tepid

adjective

tep·​id ˈte-pəd 

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 

te-

noun

tepidly

ˈte-pəd-lē 

adverb

tepidness noun

Synonyms of tepid

• neutral
• lukewarm
• halfhearted
• unenthusiastic

Examples of tepid in a Sentence

He gave a tepid performance.

My suggestion was given a tepid response.

Recent Examples on the Web

June’s tepid hiring comes after a relative surge in job gains the previous three months, countering concerns that the war in Iran could trip up an already wobbly labor market. — ABC News, 9 July 2026

Put simply, Jim thinks Costco is a good name in a bad neighborhood, pointing to the tepid gains in the retail sector overall. — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 9 July 2026

His obvious wig — made even more obvious since the actor is quite famously bald — still has more vivacity than the film’s tepid choreography. — Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 8 July 2026

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

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

Rhymes for tepid

• intrepid

Kids Definition

tepid

adjective

tep·​id ˈtep-əd 

1

: lukewarm

a tepid bath

2

: lacking enthusiasm or conviction : halfhearted

a tepid response