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 noun
tepidly adverb
tepidness noun

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.
The film currently holds a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, though audiences are a bit more tepid, giving it a 75%. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026 Why didn’t Brad Stevens, after seeing the tepid demand for Brown’s services, abandon negotiations and opt to keep one of the NBA’s most successful duos together for at least one more year? Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 2 July 2026 June’s tepid hiring comes after a relative surge in job gains the previous three months, countering concerns that the war in Iran would trip up an already wobbly labor market. ABC News, 2 July 2026 The film’s reviews range from negative to tepid praise (averaging a 58 percent Rotten Tomatoes score). James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tepid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tepid. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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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