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
He was used to students skipping the readings or making a halfhearted attempt.
—
Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
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
Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for halfhearted
Adjective
-
Rinse with tepid water and a rag or sponge.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
26 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
Adjective
-
Available in 18 neutral and vibrant colors, the crossbody purse has received no shortage of rave reviews.—
Asia London Palomba,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
-
For a more neutral option, Walmart has grey, black, brown and tan draft stoppers.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Allow the oatmeal to cool to a lukewarm temperature before eating.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Place three cups of lukewarm or room temp water into your pot.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Halfhearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/halfhearted. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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