half-hearted

adjective

half-heart·​ed ˈhaf-ˈhär-təd How to pronounce half-hearted (audio)
ˈhäf-
variants or halfhearted
: lacking heart, spirit, or interest
a half-hearted effort
halfhearted applause
half-heartedly adverb
or halfheartedly
half-heartedness noun
or halfheartedness

Examples of half-hearted in a Sentence

a halfhearted attempt to clean the house before the arrival of the in-laws
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Don’t bother trying to engage in half-hearted, superficial or shallow conversations. Athena Sobhan, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024 The status quo of half-hearted diplomacy in the Pacific will not suffice at a time when China is ramping up its presence in the region. Charles Edel, Foreign Affairs, 10 Oct. 2024 There are many shows left before Nov. 5, so get ready for a lot of grunting half-hearted Trump voices and Rudolph making a wide range of perplexed expressions. Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2024 Consumers are more discerning than ever and can easily see through half-hearted or ingenuine statements. Jennifer Acree, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for half-hearted 

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of half-hearted was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near half-hearted

Cite this Entry

“Half-hearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half-hearted. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

halfhearted

adjective
half·​heart·​ed -ˈhärt-əd How to pronounce halfhearted (audio)
: lacking spirit or interest
halfhearted applause from the audience
halfheartedly adverb
halfheartedness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on half-hearted

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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