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

a halfhearted attempt to clean the house before the arrival of the in-laws

Recent Examples on the Web

The most impish rando here is Tia Mowry, Matthew’s co-worker, who makes half-hearted attempts to sabotage Matthew’s new job at the hotel and ultimately exposes Taylor’s Santa con. —Rachel Handler, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025

After another half-hearted answer from Yurachek, Davis pressed further, making the CFP chair answer the tough question and take accountability. —Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025

Don’t settle for half-hearted connections… not when the universe is offering you soul-deep mirrors. —Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 30 Nov. 2025

This time the effort to line up looked half-hearted. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2025

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