tepid

adjective

tep·​id ˈte-pəd How to pronounce tepid (audio)
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 noun
tepidly adverb
tepidness noun

Examples of tepid in a Sentence

He gave a tepid performance. My suggestion was given a tepid response.
Recent Examples on the Web The apparel retailer soared on a 21% increase in 2023 sales of $1.45 billion—up from $1.2 billion the year before—but tepid sales growth predictions for 2024 have halted its skyrocketing stock. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024 The biopic was released to somewhat tepid reviews from critics, earning a 42% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024 Amidst the threat of company layoffs, Javier is met with further life-altering news that his tepid office fling with co-worker Camila has resulted in her pregnancy. Holly Jones, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 Clawing back Pell benefits, however, could undermine the tepid recovery of higher education coming out of the pandemic. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 The growth may remain tepid for its other businesses amid challenging macroeconomic factors. Trefis Team, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Yet, the burgeoning field of smart clothing faces a paradox: despite its immense potential, consumer enthusiasm seems tepid. Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024 Despite this rough start — which followed a tepid cold open referencing Donald Trump’s win in the South Carolina primary on Saturday — the show had some highlights. Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2024 However, the stronger-than-expected tally should help boost Americans’ tepid sentiments about the economy. Alicia Wallace, CNN, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tepid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tepid was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near tepid

Cite this Entry

“Tepid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tepid. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tepid

adjective
tep·​id ˈtep-əd How to pronounce tepid (audio)
1
: lukewarm
a tepid bath
2
: lacking enthusiasm or conviction : halfhearted
a tepid response

More from Merriam-Webster on tepid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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