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
Examples of tepid in a Sentence
He gave a tepid performance.
My suggestion was given a tepid response.
Recent Examples on the Web
On the empty homes tax, which will appear as Measure A on the June ballot, Perez and Ramirez offered more tepid support than Molina and Martinez.
—
David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
The struggling low-cost airline has filed for bankruptcy protection twice, but has been buffeted by surging fuel costs and tepid customer demand for its products, even as other airlines that have skewed to more premium and business travels have seen their shares — and profits — surge.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The 2022 championship does not negate the fact that the last seasons of the Myers era were marred by over-reliance on aging stars to complement Stephen Curry, prizing fits in Steve Kerr’s motion, read-and-react system, and tepid, questionable and marginal moves at the trade deadline.
—Jannelle Moore, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
The market for initial public offerings has been tepid, although that could change this year.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tepid
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David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
The struggling low-cost airline has filed for bankruptcy protection twice, but has been buffeted by surging fuel costs and tepid customer demand for its products, even as other airlines that have skewed to more premium and business travels have seen their shares — and profits — surge.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The 2022 championship does not negate the fact that the last seasons of the Myers era were marred by over-reliance on aging stars to complement Stephen Curry, prizing fits in Steve Kerr’s motion, read-and-react system, and tepid, questionable and marginal moves at the trade deadline.
—Jannelle Moore, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
The market for initial public offerings has been tepid, although that could change this year.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tepid
Cite this Entry
“Tepid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tepid. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tepid
adjective
tep·id
ˈtep-əd 
1
: lukewarm
a tepid bath
2
: lacking enthusiasm or conviction : halfhearted
a tepid response
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