# tempered

/ˈtɛmpɝd/ (US) · /tˈɛmpəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tempered
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. personality or mood

adjective · CEFR B2

having a specific type of mood or personality; usually used with another word like 'sweet' or 'bad'.

For teachers: 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'.

### 2. moderated or balanced

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

made less extreme or softer by adding something else.

For teachers: 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'.

### 3. strengthened glass or metal

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

treated with heat or chemicals to make it much stronger.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. musical tuning

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

tuned in a way that allows music to be played in any key.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- She remained tempered despite the loud noise.
- The manager kept a tempered tone during the heated staff meeting.
- His tempered response to the crisis revealed a leader who valued stability over dramatic gestures.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.