1
as in normality
the quality or state of being mediocre
She's a perfectionist who refuses to settle for mediocrity.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in nothing
a person of little fame
He surrounded himself with mediocrities to appear more notable by comparison.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 mediocrity
Sorsby is either due for a breakout season or destined for another year of mediocrity.
—
Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
The Dolphins seem headed for mediocrity once again, and that’s why Dolphins fans are understandably frustrated.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025
This past week both teams looked like nothing more than overpriced mediocrities at a time when all the reinforcements were supposed to have turned things around for both of them.
—Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for mediocrity
Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
The Dolphins seem headed for mediocrity once again, and that’s why Dolphins fans are understandably frustrated.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025
This past week both teams looked like nothing more than overpriced mediocrities at a time when all the reinforcements were supposed to have turned things around for both of them.
—Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for mediocrity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mediocrity
Noun
-
Strength in this area transcends all career levels and separates excellence from normality.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Omar’s office is characterized by pristine normality — with its glass walls and desktop computers, its phones and its headsets.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
My memoir was built of gaps, juxtaposition, weird little nothings.—
Cheri Lucas Rowlands,
Longreads,
16 Dec. 2024
-
But nothings more peaceful than tomorrow to a man going through pain today.—
Becca Longmire,
Peoplemag,
22 Feb. 2024
Noun
-
With a single photo, though, Swift vaulted it from obscurity into obsession.—
Malaika Crawford,
Vogue,
13 Sep. 2025
-
By the finale, Gaal is no longer the uncertain mathematician plucked from obscurity.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
However, political observers and those on the right know that Kirk, as founder of Turning Point USA, was at heart an activist who transformed conservative youth politics through his robust organizing network and, in the process, changed the social acceptability of Trumpism among America's youth.—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
-
From my perspective, the real measure of acceptability isn't whether AI assisted in the process, but whether the final output demonstrates sound reasoning, originality and accuracy.—
Morey Haber,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Since this aphid attracts a wide variety of beneficial insects that prey on it and pecan pests, crape myrtles have been planted in pecan orchards with a positive impact on pecan harvests.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Highly resistant to rot, insects, and fire, old redwoods provide an extremely durable carbon piggy bank storing up to 1,300 tons per acre.—
John P. O’Brien,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
What made Armani’s designs so appealing to Ovitz and his minions wasn’t just their confident power-suit cut.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Vex can use that energy to empower herself, or channel it to conjure deadly minions that fight alongside her.—
Griff Griffin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There is something about that ordinariness that is extraordinary.—
Jeff Conway,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Mediocrity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mediocrity. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share