lukewarm

adjective

ˈlük-ˈwȯrm How to pronounce lukewarm (audio)
Definition of lukewarmnext
1
as in warm
having or giving off heat to a moderate degree I left the bowl of soup sitting on the counter too long, and now it's lukewarm

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in neutral
showing little or no interest or enthusiasm the dentist's lecture on the merits of flossing got only a lukewarm response

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lukewarm Then, mix a few drops of dish soap (no more than 1/4 teaspoon) with two cups of lukewarm water. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 1 July 2026 Tracking services told Deadline as summer kicked off that Supergirl, along with Amazon MGM Studios’ bomb Masters of the Universe and Universal/Amblin’s Disclosure Day, were key event films that were extremely lukewarm in their word of mouth. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 29 June 2026 Star Fox Assault and its on-foot combat sections saw a lukewarm reception. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 27 June 2026 The final slot could go to Kerry Washington for Imperfect Women, a series that was met with a lukewarm reception, or Tessa Thompson for the very popular Netflix series, His & Hers. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lukewarm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lukewarm
  1. warm
  2. neutral
  3. heated
  4. tepid
  5. boiling
  6. unenthusiastic
  7. halfhearted
Adjective
  • More than 1,300 heat records were matched or broken for maximum high temperatures and warm overnight lows across 40 states and territories over the four days.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • Previous studies have shown that young white sharks prefer warmer waters and often leave nursery habitats when temperatures fall below certain thresholds.
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of warm
Adjective
  • On the other side, the plumbing is being pushed toward neutral ground.
    — Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • For a more understated look, classic French tips, neutral ombré, and sheer pink designs offer a polished finish without feeling too bold.
    — Rebecca Norris, InStyle, 5 July 2026
Definition of neutral
Adjective
  • During one heated exchange last year, immigration agents who did not want to be captured on body camera footage refused to invite FBI agents along for an arrest operation, one of the sources said.
    — Holmes Lybrand, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • The works are scheduled to go on display in Europe, and the trove’s impending departure has ignited one of Mexico’s most heated cultural controversies in recent memory.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of heated
Adjective
  • His obvious wig — made even more obvious since the actor is quite famously bald — still has more vivacity than the film’s tepid choreography.
    — Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 8 July 2026
  • The film currently holds a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, though audiences are a bit more tepid, giving it a 75%.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of tepid
Adjective
  • More humane methods of killing lobsters pre-boiling include a sharp knife through the head, electrical stunning, or freezing.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
  • Agrawal and her team studied ionic liquids — salts that are liquid at sub-boiling temperatures (below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius) — as a potential hospitable environment for life.
    — Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Definition of boiling
Adjective
  • Some previous supporters remain unenthusiastic about another run for president.
    — Juhi Doshi, ABC News, 8 June 2026
  • Ultimately the question is whether Hardy, Glasser and Butterworth can patch things up especially since Hardy was already unenthusiastic about returning for Season 3 due to his conflict with Butterworth.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 28 May 2026
Definition of unenthusiastic
Adjective
  • Serena looked down, heaved a sigh and hooked her knee around the pole before mustering up a halfhearted spin.
    — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
  • In a game that Switzerland dominated for the majority of the time, only some halfhearted chants by the Swiss superfans in the second deck cut through.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 June 2026
Definition of halfhearted

Browse Nearby Words

lugubriously
lukewarm
lukewarmly
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Cite this Entry

“Lukewarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lukewarm. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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