Synonyms of low

low 1 of 3

adjective

ˈlō 

1

as in tropical

being near the equator

we took a cruise to the low northern latitudes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tropical
• subtropical
• equatorial
• semitropical

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• polar
• temperate

2

as in primitive

belonging to or characteristic of an early level of skill or development

once considered the latest thing, electric typewriters now look like low technology indeed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• primitive
• rudimentary
• early
• basic
• simple
• crude
• obsolete
• old
• ancient
• rude
• uncomplicated
• unsophisticated
• antiquated
• homely
• primordial
• past
• antique
• primeval
• underdeveloped
• embryonic
• undeveloped
• backward
• aged
• out-of-date
• old-fashioned
• quaint
• hoary
• homespun
• old-time
• dated
• outworn
• antediluvian
• unmodernized
• musty
• oldfangled
• fusty
• passé

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• high
• higher
• late
• advanced
• evolved
• developed
• complex
• complicated
• sophisticated
• intricate
• involved
• grown
• ripe
• mature
• matured
• current
• perfected
• ripened
• new
• civilized
• modern
• enlightened
• cultivated
• refined
• contemporary
• latest
• full-blown
• now
• present-day
• novel
• up-to-date
• modernistic
• state-of-the-art
• newfangled
• mod
• ultramodern
• supermodern
• new-fashioned
• space-age

3

as in humble

belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank

people, both high and low, have been worshipping in this cathedral for centuries

Synonyms & Similar Words

• humble
• inferior
• common
• poor
• lowly
• lower-class
• ignoble
• vulgar
• plebeian
• unwashed
• simple
• lumpen
• proletarian
• low-life
• mean
• prole
• lowborn
• middle-class
• bourgeois
• baseborn
• plain
• working-class
• downscale
• down-market
• déclassé

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• high
• great
• gentle
• lofty
• aristocratic
• noble
• grand
• upper-class
• genteel
• patrician
• prominent
• upper-crust
• eminent
• highborn
• notable
• highbred
• wellborn
• illustrious
• blue-blooded

4

as in depressed

feeling unhappiness

I was feeling low, and wanted to do something exciting to cheer myself up

Synonyms & Similar Words

• depressed
• unhappy
• sad
• miserable
• bad
• heartbroken
• melancholy
• upset
• sorry
• worried
• down
• disappointed
• mournful
• uneasy
• blue
• woeful
• hopeless
• sorrowful
• troubled
• gloomy
• dejected
• disconsolate
• doleful
• depressing
• melancholic
• downcast
• droopy
• woebegone
• joyless
• hangdog
• glum
• forlorn
• brokenhearted
• wretched
• suicidal
• crestfallen
• distressed
• inconsolable
• sunk
• down in the mouth
• heartsick
• despondent
• saddened
• discouraged
• low-spirited
• downhearted
• cast down
• heavyhearted
• despairing
• tearful
• aggrieved
• grieving
• bleak
• unquiet
• heartsore
• somber
• dismal
• dispirited
• weeping
• lugubrious
• morbid
• dark
• desolate
• gray
• plaintive
• sullen
• black
• anguished
• disheartened
• wailing
• dolorous
• regretful
• lachrymose
• darkening
• cheerless
• rueful
• agonized
• morose
• saturnine
• dreary
• murky
• elegiac
• comfortless
• drear
• funereal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cheerful
• buoyant
• sunny
• happy
• joyous
• joyful
• buoyed
• blissful
• exuberant
• glad
• upbeat
• cheery
• gleeful
• jubilant
• rapturous
• ecstatic
• euphoric
• jolly
• exultant
• delighted
• merry
• chipper
• jovial
• optimistic
• blithe
• rhapsodic
• jocular
• excited
• enraptured
• mirthful
• rosy
• hopeful
• vital
• jocose
• sanguine
• energetic
• bouncing
• content
• spirited
• lively
• perky
• elated
• blithesome
• gladsome
• satisfied
• vivacious
• exhilarated
• overjoyed
• peppy
• frisky
• jocund
• sprightly
• smiling
• gladdened
• laughing
• jaunty
• animated
• lightsome
• encouraged
• springy
• entranced
• careless
• zippy
• unconcerned
• pleased
• carefree
• thrilled
• easygoing
• gratified
• boon
• lighthearted
• cavalier
• insouciant
• grinning
• sprightful
• heartened
• beaming
• happy-go-lucky
• devil-may-care

5

as in deep

having a low musical pitch or range

the tuba's low notes made the floor vibrate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deep
• bass
• grave
• throaty
• smoky
• hoarse
• husky
• rough
• gruff
• boomy
• tubby

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• high
• acute
• shrill
• sharp
• treble
• thin
• squeaky
• high-pitched
• penetrating
• piping
• strident
• piercing
• squealing
• squeaking
• tinny
• earsplitting
• peeping

6

as in short

having relatively little height

the low hedge surrounding the garden wasn't meant to keep anything out, just to look pretty

