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
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of lukewarm
Start by washing your hands and running your glasses under lukewarm water.
—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2026
The queso started fine but eventually congealed into something that approximated lukewarm paste.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for lukewarm
Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2026
The queso started fine but eventually congealed into something that approximated lukewarm paste.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for lukewarm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lukewarm
Adjective
-
A day later, both sides were outside during breaks enjoying an unseasonably warm mid-March day in Manhattan.—
Doug Feinberg,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Shawkat, with her warm, amused eyes and her mop of curls, is a perfect carrier for Mae’s air of abjection, flopping around her bed like a horny, gloomy Raggedy Ann.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The neutral color will complement any other spring decor.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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Leaders at both districts have put offers on the table that align with a neutral third-party’s recommendation, saying that their proposals balance employee needs with fiscal reality.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Still, China’s broader growth trajectory has flattened, weighed down by a prolonged property crisis, declined investment, tepid consumption and deflation.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
-
In all, McTavish has 13 goals and 31 points in 54 games, thus far not rekindling the consistency or menace of his stretch run after a tepid first half last season.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Some discussions may get a little heated, but sticking to the facts should cool them off before anyone gets burned.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
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The heated experiences can boost cardiovascular health and metabolism — vital for women in midlife facing menopausal symptoms.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The administration of President Donald Trump is unenthusiastic about EVs compared the previous Biden administration.—
Bill Koenig,
Forbes.com,
26 Feb. 2026
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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
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
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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 12 Mar. 2026.
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