Meaning & use
temperance
Moderation or self-restraint, especially in eating, drinking, or expressing emotion; historically, abstinence from alcohol.
See it in a sentence
The philosopher praised temperance as a virtue that kept all desires in balance.
The nineteenth-century temperance movement pushed for laws banning the sale of alcohol.
A note on using this word
Temperance historically refers to the movement against alcohol consumption, while more generally it means restraint in any appetite or emotion.
Words with a similar meaning
moderationself-restraint
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
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