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mean

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noun

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as in middle
a middle point between extremes that candidate's moderate views were seen as the mean that voters were looking for

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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adjective (1)

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adjective (2)

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word mean distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of mean are average, median, and norm. While all these words mean "something that represents a middle point," mean may be the simple average or it may represent value midway between two extremes.

a high of 70° and a low of 50° give a mean of 60°

In what contexts can average take the place of mean?

Although the words average and mean have much in common, average is the quotient obtained by dividing the sum total of a set of figures by the number of figures.

scored an average of 85 on tests

When could median be used to replace mean?

While the synonyms median and mean are close in meaning, median applies to the value that represents the point at which there are as many instances above as there are below.

average of a group of persons earning 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10 dollars an hour is 6 dollars, whereas the median is 5 dollars

When is it sensible to use norm instead of mean?

The words norm and mean can be used in similar contexts, but norm means the average of performance of a significantly large group, class, or grade.

scores about the norm for fifth grade arithmetic

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mean
Verb
This means their blood sugar rises quickly after eating, and sometimes plummets below their baseline hours later. Brittney Melton, NPR, 7 July 2025 That means Skenes, who was chosen for the July 15 All-Star Game, won’t be available to pitch this week when the Pirates face the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City Star, 7 July 2025
Noun
Even in relatively small major-league stadiums, Rosner said, selling out means bringing 2.5 million people through the turnstiles each year. Sacbee.com, 10 July 2025 Her administration has not shared the exact locations of emergency shelters housing migrants and local families, but some have been confirmed through other means. Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald, 9 July 2025
Adjective
The apes also spent a mean total of 76 minutes napping each day, over 1-2 different nests and multiple bouts of rest. Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 25 June 2025 Yosemite Hospitality's overall rating is mean to identify the areas needed for improvement, and NPS did not state if the contract would be terminated. Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for mean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mean
Verb
  • Today's the beginning of the Dry January campaign, signified by the color yellow.
    Maria Leontaras, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
  • Its streamlined profile, outsole made for smooth transitions (courtesy of the segmented crash pad), and midsole that adapts to your unique speed and stride are all elements that signify the brand’s devotion to high-quality craftsmanship.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Small is beautiful, and these local Prides matter deeply.
    Josh Rivera, USA Today, 8 July 2025
  • Check out this comprehensive list of the only 15 Prime Day deals that matter.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • The pop culture phenomenon features documentaries, educational programming and entertainment shows intended to celebrate and explore the biology, behavior and importance of sharks within marine ecosystems.
    Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 10 July 2025
  • The playwrights intended the drama as an allegorical parable for the age shaped by Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy.
    Time, Time, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Currently, there is no data indicating the containment progress of the fire and its cause has yet to be determined.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2025
  • All signs indicate that the theme of this summer is staying in, and the wine bar trend taking over TikTok right now confirms it.
    Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • The Marlins tacked on another run in the third as Sánchez ripped a single up the middle to score Edwards, who reached on an infield hit and stole second.
    Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 3 July 2025
  • Her ring was massive, crossing over her ring finger to cover her middle and pinky.
    Simon Turner, Vogue, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • The three Republican senators and two GOP members who voted against the legislation weren't Musk's doing.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 10 July 2025
  • My firing from the band and the subsequent trials and tribulations caused by the actions of the band’s management and the band’s old label that made things challenging for me weren’t completely my doing.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • Israel's subsequent military assault has killed more than 56,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry, has displaced almost the entire 2.3 million population and plunged the enclave into a humanitarian crisis.
    USA Today, USA Today, 1 July 2025
  • Last year, a record 221 high, middle, and elementary school students took their own lives—seven more than the previous year and more than twice as many as in 2015, according to a new education ministry survey reported by Yonhap News Agency.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • With Venus retrograde in Aries starting on March 1 and affecting your career and outward expression, old insecurities about your worth and ambitions may surface.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2025
  • The bricks contained a whopping $500,000 worth of cocaine, police said.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

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