1
as in alcoholism
habitual or excessive drinking of intoxicants
in his harangue on the perils of drink, the prohibitionist claimed that intemperance has always been the number one destroyer of marriages
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excessiveness
a propensity for extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits
there's a wearisome intemperance in his verbal attacks against any and all who dare to disagree with him
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of intemperance
Over a career that made headlines for landmark victories such as a six-figure judgment, later reversed, against LAPD Chief Daryl Gates, Yagman also became notorious for intemperance, most pointedly evidenced by his brutal characterization of a federal judge.
—
Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2021
In a situation that forbids explicit expressions of intemperance or protest, mischief is the perfect solution.
—New York Times, 7 June 2022
Her attention to the vibrancy of our inner lives and to the barbed pleasure of sentimental intemperance has lately become more explicit.
—Rachelvoronacote, Longreads, 10 Aug. 2020
The intemperance alienated some suffragists, and by 1875, when Anthony drafted the amendment that would bear her name, the movement had split.
—USA Today, 26 Feb. 2020
Acton, whose Catholicism shaped every facet of his thought and work, identified this excess with a certain kind of Protestant intemperance.
—Yuval Levin, National Review, 31 Dec. 2019
Fifty years of putting up with discrimination, hatred and intemperance.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 1 July 2019
But that was the 1980s and 1990s, and nothing had prepared him for the intemperance of the night.
—Bradley Hope, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2018
But the most interesting response has been from Brennan allies warning him that his intemperance may be backfiring.
—William McGurn, WSJ, 20 Aug. 2018
Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2021
In a situation that forbids explicit expressions of intemperance or protest, mischief is the perfect solution.
—New York Times, 7 June 2022
Her attention to the vibrancy of our inner lives and to the barbed pleasure of sentimental intemperance has lately become more explicit.
—Rachelvoronacote, Longreads, 10 Aug. 2020
The intemperance alienated some suffragists, and by 1875, when Anthony drafted the amendment that would bear her name, the movement had split.
—USA Today, 26 Feb. 2020
Acton, whose Catholicism shaped every facet of his thought and work, identified this excess with a certain kind of Protestant intemperance.
—Yuval Levin, National Review, 31 Dec. 2019
Fifty years of putting up with discrimination, hatred and intemperance.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 1 July 2019
But that was the 1980s and 1990s, and nothing had prepared him for the intemperance of the night.
—Bradley Hope, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2018
But the most interesting response has been from Brennan allies warning him that his intemperance may be backfiring.
—William McGurn, WSJ, 20 Aug. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intemperance
Noun
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Like many Native American reservations, the people who live there suffer from poverty, alcoholism, dysfunctional families, divorce and many other issues.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
24 May 2025
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Robert Irsay, who also battled alcoholism, was impulsive and meddling, making rash personnel decisions and berating players.—
Ken Belson,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Noun
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Read More: Lee Jae-myung Aims to Steer South Korea Through Crisis A populist shaped by his years as a labor and human rights lawyer, Lee has long advocated for a stronger state role in redistributing economic gains and curbing the excesses of South Korea’s powerful conglomerates.—
Ian Bremmer,
Time,
3 June 2025
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But the soft power derived from American culture will not survive the excesses of the U.S. government during the next four years if American democracy continues to erode and the country acts as a bully abroad.—
Robert O. Keohane,
Foreign Affairs,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Intemperance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intemperance. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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