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.
Choose between these
8- everyday
when avoiding excess is the plain central idea
not when Moderation can describe an amount or policy without involving personal self-command.
- everyday
when managing emotion or behavior under pressure matters
not when Self-control is broader and may involve an all-or-nothing prohibition.
- warm
when repeated control serves a chosen goal
not when Discipline emphasizes rules and effort rather than balance.
- professional
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.
Said against
3- excess
- indulgence
- intemperance
It naturally appears in
3- 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.