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

This year, after a somewhat tepid start with two goals and seven points in the Capitals’ first 12 games, Ovechkin, in his last 15 games, had 10 goals and 20 points, tied for 11th most in the NHL in that time. —Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025

How does John and Taupin’s tepid Grammy showing compare with other legendary songwriting teams? —Paul Grein, Billboard, 1 Dec. 2025

On Sunday, Miami did just enough against a tepid 2-10 team playing a rookie quarterback and a third-string running back. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025

While the typical individual discount remains $10,000, sellers are increasingly offering multiple reductions as tepid demand leaves homes on the market for longer, according to Zillow. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 27 Nov. 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