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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lukewarm
Be sure the bathtub is sparkling clean—then, fill with lukewarm water and about two teaspoons of gentle detergent.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 17 Feb. 2026
Place the plant in a bathtub or shower and rinse the leaves with a gentle stream of lukewarm water.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, the market for his services, even if 50 percent of his salary and cap hit is retained, is lukewarm.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Instead of a lukewarm shower, Gray recommends taking a hot bath an hour and a half before bedtime.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lukewarm
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 17 Feb. 2026
Place the plant in a bathtub or shower and rinse the leaves with a gentle stream of lukewarm water.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, the market for his services, even if 50 percent of his salary and cap hit is retained, is lukewarm.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Instead of a lukewarm shower, Gray recommends taking a hot bath an hour and a half before bedtime.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lukewarm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lukewarm
Adjective
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Strickland architects references the history of the site throughout the hotel’s design, using elemental materials like earth, water, stone, wood, and copper to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
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Today your thoughts are warm, friendly and generous.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Opt for a baby pastel blue to still be close enough to a versatile neutral.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
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Strong colors and bold materials defined the character’s public-facing persona, while neutral tones and slim silhouettes appeared in her more private moments.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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As Rhule, entering his fourth year, hired or promoted eight assistant coaches, the tepid fan response to the moves reflects concerns about direction in various areas.—
Mitch Sherman,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
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Lamont’s job approval rating was a tepid +4, with 49% approving and 45% disapproving.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Huitzilin exited his vehicle holding up his own camera phone alongside his wife, and the two groups got into a heated exchange, according to video played in court.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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Paramount and Netflix were locked in a months-long heated bidding war over WBD, which had fallen into financial disrepair.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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As the choral conductor has enlisted and must be replaced, the unenthusiastic choice is Ralph Fiennes’ Dr. Henry Guthrie, who has several marks against him.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
15 Jan. 2026
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The administration of President Donald Trump is unenthusiastic about EVs compared the previous Biden administration.—
Bill Koenig,
Forbes.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
-
Alex Bregman was the one who got away, the All-Star third baseman the club tried to sign in spring training with a halfhearted contract proposal that would be rejected.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
11 Jan. 2026
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The closest Alex and Tess get to a custody battle is a halfhearted chat about who gets the armoire.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
12 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lukewarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lukewarm. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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