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 cruel
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as in dirty
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as in low
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as in stingy
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as in inferior
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as in great
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as in dilapidated
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as in lame
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as in average
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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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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 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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2
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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3
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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4
as in stingy
giving or sharing as little as possible
a mean child who hoarded all her toys
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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 great
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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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 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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mean
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
30 June 2026
But in strictly applying the judge’s order, the department is now striking some degrees from the list of professional programs, meaning those students will face lower loan limits.
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Collin Binkley,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
Does this mean producers will do it again with another former player?
—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 June 2026
Jordana Rosenfeld,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 June 2026
None of these senior members of this genocidal regime are good guys, by any means.
—
CBS News,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mean
Verb
Right now, that means giving his full attention to a private family health matter.
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Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
30 June 2026
But in strictly applying the judge’s order, the department is now striking some degrees from the list of professional programs, meaning those students will face lower loan limits.
—
Collin Binkley,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
Adjective
There may have been worse Casa Amor behavior in the history of Love Island, but this outing is feeling especially mean-spirited.
—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
Does this mean producers will do it again with another former player?
—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 June 2026
Noun
She is portrayed as a morally correct foil to Dexter, seeking to bring serial killers to justice through lawful means.
—
Jordana Rosenfeld,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 June 2026
None of these senior members of this genocidal regime are good guys, by any means.
—
CBS News,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for mean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mean
Verb
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Choice, vital for full-time employees, signifies agency and internal mobility, a dimension leaders often neglect.
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Democrats may be looking at a different kind of red wave this year based on Tuesday night’s primary results, a throwback to when the color red signified not the Republican Party, but socialism.
Verb
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Your curious mind sees possibilities, yet a course fee, trip idea, or upgrade may clash with your budget, so compare options patiently and decide what matters now.
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The game’s meaninglessness didn’t matter to the raucous sellout crowd that packed SoFi Stadium.
Verb
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Key to watch for will be how a new government intends to tackle Britain's debt burden and revive sluggish growth without driving borrowing costs even higher.
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While these drugs can be life-changing for many people, they are not always intended to be permanent.
Verb
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It is stored in an inactive form in cells such as the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and immune system—acting as the body’s reserve bank, indicating how much iron is available for future use.
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An original call for service indicated that suspects pulled up to a CBS media vehicle and began shouting racial obscenities at a CBS cameraman who is Black, a law enforcement source said.
Adjective
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Swift moved on from one Brit to the next, quietly dating actor Joe Alwyn from 2017 to 2023, while the world spent back-to-back cruel summers without Taymerica.
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This is particularly gratifying given the absurd and cruel trolling the young actress received from the toxic corners of internet fandom leading up to the film’s release.
Adjective
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Most notably, though, is its easy-to-clean material, which one flight attendant appreciates when up against dirty baggage claims and surprise spills.
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Crafted with Grey Goose vodka and Carpano Dry Vermouth, the cocktail is prepared to each guest’s preference—whether dry, dirty, extra dirty, shaken or stirred—from the restaurant’s signature martini cart.
Adjective
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Those groups also have lower access to drugs that can stop the transmission of HIV.
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Last winter was the second-warmest on record, according to the city’s ordinance, with record low snowpack almost everywhere.
Adjective
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Across 15 tracks, the rapper and producer get to work making their first proper body of work together as memorable as expected, delving into relationship mishaps, selfish tendencies, and the absurdist comedy that is real life.
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Politics, Lander said, didn’t have to be a selfish endeavor driven by ego.
Cite this Entry
“Mean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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