half-hearted

adjective

half-heart·​ed ˈhaf-ˈhär-təd How to pronounce half-hearted (audio)
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

Examples of half-hearted in a Sentence

a halfhearted attempt to clean the house before the arrival of the in-laws
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
There is no room for small talk and half-hearted pursuits — Mars in Scorpio completely immerses itself in a situation or is simply not interested. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025 Chilling Chambers is little more than half-hearted fan service that name-checks every maze in Scary Farm history on a crypt or gravestone. Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025 Did anyone laugh, or was did someone give a half-hearted chuckle to be nice? Anne Sugar, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 Much of the 31-year-old comic’s material revolves around getting by in an increasingly stupid world — half-hearted attempts at self-improvement, if not self-preservation. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for half-hearted

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of half-hearted was in 1579

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Half-hearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half-hearted. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

halfhearted

adjective
half·​heart·​ed -ˈhärt-əd How to pronounce halfhearted (audio)
: lacking spirit or interest
halfhearted applause from the audience
halfheartedly adverb
halfheartedness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on half-hearted

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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