tepid

adjective

tep·​id ˈte-pəd How to pronounce tepid (audio)
Synonyms of tepid
1
: moderately warm : lukewarm
a tepid bath
2
a
: lacking in passion, force, or zest
tepid poetry
b
: marked by an absence of enthusiasm or conviction
a tepid interest
a tepid response
tepidity
tə-ˈpi-də-tē How to pronounce tepid (audio)
te-
noun
tepidly
ˈte-pəd-lē How to pronounce tepid (audio)
adverb
tepidness noun

Synonyms of tepid

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Examples of tepid in a Sentence

He gave a tepid performance. My suggestion was given a tepid response.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Government spending remains well above its peers in the politically sensitive realm of social protections, particularly pensions and healthcare, while tepid economic growth has failed to compensate. — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026 The tepid box-office returns mean the studio is now expected to lose at least $150 million on the film, including ancillary revenue streams such as premium video-on-demand and streaming, industry sources said. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 Labor market shifts The US trucking industry is shaking off a nearly four-year downturn, a post-pandemic correction marked by tumbling freight rates, carrier bankruptcies, and a high-cost/tepid-volume operating environment. — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026 But could Cruise use his movie star promotion power to get himself into the best-actor Oscar competition, despite the film suffering from tepid reviews and a possibly paltry box office? — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tepid

Word History

Etymology

Middle English teped, from Latin tepidus, from tepēre to be moderately warm; akin to Sanskrit tapati it heats, Old Irish tess heat

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tepid was in the 14th century

Rhymes for tepid

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Browse Nearby Words

Tepic
tepid
tepidarium
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tepid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tepid. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tepid

adjective
tep·​id ˈtep-əd How to pronounce tepid (audio)
1
: lukewarm
a tepid bath
2
: lacking enthusiasm or conviction : halfhearted
a tepid response
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