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
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Recent Examples of mean
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
Of course, fewer people can also mean fewer opportunities for the next generation of aspiring leaders.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
At first glance, things may look severe, but that has not been corroborated by any means.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
Even if it’s artfully made and grippingly acted — 9m88 and Chiu are convincing as two of the meanest parents ever seen in an arthouse movie — Girl can be a tedious exercise to sit through, especially in its early sections.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mean
Verb
Even if the days are still warm, the arrival of chrysanthemums at garden centers means fall is one step closer.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
Of course, fewer people can also mean fewer opportunities for the next generation of aspiring leaders.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
Unlike other bird species whose population sizes are regulated largely by natural forces — such as food availability, predators or constraints in their habitats — chickens are bred and multiplied by the billions by means of global agricultural industries.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
At first glance, things may look severe, but that has not been corroborated by any means.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The mean first frost date in the city is September 20, based on data between 1991 and 2020, according to the NWS.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
Even if it’s artfully made and grippingly acted — 9m88 and Chiu are convincing as two of the meanest parents ever seen in an arthouse movie — Girl can be a tedious exercise to sit through, especially in its early sections.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mean
Verb
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This public vitriol signifies a point of no return.—
Khaled Hassan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
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The women of #MomTok have been in high demand, and Paul’s leading Bachelorette status further signifies that.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
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It’s been several years since a September Red Sox/Yankees series mattered as much as this one.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Despite lacking any legal education or experience, Routh dismissed his lawyers earlier this year and intends to defend himself at trial.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
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It is not intended as legal, financial, medical, or professional advice.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And many Democrats, who polls indicate still believe in Russiagate in significant numbers, likely clapped.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Remember that cognitive difficulty often signals growth, just as physical soreness after exercise indicates muscle development.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Moore attempted to catch a pass from quarterback Caleb Wiliams over the middle of the field, when he was pulled down by defenders.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
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The swells will continue to build and increase along east-facing shorelines through the middle of the week, the hurricane center warned.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Maybe that's also what Apple's doing.—
Alex Harrington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
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Fueled by journalism that informs and inspires, Forbes spotlights the doers and doings shaping industries, achieving success and making an impact on the world.—
Forbes Press Releases,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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India’s ministries for environment protection and tribal welfare have already acquiesced to the project.—
M. Rajshekhar,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
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Cho, the foreign minister, and Rubio discussed potentially creating new visa categories for South Korean workers during their meeting on Wednesday, according to a readout from the South Korean foreign ministry.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Collectively their net worth soared 23% to a record level of $239 billion, in a year when the nation is celebrating its 60th anniversary.—
Naazneen Karmali,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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For Georgia Southern, the trip to California – with a loss at Fresno State last week and a week’s worth of practices at the Dallas Cowboys’ training camp in Oxnard before Saturday’s appointment in the Coliseum – was a good test before the Eagles begin Sun Belt Conference play.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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