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
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
Queta smashed those lukewarm expectations, emerging as not just a viable starter, but a true difference-maker.
—
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
To rid your greenery of dust, gently wipe the leaves down with a towel and lukewarm water.
—Sunshine Flint, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
Overall, Clune and his colleagues’ new study has received a lukewarm reception.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2026
Make sure your water is lukewarm and not cold to ensure the cake rises effortlessly when baking.
—Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lukewarm
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
To rid your greenery of dust, gently wipe the leaves down with a towel and lukewarm water.
—Sunshine Flint, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
Overall, Clune and his colleagues’ new study has received a lukewarm reception.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2026
Make sure your water is lukewarm and not cold to ensure the cake rises effortlessly when baking.
—Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lukewarm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lukewarm
Adjective
-
During the chaos, community members like local restaurant owner Ron Grady stepped up to offer warm shelter and food to those who were stranded in the cold due to the massive multi-vehicle crash.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Thursday will be warm, dry and breezy in the Twin Cities, while other parts of Minnesota will face extreme fire risk.—
Joseph Dames,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
While Drescher used the Pink Passion shade, there are five other colors to pick from, including a timeless bright red and subtle neutral hue.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Plus, every piece in the set is easy to assemble, and its neutral hues can work with any space.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The labor market is tepid, inflation is higher than the Fed would like, and the price of oil is spiking because of a war in the Middle East.—
Kathryn Anne Edwards,
Twin Cities,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The tepid support raises the possibility that two Republicans in the race could place first and second in the June primary and advance to the general election.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The world record landed in the middle of a heated high school relay race that had captured the attention of the stadium announcer and most of the fans.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Amenities and experiences Most of my afternoons were spent idling at the heated infinity pool, glass of African wine in hand, overlooking the crater.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In this purple-on-purple preppy look, Lady Di (then a 19-year-old nursery school teacher) seemed sweet—if not a little unenthusiastic about being photographed.—
Natalie Arroyo Camacho,
InStyle,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Some advocacy groups are unenthusiastic.—
Meg Tirrell,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 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
-
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
-
Through all these threads, The Audacity throws itself headlong at some of tech’s biggest hot-button topics, including privacy, AI and, in an oddly halfhearted subplot involving JoAnne’s son, Everett Bliunck’s Orson, the manosphere, with an eye as cold as its characters.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Lukewarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lukewarm. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
