halfhearted

adjective

ˈhaf-ˈhär-təd How to pronounce halfhearted (audio)
Definition of halfheartednext
as in tepid
showing little or no interest or enthusiasm a halfhearted attempt to clean the house before the arrival of the in-laws

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of halfhearted China saw little advantage, no matter which party came out ahead, and engaged in only sloppy, halfhearted online propaganda. — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 But when Kore-eda’s execution isn’t as assured, as is the case with his latest, all that delicacy simply floats off into the ether, rarely amounting to much more than a halfhearted shrug. — Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026 Serena looked down, heaved a sigh and hooked her knee around the pole before mustering up a halfhearted spin. — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 In a game that Switzerland dominated for the majority of the time, only some halfhearted chants by the Swiss superfans in the second deck cut through. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 June 2026 And those problems are magnified in the slack middle section of this 160-minute film, as the hunters make discoveries of their own in the forest, unnecessary subplots and aliens multiply, and there are some halfhearted attempts at giving them a thin backstory. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 17 May 2026 Through all these threads, The Audacity throws itself headlong at some of tech’s biggest hot-button topics, including privacy, AI and, in an oddly halfhearted subplot involving JoAnne’s son, Everett Bliunck’s Orson, the manosphere, with an eye as cold as its characters. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2026 Alex Bregman was the one who got away, the All-Star third baseman the club tried to sign in spring training with a halfhearted contract proposal that would be rejected. — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026 Musical theater loves a go-getter, and halfhearted irony just can’t stand up to this much zazz. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for halfhearted
  1. tepid
  2. neutral
  3. unenthusiastic
  4. lukewarm
Adjective
  • Perhaps the only way out for Welch is to go far beyond the tepid promises to date.
    — David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Bond yields are steady after yesterday's second tepid inflation report of the week.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of tepid
Adjective
  • Similarly, Roderick Crooks has demonstrated that Ed Tech’s algorithmic systems are not race-neutral.
    — Kaliris Salas-Ramirez, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The Angle Wedge Pillow's distinctive triangular shape cradles your legs and knees at a precise 45-degree angle to relieve tension in your back, while the Knee-T keeps legs, hips and spine in a neutral position to reduce pressure on your lower back.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of neutral
Adjective
  • Some previous supporters remain unenthusiastic about another run for president.
    — Juhi Doshi, ABC News, 8 June 2026
  • Ultimately the question is whether Hardy, Glasser and Butterworth can patch things up especially since Hardy was already unenthusiastic about returning for Season 3 due to his conflict with Butterworth.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 28 May 2026
Definition of unenthusiastic
Adjective
  • The series received a lukewarm reception from critics and earned middling ratings upon its release, in August, 2005.
    — Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • To punish and sustain Helaena, Rhaenyra has guards shovel lukewarm gruel down her throat.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of lukewarm

Browse Nearby Words

half-glasses
halfhearted
halfheartedly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Halfhearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/halfhearted. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on halfhearted

Nglish: Translation of halfhearted for Spanish Speakers

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