mediocre

adjective

ˌmē-dē-ˈō-kər How to pronounce mediocre (audio)
Definition of mediocrenext
1
as in decent
of average to below average quality your grades are mediocre and barely acceptable

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poor
of low quality mediocre carvings in a pseudo-African style that are sold to tourists

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mediocre Even at their best, Evero’s Panther defenses were mediocre statistically. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2026 One Philly Mortgage is a new program in which first-time home buyers with mediocre credit will be able to get a 30-year mortgage partially backed by the city. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2026 But, as part of a meticulous reconstruction of a type of eatery known for mediocre food, does its badness actually count as a mark of success? — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026 Roan also adds an new verse to the song, slightly changing the lyrics to reference a mediocre female suitor alongside Rodrigo’s original lines. — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mediocre
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mediocre
  1. decent
  2. poor
  3. satisfactory
  4. terrible
  5. middling
  6. cheap
  7. ordinary
  8. inferior
Adjective
  • Motorists were able to get around alright within individual cities and towns, but there was no decent network connecting them.
    — Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The defense is elite, the team has a decent schedule, and the offense is ranked 12th in the NFL in yards per game.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of decent
Adjective
  • Nearby residents have argued that the large apartment complex will be a poor fit for their neighborhood, citing concerns about traffic congestion and fire department access, among other things.
    — Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The Lions’ high-flying offense is at its best on turf, not nearly as fast on grass, and their poor red zone defense has been an issue.
    — Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • Why not, then, return to 2016 spending amounts which seemed satisfactory at the time?
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Harriot quickly found a convenient formula for how many were arranged in a square pyramid based on the number in the bottom row and was able to present Raleigh with a satisfactory solution.
    — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of satisfactory
Adjective
  • The bat lay on its back, soggy and wretched, here in the waning hours of this terrible day.
    — Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
  • An ugly fight between teammates during training camp was a terrible start to a season that officially began with a loss against North Carolina, a game in Dublin that TCU essentially sold, against the desires of Dykes.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • The Signature 27 is a new take on flagship smartphones from Motorola, leaving behind the middling legacy of the Edge series.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The middling sound quality and ANC are disappointing, if not unexpected at such a low price.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of middling
Adjective
  • For context, the 27-inch ELF-SR2 sells for around ¥550,000 in Japan, so this is a dramatically cheaper way into Sony's 3D ecosystem, landing in the same ballpark as the $299 Looking Glass Go.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 5 Nov. 2026
  • This year’s conflict has shown the relative ease with which cheap drones can slip past some of the world’s most expensive air defense systems and hit pipelines, ports, and ships.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of cheap
Adjective
  • Observe one ordinary stretch of your day without immediately trying to improve it.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Judges, civil-rights lawyers, academics, election officials, curators, artists, and countless ordinary citizens stood up.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • The idea is to sound like an inferior buck in the brush, one that is roaming around a mature deer’s space and getting on his nerves.
    — Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Only 272 yards, at home, against a UCLA team that unquestionably has inferior talent?
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of inferior

Browse Nearby Words

medieval
mediocre
mediocrities
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Cite this Entry

“Mediocre.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mediocre. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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