Synonyms & Similar Words

• short
• little
• small
• low-lying
• slight
• tiny
• low-slung
• dwarf
• sawed-off
• compact
• diminutive
• smallish
• dwarfish
• flat
• puny
• petite
• pocket
• minimized
• miniature
• bitty
• dumpy
• squat
• undersized
• mini
• dinky
• stubby
• wee
• scrubby
• stumpy
• pocket-size
• stunted
• pygmy
• half-pint
• teeny
• squatty
• minute
• bantam
• pint-size
• teeny-weeny

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• high
• tall
• lofty
• lifted
• elevated
• towering
• raised
• uplifted
• large
• high-rise
• statuesque
• altitudinous
• upswept
• lanky
• big
• sizable
• bulky
• rangy
• hefty
• voluminous
• oversize
• outsize
• largish
• gangling
• gangly
• hulking

7

as in weak

lacking bodily strength

the weeklong bout of chicken pox laid her low

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weak
• weakened
• feeble
• frail
• disabled
• faint
• soft
• slight
• softened
• wasted
• paralyzed
• wimpy
• languid
• debilitated
• tired
• vulnerable
• enfeebled
• unsubstantial
• infirm
• asthenic
• exhausted
• prostrate
• delicate
• injured
• tender
• down-and-out
• fragile
• effete
• sapped
• incapacitated
• weary
• wimpish
• enervated
• invalid
• prostrated
• drained
• unsteady
• rocky
• susceptible
• dizzy
• decrepit
• impaired
• flimsy
• damaged
• hurt
• impotent
• powerless
• breakable
• groggy
• flagging
• woozy
• yielding
• broken-down
• resistless
• unsound
• unresistant
• worn-out
• harmed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strong
• powerful
• mighty
• rugged
• robust
• hard
• stout
• muscular
• athletic
• fit
• tough
• stalwart
• sturdy
• beefy
• husky
• virile
• sinewy
• hardy
• brawny
• lusty
• vigorous
• energetic
• healthy
• hardened
• able-bodied
• sound
• strengthened
• fortified
• capable
• competent
• strapping
• energized
• hale
• recovering
• toughened
• red-blooded
• inured
• vitalized
• invigorated
• recuperating
• convalescing

8

as in crass

lacking in refinement or good taste

jokes about toilets are generally considered low humor

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crass
• vulgar
• rude
• common
• coarse
• crude
• gross
• rough
• lowbrow
• rugged
• clumsy
• unpolished
• unrefined
• uncultivated
• raffish
• uncultured
• uncouth
• tasteless
• rough-hewn
• insensible
• incult
• lowbred
• illiberal
• roughneck
• rustic
• ill-bred
• insensitive
• unsophisticated
• ungentlemanly
• boorish
• provincial
• churlish
• inconsiderate
• clownish
• lumpish
• cloddish
• thoughtless
• loutish
• indelicate
• tacky
• lubberly
• countrified
• inelegant
• oafish
• barbarous
• uncivilized
• barbaric
• unmannered
• unmannerly
• graceless
• animallike
• mannerless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• smooth
• civilized
• polished
• cultured
• refined
• cultivated
• aristocratic
• genteel
• tasteful
• sensitive
• elegant
• graceful
• patrician
• restrained
• courtly
• well-bred
• ultrarefined
• gracious
• sophisticated
• considerate
• thoughtful
• urbane
• citified

9

as in dirty

not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency

low tactics of that sort will not be tolerated on this hockey team

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dirty
• nasty
• vile
• immoral
• bad
• base
• cruel
• vicious
• corrupt
• paltry
• ignominious
• ignoble
• low-down
• contemptible
• detestable
• mean
• sordid
• dishonorable
• snide
• wretched
• despicable
• evil
• execrable
• wrong
• low-minded
• wicked
• currish
• foul
• iniquitous
• degenerate
• miscreant
• debased
• atrocious
• depraved
• dissolute
• unscrupulous
• perverted
• unworthy
• villainous
• debauched
• censurable
• reprehensible
• shameful
• disgraceful
• unethical
• unprincipled
• disreputable
• blameworthy
• blamable
• discreditable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• high
• straight
• lofty
• noble
• honorable
• upright
• virtuous
• venerable
• excellent
• ethical
• good
• honest
• moral
• right
• just
• righteous
• scrupulous
• proper
• principled
• decent
• exemplary
• respectable
• commendable
• high-minded
• reputable
• blameless
• guiltless
• right-minded
• incorruptible
• seemly
• irreproachable
• unerring
• uncorrupted

10

as in gentle

not loud in pitch or volume

murmured her answer in a low voice

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gentle
• quiet
• soft
• hushed
• dull
• silent
• muffled
• soothing
• still
• calm
• serene
• dead
• restful
• tranquil
• dreamy
• muted
• peaceful
• softened
• toned (down)
• stilly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loud
• booming
• thunderous
• sonorous
• roaring
• ringing
• clamorous
• stentorian
• blasting
• deafening
• crashing
• piercing
• thundering
• earsplitting
• noisy
• blaring
• resounding
• vociferous
• raucous
• brazen
• discordant
• clangorous
• shrill
• harsh
• obstreperous
• plangent
• overloud
• strident
• clear
• grating
• rip-roaring
• dinning
• squealing
• trumpetlike
• clarion

