tepid
Americanadjective
-
moderately warm; lukewarm.
tepid water.
-
characterized by a lack of force or enthusiasm.
tepid prose;
the critics' tepid reception for the new play.
- Synonyms:
- apathetic, halfhearted, unemotional
adjective
-
slightly warm; lukewarm
-
relatively unenthusiastic or apathetic
the play had a tepid reception
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tepid
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin tepidus “lukewarm,” from tep(ēre) “to be lukewarm” + -idus -id 4
Explanation
Tepid means lukewarm or half-hearted. If the applause for your mime-on-a-unicycle performance was more tepid than enthusiastic, it might be time to find a new hobby. Around the year 1400, the word tepid evolved from the Latin tepidus, an adjective meaning “lukewarm,” which itself is derived from the Latin tepere, a verb meaning “to be warm.” Tepid people or things are lukewarm or lacking in enthusiasm or emotion. Bathwater that’s been sitting in the tub for two hours is probably tepid. So is the greeting you might give to a former friend you run into at the movie theater.
Vocabulary lists containing tepid
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The tepid performance on the broader market in July actually belies churning beneath the surface.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
Consumer spending has proved to be a surprise source of strength for a struggling Canadian economy dealing with tepid hiring and business investment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Despite some tepid reactions on the streets away from Midtown Manhattan, something of a World Cup effect has been witnessed at non-World Cup matches.
From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026
Even as some long-term unemployed people land jobs, tepid hiring means more people are at risk of falling into that category, keeping numbers high.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
I also run downstairs and make a bowl of popcorn, and grab and chug half a twenty-ounce bottle of tepid ginger ale.
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
