phlegmatic
Calm beyond measure
Phlegmatic describes someone calm, unemotional, and hard to excite or disturb.
The word comes from ancient humoral medicine, where excess phlegm supposedly produced a sluggish, apathetic temperament.
A phlegmatic person remains unruffled where others would panic or rage: He received the bad news with phlegmatic acceptance.
The tone is often mildly critical, suggesting someone too passive or indifferent.
Lacking interest or concern
- detachedApart or uninvolved
- uninterestedLacking curiosity or concern
- nonchalantCalmly unconcerned
- aloofEmotionally withdrawn, uninviting
blasé · insouciant · unconcerned · disinterested · unenthusiastic · passive · uninvolved · listless
Able to recover quickly
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- patienceCalm during delays
- philosophicalConcerned with fundamental truths
stoicism · self-control · composure · acceptance · forbearance · long-suffering · uncomplaining · resigned
Untroubled and composed
- tranquilCalm and untroubled
- composedCalm and self-possessed
- placidCalm, undisturbed
- unflappableImpossible to disturb
unruffled · sedate · equanimity · stillness · peaceful · even-tempered · collected · poised
Lacking energy or alertness
slothful · indolent · lazy · sedentary · heavy · sleepy · enervated · fatigued
Inclined toward reflective sorrow
- sanguineCheerfully optimistic temperament
- cholericEasily provoked to anger
- HippocratesFather of medicine
- GalenClassical Roman-era physician
bodily humors · personality · constitution · black bile · ancient medicine · cold · dry · earth
indifferent
Lacking interest or concern
- detachedApart or uninvolved
- uninterestedLacking curiosity or concern
- nonchalantCalmly unconcerned
aloof · blasé · insouciant · unconcerned · disinterested · unenthusiastic · passive · uninvolved · listless · unresponsive
resilient
Able to recover quickly
philosophical · stoicism · self-control · composure · acceptance · forbearance · long-suffering · uncomplaining · resigned · tolerant
serene
Untroubled and composed
unflappable · unruffled · sedate · equanimity · stillness · peaceful · even-tempered · collected · poised · cool-headed
lethargic
Lacking energy or alertness
languid · slothful · indolent · lazy · sedentary · heavy · sleepy · enervated · fatigued · inert
melancholic
Inclined toward reflective sorrow
- sanguineCheerfully optimistic temperament
- cholericEasily provoked to anger
- HippocratesFather of medicine
Galen · bodily humors · personality · constitution · black bile · ancient medicine · cold · dry · earth · elemental
- personalitypersonality, trait, temperament, traits, character
- composurecalm, calmness, composure, composed, poise
- personalitiesintrovert, optimist, extrovert, pessimist, idealist
- ancient medicinephysicians, healers, Hippocratic Oath, Hippocratic oath, four humors
- fancy wordsgrandiloquent, magniloquent, sesquipedalian, pulchritudinous, tintinnabulation
- medieval medicinebloodletting, leeching, four humors, humors, barber-surgeons
phlegmaticemotional
Showing strong feelings
hot-blooded · excitable · passionate · fervent · volatile