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even-tempered

even-tempered

3 3.7
Calm and not easily annoyed or angry
  • adjective
  • /ˈiːvənˌtɛmpərd/
translation icon : tranquilo
  • Despite the chaos around her, she remained even-tempered, calmly guiding her team through the crisis.
  • an even-tempered man
  • an even-tempered person
  • normally even-tempered

And the more of us who choose to be even tempered, thoughtful, caring, compassionate,

Examples

  • For this reason, among others, I married a forgiving, even-tempered man who does not hold grudges.

    Academic text (2007)
  • My boyfriend, a kind and even-tempered Minnesotan, felt helpless.

    Academic text (2009)
  • I consider myself an even-tempered man.

  • She was always even-tempered, looking perfectly put together for our afternoon on the floor.

    Blog text (25)
  • Kae is steady and even-tempered.

    Blog text (30)
  • She's nice, kind, even-tempered.

  • At the same time, I am so impressed with the way you conducted yourself through that ordeal and with the thoughtful, even-tempered way you composed this post.

    Blog text (14)
  • He had never met anyone as even-tempered as Will, and yet lately they'd had one quarrel after another, usually over something so trivial he could not remember what had started it.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • All these things Abby could accomplish, and would have, with the sort of even-tempered pragmatism that dominated this phase of her life, an efficiency in accomplishing tasks focused on others that had always come naturally to her.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Among his few close friends and with his family, however, Karp was a different man: humorous, a dead-on mimic, boyish, occasionally goofy, a peaceable man, and quite even-tempered.

    Fiction book (2001)

Synonyms

calm
vseven-tempered
735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

is steadier in temperament and not primarily about stillness
mild
vseven-tempered
72 3.3

A person who is gentle and not forceful

is steadier and not focused on meekness or submission
mild-mannered
vseven-tempered
19 3.4

A person who is gentle, calm, and not aggressive

is steady and less about being unassertive or shy
placid
vseven-tempered
15 5.0

Calm and not easily upset, like a quiet lake

is more about steady mild temperament than general quietness
level-headed
vseven-tempered
14 4.0

Calm and sensible and good at making decisions in difficult situations

focuses on steady mild temper rather than decision making
good-humored
vseven-tempered
  • US
4 3.2

Cheerful and friendly to other people

is steadier in temperament and not mainly about cheerfulness
self-possessed
vseven-tempered
3 7.2

Calm and confident in control of your feelings in difficult situations

is milder and steadier without implying confident control
equable
vseven-tempered
1 7.3

A calm person who does not get angry or upset easily

is the same sense focusing on a steady mild temperament
equanimous
vseven-tempered
  • Formal
1 9.5

Calm and steady in difficult situations

is steadier generally, not only in difficult moments
good-tempered
vseven-tempered
1 3.5

Being calm and friendly, not easily annoyed

is calmer and steadier rather than cheerful in tone
self-collected
vseven-tempered
6.1

Calm and in control of your feelings in difficult situations

is steady in mood but less about control under pressure

Antonyms

34 7.4

Having sudden unpredictable changes in feelings toward others

32 3.7

Quick to become annoyed or angry

How Calm

unflappable
9 7.4
stoic
1 6.3
even-tempered
3 3.7
level-headed
14 4.0
calm
735 1.0

Surface Forms

even-tempered positive

Morphology

even-tempered = even + tempered (transparent) = even + temper + ed

The adjective is a straightforward compound of 'even' + 'tempered' (where 'tempered' = 'temper' + -ed), so its meaning 'having a steady/calm temper' follows directly from the parts.

Etymology

Even-tempered comes from two simple parts: even, meaning 'level' or 'equal', and temper, meaning 'mood' and seen in the word temperament. So an even-tempered person has a 'level' or 'steady' mood and stays calm, not easily upset.