11

as in reasonable

costing little

gas is low right now, but prices will inevitably rise this summer, when people start driving more

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reasonable
• inexpensive
• cheap
• affordable
• low-end
• popular
• budget
• dirt cheap
• lowered
• reduced
• cheapie
• chintzy
• cheapo
• dime-store
• moderate
• cut-price
• discounted
• discount
• cut-rate
• worthless
• bargain-basement
• el cheapo
• wholesale
• cheapish
• valueless
• fire-sale
• ultracheap
• supercheap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• high
• expensive
• valuable
• costly
• dear
• precious
• premium
• pricey
• increased
• deluxe
• inflated
• steep
• unreasonable
• exorbitant
• prohibitive
• spendy
• extravagant
• stiff
• high-ticket
• invaluable
• priceless
• overpriced
• luxurious
• prohibitory
• superexpensive
• ultraexpensive

12

as in lower

of, relating to, or located at the bottom

currently enjoys a low standing in the polls

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lower
• bottom
• lowermost
• rock-bottom
• undermost
• lowered
• nethermost
• low-grade
• under
• below
• bottommost
• nether
• lowly
• low-lying
• sunken

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• highest
• higher
• top
• upper
• uppermost
• topmost
• loftiest
• loftier
• lifted
• upmost
• elevated
• raised
• heightened
• uplifted
• upraised
• escalated
• jacked (up)

13

as in lacking

not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need

levels for school volunteers remain low, at least compared to what was expected

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lacking
• insufficient
• scarce
• inadequate
• short
• deficient
• unacceptable
• wanting
• shy
• sparse
• unsatisfactory
• minimum
• meager
• substandard
• lean
• scant
• scanty
• poor
• mere
• slender
• skimpy
• small
• stingy
• slim
• light
• spare
• skimp
• hand-to-mouth
• bare
• slight

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adequate
• sufficient
• enough
• abundant
• plentiful
• generous
• ample
• liberal
• copious
• bountiful
• plenteous
• bounteous
• satisfactory
• enlarged
• large
• tolerable
• expanded
• rich
• considerable
• supplemented
• overflowing
• substantial
• super
• big
• plenitudinous
• lavish
• sizable
• hefty
• teeming
• luxuriant
• oversize
• jumbo
• abounding
• largish
• king-size

14

as in fallen

no longer living

thousands of the elderly were laid low by the deadly strain of flu

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fallen
• dead
• late
• deceased
• cold
• extinct
• gone
• lifeless
• asleep
• dying
• departed
• defunct
• breathless
• demised
• fading
• bitten the dust
• moribund
• terminated
• lapsed
• finished
• inanimate
• stillborn
• insensate
• nonliving

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• quick
• live
• breathing
• alive
• living
• going
• dynamic
• vital
• active
• lively
• functioning
• vibrant
• operative
• animate
• animated
• thriving
• vivacious
• running

low

2 of 3

noun

as in bay

Related Words

• bay
• bellow
• squeak
• grunt
• cheep
• whinny
• screech
• howl
• roar
• squeal
• squawk
• neigh
• blat
• bark
• quack
• chirp
• trumpet
• yelp
• croak
• calling
• cluck
• bleat
• crake
• moo
• peep
• squall
• cackle
• coo
• yowl
• honk
• crow
• caw
• caterwaul
• bray
• yip
• meow
• hoot
• mew
• oink
• twitter
• yap
• tu-whit tu-whoo
• cry
• call
• note

low

3 of 3

adverb

as in down

Related Words

• down
• downward
• below
• over
• downhill
• downstairs
• downgrade
• facedown

Dissimilar Words

• up
• upward
• upwardly
• aloft

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective low contrast with its synonyms?

The words base and vile are common synonyms of low. While all three words mean "deserving of contempt because of the absence of higher values," low may connote crafty cunning, vulgarity, or immorality and regularly implies an outraging of one's sense of decency or propriety.

refused to listen to such low talk

When could base be used to replace low?

While the synonyms base and low are close in meaning, base stresses the ignoble and may suggest cruelty, treachery, greed, or grossness.

base motives

When can vile be used instead of low?

Although the words vile and low have much in common, vile, the strongest of these words, tends to suggest disgusting depravity or filth.

a vile remark

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of low

Adjective

In a Reddit post, the man shared that his girlfriend knew about his plan to lay low for weeks. —Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025

Now, as falls turns to winter, some states are warning that funding for low-income heating aid is being delayed because of the federal government shutdown. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025

Noun

Because this is actually setting a new low compared to 20 years ago. —ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025

The Census Bureau calculates that since Newsom took office, new housing permits in California ranged from a high of 120,780 units in 2022 to a low of 101,546 last year. —Dan Walters, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025

Adverb

As the sun dropped low over the golden fields, Vande Kolk pulled into his driveway. —Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025

The game marked the first time this season the Warriors were without any of Curry (illness), Butler (low back) or Green (ribs). —Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025

Phrases Containing low

• high and low
• lie low