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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
Honda Five- and Seven-Seat EV SUV Died July 2025
This month, Honda reportedly nixed a new EV series meant to hit the roads starting in 2026.
—Aarian Marshall, Wired News, 19 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
Greta Cross, USA Today, 6 July 2025
In the United Kingdom, the national weather service said last month's mean temperature of 16.9 C (62°F) was the second warmest June recorded in the country since record keeping began in 1884.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC news, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for mean
Verb
Of course, this doesn’t mean that appreciation is the ultimate solution for relational inequity — both partners actively stepping up to do their bit is.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
Honda Five- and Seven-Seat EV SUV Died July 2025
This month, Honda reportedly nixed a new EV series meant to hit the roads starting in 2026.
—Aarian Marshall, Wired News, 19 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 series of short social media videos follows Chit, a slightly awkward and slightly hunched office worker who sports a mean bowl cut and Jeffrey Dahmer-style glasses.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 6 July 2025
In the United Kingdom, the national weather service said last month's mean temperature of 16.9 C (62°F) was the second warmest June recorded in the country since record keeping began in 1884.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC news, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for mean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mean
Verb
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In 1925, the Buckeyes and Fighting Illini chose a live turtle to signify their long-lasting spirit of competition.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
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For the last four-quarter period, AES's Net Income was $1.3 billion – signifying a moderate Net Income Margin of 10.7% (compared to 11.6% for the S&P 500) How Stable is AES Financially?—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Verb
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The Office of the Federal Public Defender in Little Rock, which just celebrated 30 years, is looking to the future with a mixture of trepidation and optimism as the offices around... Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 July 2025
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In volatile environments, learning velocity matters more than any specific knowledge or skill set.—
Tarun Galagali,
Forbes.com,
20 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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These too likely indicate financial stress and may rebound in the next year or two.—
Jamie Gold,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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That could change, however, if the work stoppage continues for several more days, officials indicated during a special City Council meeting Monday.—
Tammy Murga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 July 2025
Noun
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Carlson aims to aid the Chicago White Sox up the middle in the future after being selected by the team with the No. 10 pick in the 2025 MLB draft on Sunday.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
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Gomber got the dangerous De La Cruz to ground into a fielder’s choice, but Austin Hayes drove an RBI single up the middle to score Friedl, tying the game 2-2.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
13 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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China: Coercion Cannot Solve Ukraine War Lin Jian, spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said at a press briefing on Tuesday, July 15, that Beijing's position on ending the Ukraine war has been consistent and clear, and that it can only be achieved through dialogue and negotiation.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
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Discussions about his health were later banned in the media, with the Cameroon interior ministry declaring it a national security matter.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
14 July 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Mean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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