noun
phlegm
Calmness showing little emotion.
She handles even the harshest criticism with her usual phlegm.
Etymology
Phlegm was one of the bodily humors in older medicine. An excess was thought to produce a cool, unemotional temperament, giving the word its composure sense.
More examples
- His phlegm keeps the team steady during a crisis.
- Even the sudden delay fails to disturb her phlegm.
- I admire the phlegm with which he accepts bad news.
Forms
phlegm
phlegmatic adjective — Calm and showing little emotional reaction.
Similar words
- composure
- Emphasizes staying in control, especially during stress or trouble.
- equanimity
- Emphasizes emotional balance through both good and bad experiences.
- impassivity
- Emphasizes an absence of visible emotion rather than inner calm.