as in neutral
showing little or no interest or enthusiasm
my suggestion that we go to see the new action flick was greeted with an unenthusiastic shrug
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 unenthusiastic
And yet many people were unenthusiastic about the economy as a whole.
—
Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Even an unenthusiastic attempt at mediation proved remarkably effective.
—Mihir Sharma, Twin Cities, 14 May 2025
That first orgasm, a brittle, unenthusiastic moan rippling as the A24 logo fills the screen, isn’t so much experienced as performed.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
One thing that is not anticipated is an avalanche of opt-outs, which has played out in some programs, or an unenthusiastic response to a bowl challenge.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 29 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unenthusiastic
Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Even an unenthusiastic attempt at mediation proved remarkably effective.
—Mihir Sharma, Twin Cities, 14 May 2025
That first orgasm, a brittle, unenthusiastic moan rippling as the A24 logo fills the screen, isn’t so much experienced as performed.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
One thing that is not anticipated is an avalanche of opt-outs, which has played out in some programs, or an unenthusiastic response to a bowl challenge.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 29 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unenthusiastic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unenthusiastic
Adjective
-
Creeping thyme likes a soil pH that is neutral to slightly alkaline.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The driving force behind that challenge for Texas was the Red River Rivalry game against the Sooners, which is played at a neutral site but accounted for one of the Longhorns’ four allotted SEC home games in 2025.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
However, economists have been cautioning that the tepid January for claims was not a sign of a turnaround in the labor market.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The reality is that with this setup, the franchise has received mostly tepid responses from fans and critics alike.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Alex Bregman was the one who got away, the All-Star third baseman the club tried to sign in spring training with a halfhearted contract proposal that would be rejected.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The closest Alex and Tess get to a custody battle is a halfhearted chat about who gets the armoire.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
12 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
In fact, ayurvedic medicine has its own parallel in the form of the ritual usha paana, which involves drinking lukewarm or room-temp water on an empty stomach in the early hours.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Warming up meals in a toaster oven likewise results in uneven heating, with the top portion getting dried or burnt and the middle part ending up lukewarm if the element is located on the top – the reverse is true if the element is on the bottom.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unenthusiastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unenthusiastic. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
