half-hearted

adjective

half-heart·​ed ˈhaf-ˈhär-təd 

ˈhäf-

variants or halfhearted

: lacking heart, spirit, or interest

a half-hearted effort

halfhearted applause

half-heartedly adverb

or halfheartedly

half-heartedness noun

or halfheartedness

Synonyms of half-hearted

• tepid
• neutral
• unenthusiastic
• lukewarm

Examples of half-hearted in a Sentence

He made a halfhearted attempt to contact them.

Recent Examples on the Web

There has been a half-hearted rule in English spelling to use OW at the end of a word or syllable, and OU everywhere else. — Literary Hub, 25 June 2026

Their attempts to destroy the bourgeois family were, like the efforts of Suzanna’s mother and grandmother, ambivalent and half-hearted. — Julius Taranto, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026

Success is intentionally engineered, built by leaders who refuse to tolerate vague goals, weak plans, drifting deadlines, half-hearted commitment, short-sighted thinking and insufficient skills. — Richard Tyler, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026

The new Ram Rumble Bee SRT absolutely embarrasses the Ford F-150 Lobo with its half-hearted attempt to be a street truck. — Joel Feder, The Drive, 20 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for half-hearted

• departed
• halfhearted
• imparted
• kindhearted
• lighthearted
• restarted
• uncharted
• warmhearted
• wholehearted
• brokenhearted
• carted
• charted

Kids Definition

halfhearted

adjective

half·​heart·​ed -ˈhärt-əd 

: lacking spirit or interest

halfhearted applause from the audience

halfheartedly adverb

halfheartedness noun