Definition
(adjective) not easily excited to action or passion; calm; sluggish; abounding in phlegm; as, phlegmatic humors; a phlegmatic constitution
DFW's Sentence It is an associated contrast between Americans' mortified response to the Abu Ghraib photos and reports of the Arab world's phlegmatic reaction to the Berg video that leads to his churn's climax, which is that we are plainly, unambiguously better than the Arab world—whereupon John Ziegler invites listeners to respond if they are so moved, repeats the special mnemonic KFI call-in number, and breaks for the :30 news and ads, on time to the second, as 'Mondo takes ISDN feed from Airwatch and the program's associate producer and call screener, Vince Nicholas—twenty-six and hiply bald—pushes back from his console and raises both arms in congratulation, through the glass.
My Sentence In retrospect, her phlegmatic response to my avowal of undying love was the first clue our relationship's best days were probably gonna be found with other people.
01: DFW Source: The Host
02: Definition Source: Ninjawords