as in tepid
showing little or no interest or enthusiasm
a halfhearted attempt to clean the house before the arrival of the in-laws
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Recent Examples of halfhearted
At times, Beijing has taken harsh measures toward North Korea—including temporarily suspending oil shipments, restricting Chinese tourism, and applying financial sanctions to the North—although such efforts have typically been short-lived and halfhearted.
—
Shuxian Luo, Foreign Affairs, 21 Aug. 2025
Shuxian Luo, Foreign Affairs, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for halfhearted
Adjective
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Global consumer textile demand is affected by macroeconomic conditions, and the outlook for world GDP growth has been tepid since the benefits of stimulus faded with inflation and higher interest rates.—
SJ Guest Editorial,
Sourcing Journal,
26 Sep. 2025
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There’s no more space for tepid or lukewarm content.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This polished blouse comes in six neutral colors and has a feminine tie at the neckline; tie it in a bow or leave the ribbons loose.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Sep. 2025
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Since a judge approved the settlement in early 2021, the state has met 8 of 14 standards, according to the report by the Center for the Study of Social Policy and its president, Judith Meltzer, who is referred to as the neutral.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Cracker Barrel statement doesn't satisfy naysayers Reactions to the announcement were largely unenthusiastic, with many fans accusing the chain of ignoring their concerns and calling for a return to the old brand design.—
Diana Leyva,
The Tennessean,
26 Aug. 2025
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There's only so much one can glean from the preseason, but performance reviews for Maye have been unenthusiastic at best.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Then, wash my clients’ hair in lukewarm water to remove the cap.—
Essence,
Essence,
24 Sep. 2025
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There’s no more space for tepid or lukewarm content.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Halfhearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/halfhearted. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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