tepid

adjective

tep·​id ˈte-pəd How to pronounce tepid (audio)
Synonyms of tepid
1
: moderately warm : lukewarm
a tepid bath
2
a
: lacking in passion, force, or zest
tepid poetry
b
: marked by an absence of enthusiasm or conviction
a tepid interest
a tepid response
tepidity
tə-ˈpi-də-tē How to pronounce tepid (audio)
te-
noun
tepidly
ˈte-pəd-lē How to pronounce tepid (audio)
adverb
tepidness noun

Synonyms of tepid

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Examples of tepid in a Sentence

He gave a tepid performance. My suggestion was given a tepid response.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sharp Objects drew critical praise; more recent Big Little Lies descendents, like Imperfect Women and The Five-Star Weekend, have had a much more tepid reception. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 6 Aug. 2026 However constructive the initiatives put forward by establishment Senate Democrats may seem, there’s the risk they could be viewed as too tepid for a sizable portion of the electorate who is not keen to preserve any part of the status quo. — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 No, but good results continue to receive a tepid reception, and disappointing results are severely punished. — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026 Rates even dipped below 6% in February, raising hopes that this would unlock a tepid housing market, in which home seekers have been reluctant to buy and homeowners have been loath to give up lower pandemic-era rates. — Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tepid

Word History

Etymology

Middle English teped, from Latin tepidus, from tepēre to be moderately warm; akin to Sanskrit tapati it heats, Old Irish tess heat

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tepid was in the 14th century

Rhymes for tepid

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Browse Nearby Words

Tepic
tepid
tepidarium
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tepid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tepid. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tepid

adjective
tep·​id ˈtep-əd How to pronounce tepid (audio)
1
: lukewarm
a tepid bath
2
: lacking enthusiasm or conviction : halfhearted
a tepid response

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Nglish: Translation of tepid for Spanish Speakers

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