Temperance

n.calm, thoughtfulformal

What it means

Deliberate moderation in appetite, behavior, or expression.

Reach for it when praising self-restraint that keeps a good thing from becoming excessive

Temperance helped the chair celebrate the win without humiliating the losing side.

everyday
moderation
when avoiding excess is the plain central idea
not when Moderation can describe an amount or policy without involving personal self-command.
everyday
self-control
when managing emotion or behavior under pressure matters
not when Self-control is broader and may involve an all-or-nothing prohibition.
warm
discipline
when repeated control serves a chosen goal
not when Discipline emphasizes rules and effort rather than balance.
professional
restraint
when measured expression or design deserves praise
not when Momentary restraint falls short of temperance as a general virtue.
professional
self-restraint
when resisting an immediate impulse is the achievement
not when Self-restraint can sound like suppression, while temperance suggests a settled balanced habit.
formal
abstinence
when complete avoidance of a substance or activity is intended
not when Temperance means moderation in many contexts, so abstinence can seriously overstate it.
formal
sobriety
when freedom from intoxication or seriousness of manner is central
not when Sobriety is narrower and may introduce alcohol where no such issue exists.
literary
continence
when historical or philosophical writing calls for strict self-command
not when Continence is archaic and often carries sexual or bodily associations.

practice temperance
The festival asked vendors to practice temperance in both noise and lighting.
virtue of temperance
The virtue of temperance shaped her response to sudden authority.
temperance and prudence
Temperance and prudence kept the emergency budget focused on immediate needs.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.