Synonyms of mean
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as in to signify 
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as in to matter
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as in to intend
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as in to indicate
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as in middle
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as in doing
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as in ministry
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as in worth
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as in average
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as in low
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as in stingy
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as in cruel
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as in dirty
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as in inferior
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as in awesome
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as in dilapidated
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as in lame
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1
as in to signify
to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind
the national anthem means various things to various people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to matter
to be of importance
your presence at my graduation would mean a lot to me
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3
as in to intend
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
I mean to win this race
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1
as in middle
a middle point between extremes
that candidate's moderate views were seen as the mean that voters were looking for
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2
as in doing
means plural
an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result
won the competition by fair and honest means
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3
as in ministry
means plural
something used to achieve an end
the ends don't justify the means
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4
as in worth
means plural
the total of one's money and property
a woman of considerable means
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in average
being about midway between extremes of amount or size
for the state of Florida, what is the mean number of sunny days per month?
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in low
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank
Alexander Hamilton seems to have had feelings of inferiority because of his mean origins
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2
as in stingy
giving or sharing as little as possible
a mean child who hoarded all her toys
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3
as in cruel
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
a mean, embittered old woman who wanted company for her misery
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4
as in dirty
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency
a mean trick to play on a trusting person
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5
as in inferior
of little or less value or merit
it's no mean feat to memorize that long poem
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6
as in awesome
of the very best kind
I'm a mean dancer, so you could do worse than go to the prom with me
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7
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
he worked hard to escape the mean neighborhood of his youth
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8
as in lame
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
that was no mean stunt to pull off, especially with so little advance preparation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mean
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
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
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
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
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Today's the beginning of the Dry January campaign, signified by the color yellow.—
Maria Leontaras,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
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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
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Small is beautiful, and these local Prides matter deeply.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
8 July 2025
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And in this moment, as history repeats and borders tighten, that pride matters more than ever.—
Daisy Maldonado,
Vogue,
8 July 2025
Verb
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However, Hwang never intended that to be the message.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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Every one of his 70-odd dishes is intended to complement drink, not the other way around.—
Derek Sandhaus,
Saveur,
10 July 2025
Verb
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So far, there's nothing to indicate any criminality Carl DeFazio, formerly of the NYPD, was brought on as the private investigator in the case.—
July 5,
CBS News,
5 July 2025
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Look for the first hints of color change to indicate a tomato is ready to harvest.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
5 July 2025
Noun
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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
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According to the weather service, light snow is possible during the middle of the week, but better chances arrive from a system moving through Friday into Saturday.—
Erin Couch,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Both prevailed, and went on to receive billions of dollars’ worth of federal contracts, clearing the way for others.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
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Police arrested a man who allegedly tried to carry almost $3 million worth of drugs in his suitcase in Atlanta.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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