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
The famous detective novelist and screenwriter had written an essay for the magazine excoriating the motion-picture industry and its tolerance for—indeed celebration of—mindless mediocrity.
—
Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
But expansion will overwhelmingly benefit Power 5 mediocrity.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
We were promised by Smith that the market ever leads towards a kind of truth, but in late capitalism the crucial values are mediocrity and enshitification.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
Restoring Notre Dame to greatness Before Holtz arrived in South Bend, Notre Dame was wallowing in mediocrity — a mere shell of the program built on a foundation of Knute Rockne, Ara Parseghian, the Golden Dome and Touchdown Jesus.
—Eric Olson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mediocrity
Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
But expansion will overwhelmingly benefit Power 5 mediocrity.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
We were promised by Smith that the market ever leads towards a kind of truth, but in late capitalism the crucial values are mediocrity and enshitification.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
Restoring Notre Dame to greatness Before Holtz arrived in South Bend, Notre Dame was wallowing in mediocrity — a mere shell of the program built on a foundation of Knute Rockne, Ara Parseghian, the Golden Dome and Touchdown Jesus.
—Eric Olson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mediocrity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mediocrity
Noun
-
Away from the track, Friedrich is a working police officer, adding an air of normality to an all-time great athlete.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
4 Feb. 2026
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But after such an odd week to start F1’s on-track running in 2026, some normality will resume in two weeks at the first Bahrain test.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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When Dana, who, like Virginia, had been successful in writing pleasant but undistinguished nothings—in her case, songs for Billy Rose’s revues—decided to try taking on more serious music by studying with Boulanger, Virginia entered a deep downward spiral.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
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Why did her mom press so hard for the littlest of nothings?—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
4 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Or would they be expected to lie low and fade into obscurity like their parents?—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
1 Apr. 2026
-
But the paper quickly vanished in obscurity.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ultimately, the voters decide on acceptability.—
Alec Johnson,
jsonline.com,
26 Feb. 2026
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The second difference is acceptability.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That comes to the Philippines in the form of war, as well as through the invocation, or establishment, of American-style modes of government and education that place Filipinos along this racial hierarchy, identifying them as these inferiors that need to be taught how to govern themselves.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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There was SimAnt in 1991, which involves tunneling out the chambers of an anthill, forging insect alliances and attacking enemies.—
Eric Boodman,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2026
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Not only are mushroom crops particularly dependent on weather conditions, but traditional exclusion cages won’t keep out rodents and insects, which also like mushrooms.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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On one side, a satanic figure named Randall Flagg who gathers his forces of badness to Las Vegas; on the other, the good guys, led by 108-year-old Mother Abigail in, of all places, Boulder.—
Barbara Ellis,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
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The show premiered over Thanksgiving weekend, when people were tired and full and bored (and probably also horny), and countered our world’s unceasing badness with its world’s buoyant sweetness.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Noem’s minions would defy and frustrate federal judges seeking basic information from DHS about the department’s compliance with court orders.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
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Instead, his minions, so afraid of earning his wrath, have remained quiet.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mediocrity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mediocrity. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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