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Optimistic vs Phlegmatic - What's the difference?

optimistic | phlegmatic |

As adjectives the difference between optimistic and phlegmatic

is that optimistic is expecting the best in all possible ways while phlegmatic is not easily excited to action or passion; calm; sluggish.

As a noun phlegmatic is

one who has a phlegmatic disposition.

optimistic

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Expecting the best in all possible ways.
    • in an optimistic mood
    optimistic plans
    took an optimistic view

    Antonyms

    * pessimistic

    phlegmatic

    English

    Alternative forms

    * phlegmatick * phlegmaticke * phlegmatique

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Not easily excited to action or passion; calm; sluggish.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1873 , author=Jules Verne , title=Around the World in 80 Days , chapter=2 citation , passage=Calm and phlegmatic , with a clear eye, Mr. Fogg seemed a perfect type of that English composure which Angelica Kauffmann has so skilfully represented on canvas.}}
  • * 2013 , A.O. Scott, “How It Looks to Think: Watch Her,” Rev. of , dir. by Margarethe von Trotta, New York Times 29 May 2013: C1. Print.
    • Their friendship (immortalized in a splendid volume of letters that has clearly served as one of Ms. von Trotta's sources) is a fascinating study in cultural and temperamental contrast, an impulsive and witty American paired with a steady, phlegmatic German.
  • (archaic) Abounding in phlegm; as, phlegmatic humors; a phlegmatic constitution.
  • Generating, causing, or full of phlegm.
  • * Sir Thomas Browne
    • cold and phlegmatic habitations
  • Watery (en).

    • Synonyms

    * apathetic, sluggish, cold-blooded, unflappable, stoic

    Related terms

    * phlegm * phlegmatically

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who has a phlegmatic disposition.