Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Lacking moderation or restraint, especially in consuming alcohol: Describes a person who habitually drinks excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages.
   • Excessive or unrestrained in behavior, expression, or feeling: Describes actions, emotions, or speech that are not controlled and go beyond reasonable limits.
   • (Of weather or climate) Severe or extreme: Describes weather conditions that are not mild and are characterized by harsh extremes.

Examples of Usage

• Describing excessive indulgence:
  • He was known to be intemperate in his habits, rarely seen without a drink in hand.
  • The intemperate consumption of alcohol can lead to serious health problems.
• Describing unrestrained behavior or expression:
  • She regretted her intemperate outburst during the meeting.
  • The critic's intemperate language offended many readers.
• Describing severe climate:
  • Few plants can survive in such an intemperate climate.
  • The expedition faced intemperate weather conditions in the mountains.

Advanced Usage

• "Intemperate zeal": Excessive and uncontrolled enthusiasm.
  • His intemperate zeal for the cause sometimes alienated potential supporters.
• "Intemperate in speech": Prone to speaking in an unrestrained, harsh, or abusive manner.
  • The politician was criticized for being intemperate in speech on social media.

Variants and Related Words

• Intemperance (noun): The quality or state of being intemperate; lack of moderation.
  • His intemperance was his greatest character flaw.
• Intemperately (adverb): In an intemperate manner.
  • He argued intemperately, refusing to listen to reason.

Synonyms

• Immoderate: Exceeding reasonable limits.
• Excessive: More than is necessary, normal, or desirable.
• Unrestrained: Not restrained or controlled.
• Inordinate: Unusually or disproportionately large; excessive.

Antonyms

• Temperate: Showing moderation or self-restraint.
• Moderate: Average in amount, intensity, or degree; not extreme.
• Restrained: Characterized by reserve or moderation.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "To be intemperate in one's habits": To have a lifestyle marked by a lack of moderation, especially regarding drinking.
  • After years of being intemperate in his habits, his health began to fail.
• "Intemperate of tongue": A formal or literary way to describe someone who speaks without restraint or harshly.
  • The prophet was intemperate of tongue when condemning the city's corruption.

Adjective

1. given to excessive indulgence of bodily appetites especially for intoxicating liquors
   • a hard drinker
2. excessive in behavior
   • intemperate rage
3. (of weather or climate) not mild; subject to extremes
   • an intemperate climate
   • intemperate zones