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

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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 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 But the Wolverines' tepid performance didn't diminish Oklahoma coach Brent Venables' view of them. — ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026 And prominent national Democrats from states across the country have forcefully condemned Piker in ways that have drawn sharp contrast to el Sayed’s more tepid approach. — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 31 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
  • Piper Sandler downgrades Deckers to underweight from neutral The firm sees too many headwinds ahead.
    — Michael Bloom, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Although black proved to be the most popular choice, most Salomon pairs (at least those in neutral colorways) tend to go with pretty much anything, from jeans to track pants to pleated miniskirts.
    — Nuria Luis, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of neutral
Adjective
  • Grab a pretty blouse and snappy loafers to wear for brunch dates on warmer autumn days, then pair them with a denim jacket and slouchy knee-high boots as the weather gets cooler.
    — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The week will start dry and warmer than normal, but rain chances return Tuesday and could dampen Halloween spirits, with a 40% chance of rain Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of warm
Adjective
  • In the middle of a lukewarm Massachusetts morning, Leonard Miller stood alone, toeing the 3-point arc in the corner of the court at TD Garden.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Her 2021 album, Postergirl, was met with a lukewarm response from critics and fans alike.
    — Remy Rippon, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of lukewarm
Adjective
  • Funding for Platte County police came to a heated front in a county commission meeting earlier this year where Sheriff Erik Holland and Prosecuting Attorney Erik Zahnd vehemently argued that the law enforcement budget was too low.
    — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The messages, reviewed by Semafor, were heated but respectful.
    — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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