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 careful
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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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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 careful
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
PC Magazine, 20 May 2025
This time, that means 78 high-wattage jewels and watches.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 20 May 2025
Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 9 May 2025
Chainalysis notes that regions like Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa are embracing USD stablecoins as a hedge against local monetary instability, offering a more reliable means of transacting and preserving value.
—Lawrence Wintermeyer, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 5 May 2025
Their giant, phony smiles reminded me of dolphins circling their prey and their mean laughter is blended into the sound of cackling birds.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mean
Verb
Enterprise subscribers can negotiate premier support as part of their plans, but this still means phone support only between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. PT.
—PC Magazine, 20 May 2025
This time, that means 78 high-wattage jewels and watches.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 20 May 2025
Noun
The short story was inspired by the ancient folkloric legend of the Golem, an anthropomorphic being usually made from clay or mud, brought to life by magical means to serve its creator.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 9 May 2025
Chainalysis notes that regions like Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa are embracing USD stablecoins as a hedge against local monetary instability, offering a more reliable means of transacting and preserving value.
—Lawrence Wintermeyer, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
Adjective
Right after, Order 66 kicks off with Anakin (now Darth Vader) murdering Jocasta Nu (the mean Jedi library lady) in cold blood.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 5 May 2025
Their giant, phony smiles reminded me of dolphins circling their prey and their mean laughter is blended into the sound of cackling birds.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mean
Verb
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Also present is what would become Autopia, signifying that Disneyland in late 1953 had many of its early attractions solidified.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2025
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The skyscraper signifies an important urban developmental stage, as defined by Brian J. Godfrey, a scholar of urban studies.—
Ashley Gardini,
JSTOR Daily,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Neal Earley,
Arkansas Online,
22 May 2025
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Giving both money and time to causes and people that matter to you can also help those who identify with this script.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
21 May 2025
Verb
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What was intended to be a private moment became a raw, honest portrayal of the bittersweet reality of being far from home.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
11 May 2025
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The organization instead touted the 5K for Kirk, an alternative race intended to raise funds for the deputy and his family.—
Keri Blakinger,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2025
Verb
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If most discussions are dominated by a few voices, or if disagreement is rare, that may indicate low psychological safety—regardless of what survey responses say.—
Cynthia Pong,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
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As reported by First Post, official electoral data indicates a high turnout, with over 4.6 million people, or 25 per cent of eligible voters, voting by noon local time in Romania's election.—
Emma Marsden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 May 2025
Noun
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Sporting a military-style hooded jacket and baseball cap, Eminem joined Jelly Roll in loping down a ramp that led to the middle of the stadium floor, mugging for each other and for the video camera.—
Gary Graff,
Billboard,
19 May 2025
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The 6-foot-5 left-handed hitter and thrower could be a dangerous addition to the middle of the Royals’ lineup later this year.—
Melissa Lockard,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
Noun
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Which is just a reminder that every action of Mark Zuckerberg and Meta, including the name Meta, reveals the doings of a business that was never a monopoly, and that never saw itself as one. Follow me on Twitter.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
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This is easier said than done—even under fire, there are bags of gear to be packed up and exit protocols to be adhered to—and part of the point is that, in most movies, the doing looks much too effortless.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Hospitals across Gaza reported that more than 140 people were killed on Friday alone, according to the health ministry in the territory, which added that some casualties were still believed to be trapped under the rubble of airstrikes.—
Aaron Boxerman,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
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The net inflows were the largest for a calendar month since Japan’s finance ministry started collecting data in 1996, according to Morningstar.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
16 May 2025
Noun
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Last week, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in the Oval Office that, as part of a larger agreement on a trade framework, a British airline has agreed to purchase $10 billion worth of Boeing jets.—
Juliana Liu,
CNN Money,
15 May 2025
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It’s made with a deeper capacity that the brand claims can hold more than three weeks’ worth of stuff.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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