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 McLaren had a slightly less mediocre time, finishing fourth (Oscar Piastri) and seventh (Lando Norris), with Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull in sixth. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026 Letting go of such jewelry is like settling for mediocre self-expression. — Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 28 June 2026 Supergirl, a spinoff of 2025’s sub-mediocre Superman reboot, may have been conceived to rev us up. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 26 June 2026 The Luc Robitaille era has now spanned nine seasons, six head coaches and two GMs while producing zero playoff series victories, placing the Kings in an unenviable position to have a less-than-robust pipeline feeding an aging, mediocre roster. — Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 25 June 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
  • The Crosstrek also has decent off-road capability as a base model and can easily be enhanced with tires or purchased from the factory as a mean off-roading machine (Crosstrek Wilderness).
    — Charles Singh, USA Today, 14 July 2026
  • Insiders added that the power striker, who also is a decent rapper himself, was on his best behavior.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
Definition of decent
Adjective
  • Prolonged exposure to heat can lead to insufficient or poor sleep, compromising the immune system, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diminishing cognitive performance.
    — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
  • On top of this, subterranean drip systems often clog with mineral deposits, sediment, and algae, which Nad warns may eventually require repairs or replacement of portions of the system, particularly in areas with hard water or poor filtration.
    — Kamron Sanders, The Spruce, 13 July 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • The fifth season will have a really hard time wrapping up everything in a satisfactory way at this point.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Kelley said the company believed the existing easement was satisfactory and wasn’t told otherwise until after investing years of work on he project.
    — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026
Definition of satisfactory
Adjective
  • To sit still now would send a terrible message to a clubhouse full of pros, all of whom know the score.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026
  • Spieth decided the ball sitting on a steep slope and potentially on a terrible lie wasn’t playable.
    — Brody Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • Both series have middling reviews from both critics and audiences, but that has not translated into a lack of viewership.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • But a small group of greedy families of middling significance?
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026
Definition of middling
Adjective
  • But the breaking point came when his wife refused to let their young children near any of his half-century-old vehicles, which lacked air bags and the safety features standard in even the cheapest modern cars.
    — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 10 July 2026
  • As launch gets cheaper and hardware more standardized, companies can reach into space without having to master or even own the hardware.
    — Charlotte Kiang, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of cheap
Adjective
  • It was made by rich landowners who owned slaves, and it was designed to protect their power, not give ordinary people a real vote.
    — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2026
  • Seeing Black children and their families living ordinary yet robust lives in stories undermines negative portrayals.
    — Brooke Harris Garad, The Conversation, 14 July 2026
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • There was a time when Irish, Italians, Jews and Chinese who came here were viewed as inferior.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2026
  • Ma married Pa, her social inferior, against her mother’s wishes.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of inferior

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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 17 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mediocre

Nglish: Translation of mediocre for Spanish Speakers

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