halfhearted

American  

[haf-hahr-tid, hahf-] / ˈhæfˈhɑr tɪd, ˈhɑf- /

adjective

1. having or showing little enthusiasm.

   a halfhearted attempt to work.

   Synonyms:

   perfunctory, cool, cold, uninterested, indifferent

   Antonyms:

   enthusiastic

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Other Word Forms

• halfheartedly adverb
• halfheartedness noun

Etymology

Origin of halfhearted

First recorded in 1605–15; half + heart + -ed ³

Explanation

Use the adjective halfhearted to describe something that's unenthusiastic, uninterested, or grudging. A pitcher's halfhearted throw of the baseball isn't too likely to end up being a strike. When you're halfhearted about the book you're reading, you may put it down mid-way through and never pick it up again, and a halfhearted audition for a play isn't likely to earn you a starring role. This noun, sometimes spelled with a hyphen, half-hearted, comes from the idea that if only half your heart is invested in something, you're not very excited about it. In the seventeenth century, the adjective half-headed was also common, meaning "stupid."

Example Sentences

But this was halfhearted on Washington's part and ultimately proved unsuccessful.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

Spilled pencils, overturned books and a crumbled cookie lay strewn about on her bedroom floor, halfhearted attempts to break up the monotony.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

Let your relative choose the latest halfhearted Hallmark movie clone?

From Salon • Dec. 20, 2024

The governor’s press office posted a notice suggesting that Musk’s departures from California were only halfhearted.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2024

He was reading Mr. Milton when he heard the clock chime three with a weary, halfhearted chime.

From "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt

Related Words

• lackluster
• listless
• lukewarm
• perfunctory
• tepid