halfhearted

[ haf-hahr-tid, hahf- ]
See synonyms for halfhearted on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. having or showing little enthusiasm: a halfhearted attempt to work.

Origin of halfhearted

1
First recorded in 1605–15; half + heart + -ed3

Other words for halfhearted

Opposites for halfhearted

Other words from halfhearted

  • half·heart·ed·ly, adverb
  • half·heart·ed·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use halfhearted in a sentence

  • But his head was too hot to wear a thinking cap, and no story would come at his half-hearted call.

  • From the first, Richardsons disguise as editor is little more than half-hearted.

  • He turned away, tossing another pebble into the pool with a half-hearted motion of his arm.

    The Envoy, Her | Horace Brown Fyfe
  • Its unpopularity has saved it from half-hearted and half-minded patronage.

    Theism or Atheism | Chapman Cohen
  • It struck the old courtier that the captain's answer was but half-hearted.

    A German Pompadour | Marie Hay

British Dictionary definitions for half-hearted

half-hearted

adjective
  1. without enthusiasm or determination

Derived forms of half-hearted

  • half-heartedly, adverb
  • half-heartedness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012