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

Biden’s support collapsed within his first year, and Kamala Harris’s half-hearted efforts to distance herself from her unpopular boss were too little, too late. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026

All strategic objectives in Iran are failing, while half-hearted support for Ukraine has resulted in a devastating surge in civilian casualties. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026

Picking the right mask for your hair type and concern makes all the difference between a half-hearted quick fix and a true showstopper transformation. — Anya Meyerowitz, Glamour, 2 Aug. 2026

Trump made half-hearted feints to target Wall Street, through proposals like curbing defense contractor stock buybacks and foreign job outsourcing, but there’s been no real follow through on any of these policies. — Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 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