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

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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 The deal got a lukewarm reception from investors in June but is nonetheless considered a strategic pivot for Fox into streaming distribution. — Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026 Gaming journalist Mike Straw revealed development delays pushed its release, escalating costs and leading to lukewarm reviews. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Wall Street, which is accustomed to robust growth from Walmart, reacted swiftly to the lukewarm sales numbers, and the company’s stock plunged 9% Thursday. — Kayla Steinberg, NBC news, 20 Aug. 2026 But other data indicate a more optimistic outlook for Republicans, showing voters hold a lukewarm view of the Democratic Party. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 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
  • This luxe accent chair invites fall into your home with its rich velvet upholstery and warm cinnamon shade.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The temperature on Monday reached 81 degrees Fahrenheit in the evening with an average humidity level of 72 percent — warm but not unbearable.
    — Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of warm
Adjective
  • Since then, the Big Ten has appointed a neutral clock operator, instead of one appointed by the home team.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Winfrey has a more subdued take on footwear, her choices consisting of neutral tones with the occasional leopard or snakeskin.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of neutral
Adjective
  • Astra is making investors feel better about OpenAI's technical prowess in its heated battle against Anthropic and a gaggle of open-source competitors.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Some heated on-pitch rivalries persist at the negotiating table, though.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of heated
Adjective
  • Growth in the world's second-largest economy slowed to multi-year lows in the second quarter, weighed down by tepid domestic demand and a prolonged real estate slump.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • September is off to a tepid start, a day after Wall Street closed out August on a downbeat note.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 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
  • China saw little advantage, no matter which party came out ahead, and engaged in only sloppy, halfhearted online propaganda.
    — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • But when Kore-eda’s execution isn’t as assured, as is the case with his latest, all that delicacy simply floats off into the ether, rarely amounting to much more than a halfhearted shrug.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 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 9 Sep. 2026.

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