • perfectly well-tempered
  • carefully well-tempered

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed from the adverb 'well' (from Old English wel, meaning in a satisfactory manner) and the past participle 'tempered', from the verb 'temper' (from Middle English temperen, borrowed through Old French from Latin temperare, meaning to mix in due proportion, regulate, or moderate). The word originally described the physical process of bringing metal or clay to the right condition through controlled heating or mixing. By the 16th century, it had also acquired a figurative sense of having a balanced, moderate personal character — a 'well-tempered mind' was one kept in proper emotional balance, just as well-tempered steel has its hardness and flexibility in proper balance.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a