phlegmatic
Adjective
Hard difficulty
What does “phlegmatic” mean?
adjective.(of a person) having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition.
SAT Usage
this term often appears in contexts discussing personality traits, particularly in character analyses or psychological evaluations. It emphasizes a sense of calmness and lack of emotional response, distinguishing it from words like "stoic," which implies enduring pain without complaint, and "apathetic," which suggests a lack of interest or concern.
Common Confusions
Phlegmatic implies a calm and unemotional demeanor, while apathetic usually suggests a lack of interest or concern about events or feelings.
Do not choose phlegmatic if the context emphasizes emotional expressiveness or excitement rather than having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition.
Example Sentences
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His phlegmatic response to the crisis kept everyone calm.