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.
So much of the extensive press tour for “Practical Magic 2” — based on the 2021 novel “The Book of Magic” written by Alice Hoffman — has revolved around the original film’s tepid reception.
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026
Exports have become a key pillar of support for the Chinese economy, helping to sustain growth amid tepid domestic consumption, sluggish investment and a protracted property downturn.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
The tepid performance came after figures showed the Federal Reserve's preferred gauge of inflation remained stuck at a three-year high of 3.7 percent in July.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
The tepid performance comes ahead of much-anticipated earnings from Nvidia, which has become something of a bellwether for the AI boom.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
The damp logs in the fireplace make the house smoky and give off a tepid heat.
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
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.
