Standard Lemma guide

intemperate

adj · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 N T EH1 M P ER0 AH0 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Lacking moderation, temper or control.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • intemperate language
  • intemperate zeal

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: immoderate, unrestrained, devilish, excessive, de trop, extravagant, extreme, intemperate, lavish, nimious, obscene, overmuch, overweening, over the top, prodigal, undue, unmeasured, unreasonable, wanton

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Indulging any appetite or passion to excess, especially the drinking of alcohol.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: self-indulgent, voluptuary, Babylonian, decadent, epicureal, epicurean, epicureous, epicurish, hedonic, hedonistic, intemperate, lotus-eating, luxurious, naughty, sensualistic, sinful, sybarite, sybaritic, sybaritical, voluptuarian

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To put into disorder.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective

Meaning 4

excessive in behavior

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • intemperate rage

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: temperate

5

adjective

Meaning 5

(of weather or climate) not mild; subject to extremes

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • an intemperate climate
  • intemperate zones

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: temperate

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

given to excessive indulgence of bodily appetites especially for intoxicating liquors

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a hard drinker

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hard, heavy

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English in- English temperate English intemperate From in- + temperate.

Across languages

Translations

24 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Amharic: ያልተገታ (yaltägäta) — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Bulgarian: неумерен (neumeren) — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Bulgarian: невъздържан (nevǎzdǎržan) — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Georgian: არაზომიერი (arazomieri) — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Georgian: ზომაგადასული (zomagadasuli) — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Georgian: თავშეუკავებელი (tavšeuḳavebeli) — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Georgian: უკიდურესი (uḳiduresi) — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Ancient Greek: ἀκρατής (akratḗs) — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Hungarian: féktelen — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Hungarian: mértéktelen — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Hungarian: zabolátlan — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Hungarian: gátlástalan — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Latin: intemperans — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Polish: przesadny — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Polish: niepowściągliwy — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Polish: nieopanowany — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Polish: gwałtowny — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Portuguese: imoderado — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Russian: невоздержанный (nevozderžannyj) — lacking moderation, temper or control
  • Georgian: უზომო (uzomo) — indulging any appetite or passion to excess, especially the drinking of alcohol
  • Hungarian: részeges — indulging any appetite or passion to excess, especially the drinking of alcohol
  • Hungarian: iszákos — indulging any appetite or passion to excess, especially the drinking of alcohol
  • Polish: nieumiarkowany — indulging any appetite or passion to excess, especially the drinking of alcohol
  • Portuguese: imoderado — indulging any appetite or passion to excess, especially the drinking of alcohol