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

Relevance

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 Again, send out 20 really good ones rather than 200 mediocre ones. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 The boring rosters, the passive-aggressive press conferences, the endless parade of mediocre seasons — cresting and falling with an inexplicable 2021 and 2026 — has been brutal to watch. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026 Turnout is mediocre Democrats have been having trouble winning statewide electrons for decades, and the state has turned increasingly Republican in recent years. — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026 But typical olive oil producers (California, Tuscany, Spain, Greece) can all produce both extraordinary and mediocre oils. — Laura Manzano, Martha Stewart, 18 Aug. 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 is part of WaterAid’s core approach that aims to change lives with clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.
    — Cleo Levin, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026
  • If both are out for Week 1, Roschon Johnson would slot into the mid-upper 30s, as a high-volume play not without decent risk.
    — Jake Ciely, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of decent
Adjective
  • The following season, Chelsea topped their Champions League group, but poor Premier League form saw Mourinho sacked in mid-December.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Many are in poor shape, with thin, uninsulated walls, leaky windows, old or broken swamp coolers and electrical systems that can't always handle air conditioners.
    — Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • Not ready for prime time The video-generation technology rarely gets the content right on its first try, Sun said, adding that her team takes at least 10 attempts to create a satisfactory 15-second clip.
    — Ling Wei, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The ride quality in my tester was more than satisfactory; a good thing given the infamous Atlanta traffic.
    — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of satisfactory
Adjective
  • McDaniel is an expert communicator — and terrible at communicating with modern devices.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Before the terrible day was over firehouses, street corners and parks became mourning places.
    — Robert W. Snyder, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • Unfortunately, the fantasy is interrupted by a giant monolith of a middling luxury condo building looming outside.
    — Nora DeLigter, Curbed, 4 Sep. 2026
  • When expectations were highest at Ole Miss (2024), the Rebels got knocked out of the CFP race with losses to middling Kentucky and Florida teams.
    — Matt Baker, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of middling
Adjective
  • But that does not mean residents will suddenly see a cheaper water bill.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • His latest book, Three Tenses, a well as his Pulitzer Prize finalist Same Bed Different Dreams, are complex without resorting to gimmicks or cheap obfuscation that implies depth.
    — James Folta, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of cheap
Adjective
  • McCuin has only good speed and ordinary size, but his route savvy, ball skills and competitive toughness separate him on tape.
    — Dane Brugler, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Europol does not keep statistics on nihilistic violent extremism because definitions of it differ and acts can fall into the category of ordinary criminality as well as terrorism.
    — Lorne Cook, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • Far from inferior, these trees, which can look like pines with long droopy needles and reddish-orange flowers, host a large diversity of bugs beyond Swiftiephylys, creating a popular hangout for the six-legged beasts.
    — Brad Balukjian, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Gwyn’s, however, who Richard considers to be his inferior, has jettisoned into success and is in the running for a huge literary prize.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of inferior

Browse Nearby Words

medieval
mediocre
mediocrities
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mediocre.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mediocre. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of hobnob

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All