tepid

/ˈtepɪd/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈɛpɪd] /ˈtepɪd/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈɛpɪd] /ˈte-pəd How to pronounce tepid (audio)/ (ame, mw)

tepid — adjective

  • tepidpositive
  • more tepidcomparative
  • most tepidsuperlative

1. describes a liquid, food, or bath that is only slightly warm — too cool to feel

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a liquid, food, or bath that is only slightly warm — too cool to feel properly hot, and often unsatisfying as a result

例句

Haruto poured himself a coffee, but it had gone tepid while he was reading.

collocation: go tepid

Antonia pushed away her tepid soup and asked the waiter to reheat it.

同義詞
  • lukewarm

    more common than tepid for describing temperature; tepid can sound slightly more formal or critical

  • warmish

    informal and less precise; 'warmish' can describe anything somewhat warm, not just disappointingly cool liquids

反義詞
  • scalding

    opposite end of the temperature range

  • ice-cold

    opposite end of the temperature range

用法筆記

Often used to describe something that should be hot (like coffee, soup, or bath water) but has cooled to an unsatisfying temperature.

常見錯誤

❌The soup was tepid, so I burned my tongue.
✅The soup was piping hot, so I burned my tongue.
💡Tepid means only slightly warm, not hot enough to burn.

2. describes a reaction, response, or feeling that shows little excitement, interes

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a reaction, response, or feeling that shows little excitement, interest, or emotional energy — for example, tepid applause after a performance, or a tepid review of a new film

例句

The play received only tepid applause from the audience, and the actors looked disappointed.

collocation: tepid applause

Sivan gave a tepid response to the job offer and asked for time to decide.

同義詞
  • lukewarm

    the most common alternative in both temperature and figurative senses; 'lukewarm' is slightly more informal

  • half-hearted

    emphasises lack of effort or commitment rather than lack of feeling

  • unenthusiastic

    more direct and neutral; 'unenthusiastic' describes the absence of enthusiasm without the temperature metaphor

反義詞
  • enthusiastic

    showing strong positive feelings

  • passionate

    showing very strong emotions

  • raving

    extremely positive, used especially of reviews or praise

用法筆記

Typically appears before nouns like applause, response, reaction, reception, welcome, review, interest, or enthusiasm. Unlike sense 1, this sense does not describe physical temperature.

常見錯誤

❌The teacher gave a tepid to my essay.
✅The teacher gave a tepid response to my essay.
💡Tepid is an adjective, not a noun; it must modify a noun like response, reaction, or reception.