Word
tempered
Phoneticstem·pered, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɛmpɝd/
UK/tˈɛmpəd/
Definitions
01personality or mood
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having a specific type of mood or personality; usually used with another word like 'sweet' or 'bad'.
adj. having a specified disposition or temper; almost exclusively used in hyphenated compounds.
“He is a very even-tempered person who never gets angry at work.”
“Despite the high-pressure environment of the emergency room, she remained remarkably even-tempered throughout her twelve-hour shift.”
Usage
Usually appears as the second part of a compound adjective, such as 'bad-tempered' or 'sweet-tempered'.
Synonyms
02moderated or balanced
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. made less extreme or softer by adding something else.
adj. moderated, qualified, or balanced by the presence of other considerations or qualities.
“His excitement about the new job was tempered by the long commute.”
“The minister's optimism regarding the economic forecast was tempered by a cautious warning about rising inflation rates.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'by'.
Antonyms
03strengthened glass or metal
B2 · Upper Intermediate Science Technical
adj. treated with heat or chemicals to make it much stronger.
adj. referring to glass or metal that has been subjected to a process of heating and cooling to increase toughness and reduce brittleness.
“The glass in the car window is tempered so it doesn't break into sharp pieces.”
“The structural integrity of the skyscraper relied on the use of tempered steel beams capable of withstanding extreme thermal expansion.”
Synonyms
04musical tuning
C2 · Proficiency Music Technical
adj. tuned in a way that allows music to be played in any key.
adj. relating to a system of tuning, such as equal temperament, where intervals are adjusted to allow playing in all keys.
“The piano was tuned to a tempered scale so the performer could play every piece.”
“Bach's famous collection of preludes and fugues demonstrated the expressive possibilities of the well-tempered keyboard.”
Real-World Examples
“Yet, the gains are tempered by some serious challenges.” Etymology
From Middle English tempred, itempered, ytempred, ytemprid, from Old English ġetemprod (“tempered, moderate, goverened, cured”), past participle of Old English ġetemprian (“to temper, moderate, govern, cure”), equivalent to temper + -ed.
Partly from Middle English temperd, temprede, from Old English temprode, first and third person singular preterit of Old English temprian; and partly from Middle English tempred, i-tempred, from Old English ġetemprod. Equivalent to temper + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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