lukewarm

adjective

luke·​warm ˈlük-ˈwȯrm 

1

: moderately warm : tepid

a lukewarm bath

lukewarm coffee

2

: lacking conviction : half-hearted

gave them only lukewarm support

a lukewarm review

lukewarm applause

lukewarmly adverb

lukewarmness noun

Synonyms of lukewarm

• warm
• warmed
• heated
• tepid
• boiling

Examples of lukewarm in a Sentence

I hate drinking lukewarm coffee.

Our plan got a lukewarm reception.

The producer was lukewarm about her script.

Recent Examples on the Web

After that there’s no real difference between cold and lukewarm water. — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 1 July 2026

Tracking services told Deadline as summer kicked off that Supergirl, along with Amazon MGM Studios’ bomb Masters of the Universe and Universal/Amblin’s Disclosure Day, were key event films that were extremely lukewarm in their word of mouth. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 29 June 2026

Star Fox Assault and its on-foot combat sections saw a lukewarm reception. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 27 June 2026

The final slot could go to Kerry Washington for Imperfect Women, a series that was met with a lukewarm reception, or Tessa Thompson for the very popular Netflix series, His & Hers. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 25 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from luke lukewarm + warm; probably akin to Old High German lāo lukewarm — more at lee

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lukewarm

• chloroform
• coliform
• cribriform
• cruciform
• filiform
• fusiform
• isoform
• microform
• multiform
• outperform
• piriform
• plexiform

Kids Definition

lukewarm

adjective

luke·​warm ˈlü-ˈkwȯ(ə)rm 

1

: mildly warm : tepid

a lukewarm bath

2

: not enthusiastic : indifferent

our plan got a lukewarm reception

lukewarmly adverb

lukewarmness noun