tepid

1 of 2

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

tepidity

2 of 2

noun

te·​pid·​i·​ty tə̇ˈpidətē How to pronounce tepidity (audio)
-dətē, 
-i
plural -es
: the quality or state of being tepid : lukewarmness

Synonyms of tepid

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Adjective

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Examples of tepid in a Sentence

Adjective 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.
Adjective
Watch On Despite containing a plot summary in its title and a tepid reception when it was released, director Andrew Dominik’s meditative film manages to be both suspenseful and insightful. — David Faris, TheWeek, 21 Aug. 2026 After the demise of SB 10, lawmakers were tepid on pushing any cash bail reforms until a ruling in 2021 known as the Humphrey ruling. — Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Food and beverage sales grew 7% in Target's quarter ended August 1, building on gains in the prior period after many quarters of tepid growth, as new CEO Michael Fiddelke pushes to make grocery a bigger draw. — Nicholas P. Brown, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 Perhaps the only way out for Welch is to go far beyond the tepid promises to date. — David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tepid

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

Noun

Late Latin tepiditat-, tepiditas, from Latin tepidus tepid + -itat-, -itas -ity

First Known Use

Adjective

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 23 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

More from Merriam-Webster on tepid

Nglish: Translation of tepid for Spanish Speakers

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