tepid

1 of 2

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

tepidity

2 of 2

noun

te·​pid·​i·​ty tə̇ˈpidətē 

-dətē, 

-i

plural -es

: the quality or state of being tepid : lukewarmness

Synonyms of tepid

Adjective

• neutral
• lukewarm
• halfhearted
• unenthusiastic

Examples of tepid in a Sentence

Adjective

He gave a tepid performance.

My suggestion was given a tepid response.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Growth in the world's second-largest economy slowed to multi-year lows in the second quarter, weighed down by tepid domestic demand and a prolonged real estate slump. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026

The stasis and the tepid job growth may not show it, but this labor market is in the throes of a major transformation as Baby Boomers retire, net immigration slows, AI advances and exogenous shocks ripple through the economy. — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026

September is off to a tepid start, a day after Wall Street closed out August on a downbeat note. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026

And prominent national Democrats from states across the country have forcefully condemned Piker in ways that have drawn sharp contrast to el Sayed’s more tepid approach. — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

Noun

Late Latin tepiditat-, tepiditas, from Latin tepidus tepid + -itat-, -itas -ity

First Known Use

Adjective

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