1
as in normality
the quality or state of being mediocre
She's a perfectionist who refuses to settle for mediocrity.
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2
as in nothing
a person of little fame
He surrounded himself with mediocrities to appear more notable by comparison.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mediocrity
After seasons of mediocrity, a notoriously terrible finale, several years off the air, a disappointing reboot, and a deeply mid prequel, Dexter finally delivered a top-tier hour of television again.
—
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 25 July 2025
Without a franchise superstar, the Heat now waffles in the abyss of NBA mediocrity, mid-pack in the Eastern Conference, clawing for relevance.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 27 June 2025
Catilina wants something better for the people, a utopian rebuke to mediocrity.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025
The Trojans have toiled in mediocrity the last two decades, fighting to notch a winning record rather than battling for postseason glory.
—Shotgun Spratling, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for mediocrity
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 25 July 2025
Without a franchise superstar, the Heat now waffles in the abyss of NBA mediocrity, mid-pack in the Eastern Conference, clawing for relevance.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 27 June 2025
Catilina wants something better for the people, a utopian rebuke to mediocrity.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025
The Trojans have toiled in mediocrity the last two decades, fighting to notch a winning record rather than battling for postseason glory.
—Shotgun Spratling, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for mediocrity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mediocrity
Noun
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My memoir was built of gaps, juxtaposition, weird little nothings.—
Cheri Lucas Rowlands,
Longreads,
16 Dec. 2024
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The one whose legs turned nothings into somethings, improvising the Lions’ entire defensive game plan into a pile of ash?—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2024
Noun
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Unlike many popular artists, she was never classically trained or in any other bands, nor was she plucked from obscurity to perform assembly-line creations.—
Holden Seidlitz,
New Yorker,
5 Aug. 2025
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Trey White was that someone last season for San Diego State, emerging from obscurity as a backup linebacker to national prominence as a starting edge rusher on SDSU’s defensive line.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Mosquitoes and other insects swarm around, temperatures fluctuate from sweltering Florida heat to bone-shaking cold from industrial air conditioners, and access to medical attention is limited, according to Bichara.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
14 Aug. 2025
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Apart from the insects crawling on Olivia’s hands, cows in the slaughterhouse inhabit the film’s world alongside Olivia.—
Jason Liwag,
Variety,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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This summer has already given ample evidence of how poorly Trump and his minions understand California.—
Thomas Elias,
Mercury News,
18 July 2025
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Trump and his minions have gone so far as to limit the Associated Press’ access to the White House in a petulant tantrum because the AP, like the rest of the world, refuses to accept his silly renaming of the Gulf of Mexico.—
John A. Ragosta,
Baltimore Sun,
27 May 2025
Noun
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More importantly, the narrative explores both sides of the conflict from the POV of grunts and 'nobodies' trying to navigate the post-Civil War state of the galaxy before the fighting stops.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
4 Aug. 2025
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None of these nobodies is performing like Grimes just yet, and until someone does Grier better get active trying to find a handful of veteran cornerbacks whom this team can call on, and sign to patch up the weakest unit on the team.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2025
Noun
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The remains of about 1,100 victims are unidentified, the OCME said.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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But a law enforcement official briefed on the case told CNN Radford had a disagreement with one of the victims on Tuesday.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mediocrity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mediocrity. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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