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
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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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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of mean
Christopher F. Meindl, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
That tax break was worth up to $4,000 for used EVs (and $7,500 for new EVs) — meaning the average used EV cost less than its gasoline counterpart after incentives.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Andrew McGowan, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025
By all means, speak up and let these homophobic and xenophobic relatives know their posts have affected you.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
At a mean photon number of 11, the researchers measured bit-flip times ranging between 33 and 60 minutes at a 95 percent confidence interval.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mean
Verb
In shallow portions of springs and spring runs, this means thousands of happy feet trample and destroy vegetation.
—Christopher F. Meindl, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
That tax break was worth up to $4,000 for used EVs (and $7,500 for new EVs) — meaning the average used EV cost less than its gasoline counterpart after incentives.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
Meanwhile, the rise of technology and television — both of which play major roles in the book — has institutionalized the cinematic means that the revolution once weaponized.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025
By all means, speak up and let these homophobic and xenophobic relatives know their posts have affected you.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
While seven of the state’s nine members of the House voted for it, Moulton and Pressley, mean-spirited critics of Kirk, joined the 58 Democrats who voted against it.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
At a mean photon number of 11, the researchers measured bit-flip times ranging between 33 and 60 minutes at a 95 percent confidence interval.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mean
Verb
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Millais covered her body with flowers that signify love, pain, innocence, and faithfulness.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
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Some wear kittles, white burial shrouds, to signify repentance, according to History.—
Krys'tal Griffin,
Freep.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And always, the setting mattered.—
Dada Jovanovic,
ABC News,
28 Sep. 2025
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Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The proposal of a drone wall, which is particularly supported by Baltic and Eastern European states, is intended as both a deterrence and defensive barrier, as well as a way to pool resources to bolster Europe’s collective defense.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
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The outcome will help define the limits of executive discretion over funds Congress intended to be risk-based and politically neutral, with broad implications for federal-state relations and public safety.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Permits are invalid unless they are accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection from an accredited veterinarian indicating that the animal is free of disease.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
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Swift’s 149-show, five-continent expedition encapsulated a tsunami of emotions not just among her fans, but her own journey through a very public breakup, a fling and, as indicated by her engagement to Kelce, knee-buckling love.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The two massive tropical systems swirling off the Southeast coast are a stark reminder that the potential government shutdown looms during the middle of the Atlantic hurricane season.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
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The pair has currently scored 33/50 total, placing them towards the middle of the leaderboard.—
Latoya Gayle,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Some of that is their doing, but the bigger pieces of the blame pie belong to everyone else.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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The scrapbook wasn't her mother's doing, but rather the work of her older sister.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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More than 400 people have been arrested during the protests, according to Rachid El Khalfi, a spokesperson for the Moroccan interior ministry.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
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The Bavarian interior ministry described it as a dispute over paternity, German news agency dpa reported.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The buoyant stock market is propping up the net worth of the wealthy, fueling their own spending, which in turn has helped propel economic growth, Roach at LPL Financial said.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
28 Sep. 2025
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Gen Xers ages 45 to 54 had a median net worth of about $247,000 in 2022, according to the federal Survey of Consumer Finances.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
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