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

Better teams could pounce on the Leafs’ woefully tepid first-period performance and put the game to bed. —Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025

That apparent contrast has left investors and economists wondering whether — and when — jitters over high costs of living, increased tariffs and a tepid job market will start to emerge more in spending data. —Melissa Repko,gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 16 Dec. 2025

Home sales flatlined amid unaffordable conditions after rising demand collided with tepid supply growth, pushing up home prices. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2025

But with the partisan exercise behind them, some senators are expressing tepid optimism about a path forward on a compromise. —Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025

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