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

• 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

Use tepid water, not cold, to water your orchid. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025

It was met with a tepid response by his colleagues, however, who cited its potential to further burden a struggling commercial sector. —Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025

Both their tepid offense and the warm weather recalled those days. —Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025

Its soothing, strengthening, and hydrating properties would surely do my complexion well in the dry, tepid desert, but these benefits certainly ring true in any climate! —Deanna Pai, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2025

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