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Definition of tempered

tempered

/ˈtɛmpərd/
tem · pered
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tempered Lexical Profile

tempered Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Treated by heating and controlled cooling (or chemically) to increase hardness, strength, and durability (especially of metal, glass, or chocolate).

Example

"The display case was constructed from thick tempered glass to prevent it from shattering into sharp shards."

2

Moderated, restrained, or softened in intensity by a counterbalancing quality or influence.

Example

"She offered a tempered response to the proposal, praising its ambition while noting the financial risks."

3

Having a specified temperament or disposition (usually used in combination, as in 'good-tempered' or 'short-tempered').

Example

"The retired professor remained remarkably even-tempered throughout the heated panel discussion."

4

Adjusted to a system of musical tuning in which intervals are slightly modified from pure acoustic ratios so an instrument can play in multiple keys.

Example

"Johann Sebastian Bach composed a famous collection of keyboard pieces for the well-tempered clavier."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for tempered

• Nearby Words

temperate
temperately
temperature
tempered
tempering
tempest
tempestuous

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed from the verb 'temper', which enters English via Old English 'temprian' and Old French 'temprer', from Latin 'temperare' ('to mix in due proportion, moderate, or regulate').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tempered. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tempered
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