Word: tepid

Associations

Tepid means something that is lukewarm or only slightly warm. It can also refer to a lack of enthusiasm or intensity.

• You might use 'tepid' when describing a drink that should be served cold but has warmed up. For example, "The tea was tepid and not refreshing at all."
• It can describe someone's interest as well, such as in the sentence, "His response to the project was tepid, showing he wasn't very excited about it."
• You could also say, "The audience's tepid applause suggested they didn’t enjoy the performance," meaning the applause was not very enthusiastic.

A well-known synonym for tepid is "lukewarm." However, "lukewarm" is generally used for temperature, while "tepid" can also describe emotional reactions, like indifference.

Substitution

If you want to express a similar idea, you could use:

• "lukewarm" when referring specifically to temperature. For example, "The soup was lukewarm."
• "disinterested" or "unenthusiastic" to describe a lack of excitement. For example, instead of saying, "His performance was tepid," you could say, "His performance was unenthusiastic."
• "mediocre" can also fit when describing something that is of moderate quality. For instance, "The movie received tepid reviews," could be replaced with "The movie received mediocre reviews."

Deconstruction

The word 'tepid' comes from the Latin root "tepidus," meaning "lukewarm." There is no prefix or suffix in 'tepid,' making it a simple word. Historically, it has been used in English since the 15th century to describe temperature but has broadened to express a lack of intensity as well.

Inquiry

• In what situations have you felt a 'tepid' reaction from yourself or others?
• Can you think of a food or drink that you would describe as 'tepid'? Why did you feel that way about it?
• How would you express 'tepid' in terms of someone’s enthusiasm for a project? What would that look like?