half-hearted
adjective
half-heart·ed
ˈhaf-ˈhär-təd 
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
As punishment to their men for this half-hearted date, Alexa and Tayler spend their entire date talking about their boyfriends.
—
Charlotte Walsh, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2025
Although Disney has faced pushback from fans for what many viewers (including this writer) have called half-hearted attempts at LGBTQ+ inclusion, the House of Mouse has also been roped into right-wingers’ political agendas in recent years.
—Abby Monteil, Them, 4 Mar. 2025
Many older women are ambitious travelers craving more than the basic wellness experiences often marketed to them, Khoo notes, contrasting the newer generation of women’s tours with past half-hearted efforts to sell travel to female travelers without accounting for their real interests.
—Jen Rose Smith, AFAR Media, 3 Mar. 2025
Programs that were prominently featured in corporate messaging only weeks ago have vanished with stunning speed, revealing perhaps their half-hearted sponsorship … all along.
—Lewis M. Rambo, Twin Cities, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for half-hearted
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Charlotte Walsh, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2025
Although Disney has faced pushback from fans for what many viewers (including this writer) have called half-hearted attempts at LGBTQ+ inclusion, the House of Mouse has also been roped into right-wingers’ political agendas in recent years.
—Abby Monteil, Them, 4 Mar. 2025
Many older women are ambitious travelers craving more than the basic wellness experiences often marketed to them, Khoo notes, contrasting the newer generation of women’s tours with past half-hearted efforts to sell travel to female travelers without accounting for their real interests.
—Jen Rose Smith, AFAR Media, 3 Mar. 2025
Programs that were prominently featured in corporate messaging only weeks ago have vanished with stunning speed, revealing perhaps their half-hearted sponsorship … all along.
—Lewis M. Rambo, Twin Cities, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for half-hearted
Cite this Entry
“Half-hearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half-hearted. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
halfhearted
adjective
half·heart·ed
-ˈhärt-əd
: lacking spirit or interest
halfhearted applause from the audience
halfheartedly
adverb
halfheartedness
noun
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