halfhearted

[ haf-hahr-tid, hahf- ]

/ ˈhæfˈhɑr tɪd, ˈhɑf- /

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See synonyms for halfhearted on Thesaurus.com

adjective

having or showing little enthusiasm: a halfhearted attempt to work.

OTHER WORDS FOR halfhearted

indifferent, uninterested, cold, cool, perfunctory.

See synonyms for halfhearted on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR halfhearted

enthusiastic.

See antonyms for halfhearted on Thesaurus.com

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Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

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azure

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Origin of halfhearted

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

OTHER WORDS FROM halfhearted

half·heart·ed·ly, adverbhalf·heart·ed·ness, noun

Words nearby halfhearted

half gainer, half-gallon, half-glasses, half-grown, half-hardy, halfhearted, half hitch, half-holiday, half-hoping, half hose, half-hour

How to use halfhearted in a sentence

This halfhearted support is how we end up with bags of grey Skittles being released into the wild because “only one rainbow matters during Pride.”
Beware of Brands That Love Queer People’s Dollars More Than Queer People|Elazar Sontag|June 25, 2021|Eater
“It’s a halfhearted effort at complying with the governor’s demands as soon as possible,” said Suzie Djidjoli, a speech-language pathologist who was a member of a union bargaining team.
Teachers in Montgomery County vote ‘no confidence’ in reopening plan|Donna St. George|February 18, 2021|Washington Post
Obama, the halfhearted visitor, had his face clinched in a frozen smile.
Nina Khrushcheva on the Importance of the G20 in St. Petersburg|Nina Khrushcheva|September 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The result is a series of halfhearted reforms by old men in camouflage.
Cuba’s Leaders Talk of Reform, but It Doesn’t Add Up to Much|Mac Margolis|October 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST

He gave a halfhearted, widely panned speech on the night he finished a distant third in New Hampshire.
Plight of the Republican Presidential Race’s Zombie Candidates|Matt Bennett|January 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The United States will issue a halfhearted rebuke and some useless words about “deploring the deaths” that occurred on the ships.
A Blunder No PR Can Fix|Reza Aslan|June 1, 2010|DAILY BEAST
He began to make a somewhat halfhearted effort to explain what had happened.
"Bittergate"|David Plouffe|November 3, 2009|DAILY BEAST
At the mouth of the alley stood Charles, wearing a halfhearted VampMob outfit of black t-shirt and jeans and white face-paint.
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
Since teachers were either poorly paid or were hacienda guests, they offered halfhearted service.
The Haciendas of Mexico|Paul Alexander Bartlett
Two or three women, far back in the hall, start a halfhearted handclapping.
A Book of Burlesques|H. L. Mencken
And Antony took enough time from Cleopatra's side to make halfhearted preparations to resist.
Superwomen|Albert Payson Terhune
The others of the "indigenous" school have proved halfhearted and vague.
The American Egypt|Channing Arnold

British Dictionary definitions for halfhearted

half-hearted

adjective

without enthusiasm or determination

Derived forms of half-hearted

half-heartedly, adverbhalf-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