temperamental
Prone to outbursts
Temperamental describes someone whose mood or behavior shifts unpredictably, often toward irritability or sensitivity.
A temperamental artist might be brilliant but difficult to work with.
The word extends beyond people to characterize things that function erratically or unreliably: a temperamental engine starts only when it feels like it.
The old printer is temperamental—sometimes it works, sometimes it jams for no reason.
Easily hurt by remarks
- touchyEasily upset or offended
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- reactiveTending to respond
- hypersensitiveExcessively reactive to stimuli
vulnerable · fragile · susceptible · defensive · oversensitive · emotional · high-strung · nervous
Producing original ideas
- geniusPerson of rare brilliance
- virtuosoSupremely accomplished performer
- prima donnaTemperamental, self-important person
- divaCelebrated female vocalist
maestro · prodigy · eccentric · idiosyncratic · high-strung · intense · perfectionist · demanding
Cannot be anticipated
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- changeableCapable of alteration
- fickleErratically disloyal in affection
unstable · capricious · inconstant · variable · fluctuating · quicksilver · labile · unsteady
Intensely hot or passionate
- intenseExtreme in degree
- ardentIntensely enthusiastic or devoted
- ferventIntensely and sincerely felt
- impassionedFilled with intense emotion
spirited · animated · excitable · heated · vehement · fierce · zealous · enthusiastic
Lacking steady uniformity
- undependableNot consistently trustworthy
- flakyCrumbly or unreliable
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
irregular · unsteady · sporadic · intermittent · patchy · hit-or-miss · finicky · fussy
thin-skinned
Easily hurt by remarks
hypersensitive · vulnerable · fragile · susceptible · defensive · oversensitive · emotional · high-strung · nervous · excitable
creative
Producing original ideas
- geniusPerson of rare brilliance
- virtuosoSupremely accomplished performer
- prima donnaTemperamental, self-important person
diva · maestro · prodigy · eccentric · idiosyncratic · high-strung · intense · perfectionist · demanding · exacting
unpredictable
Cannot be anticipated
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- mercurialProne to sudden change
- changeableCapable of alteration
fickle · unstable · capricious · inconstant · variable · fluctuating · quicksilver · labile · unsteady · mutable
fiery
Intensely hot or passionate
impassioned · spirited · animated · excitable · heated · vehement · fierce · zealous · enthusiastic · energetic
inconsistent
Lacking steady uniformity
- undependableNot consistently trustworthy
- flakyCrumbly or unreliable
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
unpredictable · irregular · unsteady · sporadic · intermittent · patchy · hit-or-miss · finicky · fussy · glitchy
brooding
Anxiously dwelling on something
morose · grumpy · surly · touchy · cranky · peevish · cantankerous · testy · sulky · tetchy
- emotionaldramatic, hysterical, weepy, tearful, melodramatic
- temperamentscholeric, phlegmatic, melancholic, sanguine, introvert
- easily offendedtouchy, sensitive, prickly, defensive, testy
- flawsfaults, defect, flaw, blemish, flaws
- stabilitystable, steady, firmness, unstable, equilibrium
- immaturityimmature, childish, juvenile, infantile, puerile
temperamentaleven-tempered
Reliably calm disposition
calm · placid · equable · unflappable · serene
temperamentalreliable
Consistently performing as expected
dependable · predictable · consistent · steady · stable
- artistic temperamentMoody nature attributed to creatives
- gentle temperamentCalm, kind nature
- calm temperamentStable, untroubled emotional character
- equal temperamentUniform pitch division system
- stable temperamentReliable emotional steadiness
- playful temperamentTendency toward mirth