Synonyms of mediocre

mediocre

adjective

ˌmē-dē-ˈō-kər 

1

as in decent

of average to below average quality

your grades are mediocre and barely acceptable

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decent
• satisfactory
• middling
• ordinary
• medium
• passable
• indifferent
• so-so
• second-class
• second-rate
• common
• fair
• adequate
• run-of-the-mill
• reasonable
• nice
• acceptable
• good
• respectable
• run-of-the-mine
• sufficient
• modest
• tolerable
• fine
• moderate
• OK
• minimal
• all right
• alright
• presentable
• unexceptional
• sufficing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• excellent
• outstanding
• great
• superior
• exceptional
• superb
• stellar
• special
• splendid
• terrific
• prime
• superlative
• first-class
• optimal
• fantastic
• maximum
• distinguished
• top
• sensational
• marvelous
• exquisite
• supreme
• classic
• optimum
• fabulous
• choice
• sterling
• peerless
• grand
• par excellence
• swell
• nifty
• number one
• first-rate
• A1
• top-notch
• preeminent
• capital
• unparalleled
• matchless
• unmatched
• inadequate
• unsatisfactory
• unsurpassed
• insufficient
• lacking
• unacceptable
• tip-top
• deficient
• wanting

2

as in poor

of low quality

mediocre carvings in a pseudo-African style that are sold to tourists

Synonyms & Similar Words

• poor
• terrible
• cheap
• inferior
• bad
• rotten
• coarse
• worthless
• common
• shoddy
• crappy
• lousy
• useless
• second-rate
• miserable
• wretched
• low-rent
• low-grade
• rubbishy
• cheesy
• execrable
• trashy
• junky
• bum
• sleazy
• counterfeit
• fake
• cheapjack
• lackluster
• schlock
• cut-rate
• bargain-basement
• gimcrack
• trumpery
• valueless
• indifferent
• el cheapo
• gaudy
• second-class
• tawdry
• showy
• flashy
• meretricious
• shabby
• kitschy
• garish
• glitzy
• tacky
• ostentatious
• kitsch
• swank
• splashy
• seedy
• sham
• phony
• brummagem
• ultracheap
• supercheap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• excellent
• good
• superior
• fine
• first-class
• high-grade
• first-rate
• handsome
• top-notch
• elegant
• tasteful
• polished
• refined
• handcrafted

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of mediocre

The Yankees should see a mediocre American League as an opportunity for a second pennant in three years; Aaron Judge’s uncertain injury status applies more pressure to do something at the deadline to chase down the Rays in the AL East. — Tim Britton, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Netflix’s decade-plus run of TV dominance means Wall Street and others judge it on an unforgiving curve, and when issues crop up — like this last stretch of mediocre ratings — folks are going to take notice. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 16 July 2026

By spinning in flight at between 15 and 25 Hz, Phantom Twist takes advantage of humans’ decidedly mediocre visual system to turn a solid spinning object into an opaque smear. — IEEE Spectrum, 16 July 2026

The votes were based on an implicit, perhaps even desperate, hope that streamlining administration might raise the state’s mediocre levels of academic achievement. — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 14 July 2026