tepid

adjective

ˈte-pəd How to pronounce tepid (audio)
Definition of tepidnext
1
as in neutral
showing little or no interest or enthusiasm the proposed table tennis club met with only a tepid response

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in warm
having or giving off heat to a moderate degree make sure the water for the footbath is just tepid or you'll burn yourself

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of tepid After the demise of SB 10, lawmakers were tepid on pushing any cash bail reforms until a ruling in 2021 known as the Humphrey ruling. — Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Food and beverage sales grew 7% in Target's quarter ended August 1, building on gains in the prior period after many quarters of tepid growth, as new CEO Michael Fiddelke pushes to make grocery a bigger draw. — Nicholas P. Brown, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 Perhaps the only way out for Welch is to go far beyond the tepid promises to date. — David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026 This stadium is simply too big for Milton Keynes Dons’ modest needs, with the thousands of empty seats at every home game making the atmosphere tepid at best. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tepid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tepid
  1. neutral
  2. warm
  3. lukewarm
  4. heated
  5. halfhearted
  6. unenthusiastic
Adjective
  • Express a positive sentiment, as opposed to a neutral or negative tone.
    — Paul Hsieh, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, try artisanal, handmade designs in neutral, earthy tones.
    — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of neutral
Adjective
  • This luxe accent chair invites fall into your home with its rich velvet upholstery and warm cinnamon shade.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The temperature on Monday reached 81 degrees Fahrenheit in the evening with an average humidity level of 72 percent — warm but not unbearable.
    — Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of warm
Adjective
  • Despite its initial lukewarm reception upon its 1975 release, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has become a cult classic and has screened regularly across the world for more than five decades.
    — Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Toy Story 4 got a Best Animated Feature nomination despite lukewarm reception and a smaller box-office take.
    — Joe Reid, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of lukewarm
Adjective
  • Witnesses had testified to the heated gang rivalry between the South Side Compton Crips and Mob Piru, which were associated with dueling record companies Bad Boy Records and Death Row Records.
    — Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Its Elite trim comes standard with features like a head-up display, heated and ventilated front seats and a seven-mode drive system including modes like Trail and Sand.
    — Charles Singh, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of heated
Adjective
  • China saw little advantage, no matter which party came out ahead, and engaged in only sloppy, halfhearted online propaganda.
    — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • But when Kore-eda’s execution isn’t as assured, as is the case with his latest, all that delicacy simply floats off into the ether, rarely amounting to much more than a halfhearted shrug.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of halfhearted
Adjective
  • Some previous supporters remain unenthusiastic about another run for president.
    — Juhi Doshi, ABC News, 8 June 2026
  • Ultimately the question is whether Hardy, Glasser and Butterworth can patch things up especially since Hardy was already unenthusiastic about returning for Season 3 due to his conflict with Butterworth.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 28 May 2026
Definition of unenthusiastic

Browse Nearby Words

tenures
tepid
tepidity
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Cite this Entry

“Tepid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tepid. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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