‹ YuzoolWordbayOpen app

Advanced · Character

Phlegmatic: meaning, pronunciation and examples

Phlegmatic adjective. Calm and unflustered, slow to show emotion.

How to say it

fleg-MAT-ik/flɛɡˈmætɪk/

3 syllables, stressed on the second (MAT).

Phlegmatic in a sentence

Even with the kitchen on fire, our phlegmatic landlady finished her tea first.

The phlegmatic goalkeeper barely celebrated his penalty save.

Similar and opposite

Similar:

  • unflappable
  • stolid
  • imperturbable
  • composed

Opposite:

  • excitable
  • emotional

Where phlegmatic comes from

From Greek phlegma, phlegm, one of the four humours, thought to make people calm and sluggish.

Test yourself

Which word fills the gap?

The _____ goalkeeper barely celebrated his penalty save.

  • phlegmatic
  • splenetic
  • complaisant
Show the answer

phlegmatic: The phlegmatic goalkeeper barely celebrated his penalty save.