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.