lukewarm

adjective

luke·​warm ˈlük-ˈwȯrm 

1

: moderately warm : tepid

a lukewarm bath

lukewarm coffee

2

: lacking conviction : half-hearted

gave them only lukewarm support

a lukewarm review

lukewarm applause

lukewarmly adverb

lukewarmness noun

Synonyms

• heated
• hottish
• tepid
• toasty
• warm
• warmed
• warmish

Examples of lukewarm in a Sentence

I hate drinking lukewarm coffee.

Our plan got a lukewarm reception.

The producer was lukewarm about her script.

Recent Examples on the Web

That said, the current reception to AI PCs remains lukewarm. —Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025

Japan is also dinged in the taxation category, while Singapore has lukewarm scores for personal freedoms. —Monica Pitrelli, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025

Amid controversy and lukewarm reviews, the opening weekend haul falls short of Tim Burton’s Dumbo, which opened to $45 million in 2019. —Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 23 Mar. 2025

Despite the buzz around it, the movie had a lukewarm run at the box office. —Sweta Kaushal, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from luke lukewarm + warm; probably akin to Old High German lāo lukewarm — more at lee

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lukewarm

• chloroform
• coliform
• cribriform
• cruciform
• filiform
• fusiform
• isoform
• microform
• multiform
• multiforme
• outperform
• piriform

Kids Definition

lukewarm

adjective

luke·​warm ˈlü-ˈkwȯ(ə)rm 

1

: mildly warm : tepid

a lukewarm bath

2

: not enthusiastic : indifferent

our plan got a lukewarm reception

lukewarmly adverb

lukewarmness noun