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 Texas’ 2023 World Series hero is injured for the 47-46 Rangers, who sit tied atop a mediocre AL West right now. — Chris Branch, New York Times, 10 July 2026 Innovative mechanics and a soothing stretch mode make the LiberNovo Omni memorable, but its mediocre support ultimately overshadows its technical achievements. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 9 July 2026 Belton played 100% of the snaps the final seven games of the year — 423 in all — and was mediocre, at best. — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 Sweden, especially, seemed content to play conservatively, which forced France to take mediocre shots in the early going. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 30 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
  • But at a time when the physical element of football is at risk of overpowering the technical side, a decent fix is playing matches in conditions where relentless sprinting simply isn’t possible.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • But Nickel had a solid spring, flashing a strong arm, decent accuracy and an ability to throw deftly on the run.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026
Definition of decent
Adjective
  • Madrid had a poor 2024-25, failing to win the Spanish title or the Champions League, but Mbappe still scored 42 goals in 44 appearances.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Using Neanderthal cranium shapes to estimate specific brain regions’ volume, some investigators claimed to see signs of a mind with feeble linguistic abilities, poor executive function and an unremarkable memory.
    — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 20 July 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • Even a successful ground invasion would not guarantee a satisfactory outcome unless political leaders had a credible plan for the post-invasion governance and order.
    — David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • IQAir expects the air quality index (AQI) to improve throughout the day Monday, even reaching the green level that is considered satisfactory.
    — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 20 July 2026
Definition of satisfactory
Adjective
  • Why do some people stay in terrible, horrible, no good, very bad jobs?
    — Joseph Kim, NPR, 22 July 2026
  • Three years ago, Victor Wembanyama was terrible, and Houston’s Cam Whitmore won Summer MVP.
    — John Hollinger, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • There’s also a massive best seller (Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko), a cult classic that got adapted into an Oscar-winning movie (Percival Everett’s Erasure), and a middling historical novel (Julian Barnes’s The Noise of Time)—none of which has been banned.
    — Sophia Nguyen, The Atlantic, 18 July 2026
  • Despite a compelling final act, the overall experience is deemed middling, failing to fully immerse players in its historical narrative.
    — Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of middling
Adjective
  • The new buildings also provided cheaper housing options for Caracas workers who couldn’t afford to live in the city.
    — Syra Ortiz-Blanes, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • The Steamfitters were staging protests outside the Pfizer site, accusing the MetroLoft — which employs a mix of union and nonunion contractors — of building on the cheap and tolerating unsafe work conditions.
    — Andrew Rice, Curbed, 23 July 2026
Definition of cheap
Adjective
  • Bhagawat Dulal, a Soccer for Success coach who now also translates for detainees, said even ordinary life has started to feel dangerous.
    — Maansi Srivastava, NPR, 21 July 2026
  • Even the ordinary act of scrolling in bed can throw the system off.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 21 July 2026
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • The game is far worse and inferior when a team is down to 10.
    — The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • 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
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 26 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of mediocre for Spanish Speakers

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