tepid

adjective

tep·​id ˈte-pəd 

1

: moderately warm : lukewarm

a tepid bath

2

a

: lacking in passion, force, or zest

tepid poetry

b

: marked by an absence of enthusiasm or conviction

a tepid interest

a tepid response

tepidity

tə-ˈpi-də-tē 

te-

noun

tepidly

ˈte-pəd-lē 

adverb

tepidness noun

Synonyms of tepid

• neutral
• lukewarm
• halfhearted
• unenthusiastic

Examples of tepid in a Sentence

He gave a tepid performance.

My suggestion was given a tepid response.

Recent Examples on the Web

Stocks were headed for a higher open this morning after tepid December jobs growth data supported the case for more Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026

That indicates many firms are relying on existing stockpiles to satisfy tepid demand. —Reade Pickert Bloomberg, Arkansas Online, 6 Jan. 2026

There has always been a bunch of tepid hitting, and bouncing off with no wrapping up, leading to bushels of gash plays. —Kenny Rosarion, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026

Everyone was perfectly lovely and perfectly tepid about going through the whole rigamarole again. —Lauren Bans, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English teped, from Latin tepidus, from tepēre to be moderately warm; akin to Sanskrit tapati it heats, Old Irish tess heat

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tepid

• intrepid

Kids Definition

tepid

adjective

tep·​id ˈtep-əd 

1

: lukewarm

a tepid bath

2

: lacking enthusiasm or conviction : halfhearted

a tepid response