so-so

1 of 2

adverb

ˈsō-ˈsō 

: moderately well : tolerably

so-so

2 of 2

adjective

: neither very good nor very bad : middling

a so-so performance

Synonyms of so-so

Adverb

• good
• fine
• alright
• nicely
• well

Adjective

• decent
• mediocre
• satisfactory
• middling
• medium
• ordinary
• passable
• indifferent

Examples of so-so in a Sentence

Adverb

I think I did so-so on the test

Adjective

a so-so production of a great play

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

The question will be whether Graves, who played center in college, can overcome his smaller frame and so-so athleticism. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 23 June 2026

The right shot can truly take an item from so-so to incredible looking in no time. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 22 June 2026

Adjective

Moreover, the battery life is lacking, the camera is so-so, and the speaker isn't great for listening to calls or media. — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026

The results are only so-so as Tony Stark tussles with PTSD, criminally underused antagonist Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and yawn-worthy villain Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce). — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1542, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for so-so

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

so-so

1 of 2 adverb

ˈsō-ˈsō

: fairly well : tolerably, passably

played the violin only so-so

so-so

2 of 2 adjective

: neither very good nor very bad

a so-so performance