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 Top to bottom, however, the Big Ten might be a bit more mediocre than expected. — Austin Meek, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 The Jets’ offense has ranged from mediocre to downright awful during his time with the team. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 10 Sep. 2026 At roughly 44 times earnings, Costco needs to execute, and another mediocre quarter would force us to reconsider our holding. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026 But a feel-good season, with gradual improvement rooted in process and preparation leading to mediocre results, won’t cut it for a program desperate for tangible success and the pieces in place to achieve it. — Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 4 Sep. 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
  • This, the perfectly decent people of Kettleborough reasoned, was a natural and godly rebuke for Susan and Cuthbert’s sin.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • With fast charging capability, 60 hours of playback time, and a foldable design, the Q20i also offers high resolution sound, and very decent ANC performance.
    — Carlos Mejia, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of decent
Adjective
  • Such diagnoses can carry an extraordinarily poor neonatal prognosis.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Road accidents are frequent in Africa’s most populous country, in part due to poor road conditions and lax enforcement of traffic laws.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • There may never be a satisfactory explanation for the WNBA’s insistence on abandoning such a loyal, durable fanbase, but the fans didn’t come to Mohegan Sun Arena one last time to ask why.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
  • This is not a satisfactory outcome for anyone — not people experiencing homelessness, the surrounding community or the institutions serving vulnerable Chicagoans.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of satisfactory
Adjective
  • In any case, the nation’s approach toward Europe was not to meddle in its internal affairs but, rather, to avoid another terrible Continental war.
    — Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Offensive lineman Steve Avila was a member of the 2024 Rams team that turned it around after a terrible start.
    — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • Hilton, who polls show down 20% or more, said Sacramento Democrats were at fault for California’s high prices and middling outcomes on issues like homelessness.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Clinton’s public favorability is middling at best, rating well below Sanders, the closest thing to a genuinely popular Democrat.
    — Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of middling
Adjective
  • The question should be how technology can make returning it cheap enough that the government no longer has an excuse.
    — Mark Lewyn, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The company on Tuesday introduced an upgrade to its cheaper, mid-tier GPT-6 Sol model.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of cheap
Adjective
  • Georgia Power estimates this system will deliver 900 million dollars in net savings for ordinary customers over the working life of the reactors.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Kyiv argued the warehouses held dual-use goods, and that hitting them would impose an immediate cost on ordinary Russians, who would pressure the Kremlin to end the war.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • The Chiefs went on to emerge victorious 24-10, but like the offense, the defense’s focus now will be identifying how an inferior team that lost its star player early managed to stay involved until late in the fourth quarter.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The same can be said for TCU’s offense as well after the past two games against inferior opponents.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 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 4 Oct. 2026.

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