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
This is not diligence—it's synchronized swimming toward mediocrity.
—
Benjamin D. Summers, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
What happened between the Raiders getting clobbered and hitting cruise control is what allows middling teams like them — and the Patriots — to ascend mediocrity.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
And yet the Dolphins have found a way to remain masters of mediocrity, prolonging the NFL’s longest playoff win drought with a combination of misfortune and missteps.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
One can only take so many years of mediocrity, even for a city and fan base that's given them everything.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mediocrity
Benjamin D. Summers, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
What happened between the Raiders getting clobbered and hitting cruise control is what allows middling teams like them — and the Patriots — to ascend mediocrity.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
And yet the Dolphins have found a way to remain masters of mediocrity, prolonging the NFL’s longest playoff win drought with a combination of misfortune and missteps.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
One can only take so many years of mediocrity, even for a city and fan base that's given them everything.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mediocrity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mediocrity
Noun
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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
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But nothings more peaceful than tomorrow to a man going through pain today.—
Becca Longmire,
Peoplemag,
22 Feb. 2024
Noun
-
Five Yankees used the bat, but the hubbub has since faded into obscurity.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
28 Sep. 2025
-
But all signs suggest the leadership should remove Norvell before the boos get louder, before donations get smaller, and before this season fades into obscurity.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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The beneficial insects, like butterflies, moths, fireflies, and native bees, that pollinate your garden throughout the growing season require leaf litter to survive.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Small flying insects observed near dining room soda machine.—
Gege Reed,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Rapidly spreading its toxic influence across the lands, Magatsu and its minions are a world-ending threat, and the early tutorial bit sees players square up against the baddie only to ultimately lose.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
18 Sep. 2025
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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
Noun
-
There is something about that ordinariness that is extraordinary.—
Jeff Conway,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 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
Cite this Entry
“Mediocrity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mediocrity. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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