low-grade

adjective

ˈlō-ˈgrād 

1

: of inferior grade or quality

2

: being near that extreme of a specified range which is lowest, least intense, least serious, or least competent

a low-grade fever

a low-grade infection

Synonyms of low-grade

• cheap
• inferior
• poor
• terrible
• coarse
• bad
• rotten
• common

Examples of low-grade in a Sentence

plumbing fixtures that were made out of low-grade materials

Recent Examples on the Web

If ingested, the worms can cause severe headaches, stiff neck, the sensation of tingling or painful skin, low-grade fever, nausea, vomiting, coma and sometimes death. —Susanne Rust follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026

Day One’s Ojemda is the only monotherapy approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat low-grade glioma, the most common childhood brian tumor. —Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026

Some kids may have only low-grade fever and mild swelling, and others may have no symptoms at all. —Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026

Our systems are built to respond to imminent danger, not to the chronic, low-grade trauma of siblings. —Debra Manetta, STAT, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for low-grade

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

low-grade

adjective

ˈlō-ˈgrād

1

: of poor grade or quality

2

: being near that end of a range which is lowest, weakest, or least able

a low-grade fever

Medical Definition

low-grade

adjective

ˈlō-ˈgrād 

: being near that extreme of a specified range which is lowest, least intense, or least competent

a low-grade fever

a low-grade infection

compare high-grade