MEDIOCRE Synonyms: 152 Similar and Opposite Words

mediocre

adjective

ˌmē-dē-ˈō-kər

Definition of mediocre

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

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 But the design has always had real shortcomings—the most noticeable and serious being its mediocre battery life. — ArsTechnica, 27 July 2026 But their tales of fragile relationships, dead-end jobs, and mediocre friendships are fleshed out with patient details straight out of a Kelly Reichardt film. — Ethan Beck, Pitchfork, 23 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 See All Example Sentences for mediocre

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mediocre

Adjective

The perfect size for a daypack, this backpack is large enough to fit a decent amount, such as a book, large headphones, a sweater, snacks and a water bottle, alongside your basic essentials like your wallet, phone and keys.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
No such problems with following the play existed at Tranmere, where, even in the 1980s, their long-term home afforded a decent view from behind both goals.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of decent

Adjective

But tensions have opened up between data center boosters and some community organizations that want to see more jobs and economic benefits go to local residents, especially predominantly poor Hispanic farm and food processing workers.

— Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Conventional wisdom usually attributes those failures to changing markets, disruptive competitors, or poor leadership.

— Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of poor

Adjective

Employees may have to explain context that the agent should already have or fail to provide it at all, which can potentially result in tasks being performed to less-than-satisfactory expectations.

— William Jones, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
While the result is not fully satisfactory, Khun Tharo, program manager at CENTRAL, said the organization respects the workers’ decision.

— Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 31 July 2026

Definition of satisfactory

Adjective

That Crowley came from behind to win was a testament to Evers’ grit and determination to keep the nomination from Hong, whom Evers said was unlikely to win in November, and to how terrible of a campaigner Hong turned out to be in the home stretch.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Although the Constitution requires congressional involvement in war-making, Trump like Nixon disdained that mandate with terrible consequences.

— Elizabeth Holtzman, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of terrible

Adjective

Ward and Tate could build a great rapport in training camp and still have a pretty middling start because the rest of the roster just isn’t very good yet.

— Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Despite the middling score in the economic category, WalletHub’s analysis surmised that Fremont’s happiness is bolstered by its high share (nearly 80%) of households with an income above $75,000.

— Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of middling

Adjective

Its latest pickup, the Ford Fathom, will cost a downright cheap $28,350, which should set it up to be a massive seller.

— Michael Ballaban, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Which explains why even modern-day Russia has recently loaded up with the cheapest possible foreign labor from former Soviet satellite states.

— Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of cheap

Adjective

Kurt's key takeaways What caught my attention here is how ordinary the problem is.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
For a growing number of Charlotte-area homeowners, the path to foreclosure can start with something as ordinary as a missed paycheck, a medical setback or a rising monthly bill.

— Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of ordinary

Browse Nearby Words

medieval

mediocre

mediocrities

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“Mediocre.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mediocre. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of mediocre

adjective

Example Sentences

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