1
as in average
being about midway between extremes of amount or size
tired of the city but not particularly interested in small-town life, he moved to a suburb of middling size
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decent
of average to below average quality
was disappointed in the renowned historian's latest book, which is only middling
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 middling
Per those same metrics, Carolina has a middling run defense, though defensive tackle Derrick Brown will be a problem.
—
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
The original Rise and Fall ran on Channel 4 for a season, but was cancelled after middling ratings failed to live up to significant hype and a high production tariff.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2025
After more than a decade of neglect and middling entries, Konami has now released two back-to-back Silent Hill bangers in less than a year's time.
—Vincent Acovino, NPR, 22 Sep. 2025
And, in between these high-profile gigs, there always appeared to be some diverting, though often middling, Sheen fare to amuse audiences.
—Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for middling
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
The original Rise and Fall ran on Channel 4 for a season, but was cancelled after middling ratings failed to live up to significant hype and a high production tariff.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2025
After more than a decade of neglect and middling entries, Konami has now released two back-to-back Silent Hill bangers in less than a year's time.
—Vincent Acovino, NPR, 22 Sep. 2025
And, in between these high-profile gigs, there always appeared to be some diverting, though often middling, Sheen fare to amuse audiences.
—Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for middling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for middling
Adjective
-
Residents here have above average educational backgrounds and the higher incomes that accompany them.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
While the average cruise length is around seven days, short sailings can pack an entire vacation’s worth of fun into a mid-week getaway or long weekend.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Artists and songwriters could earn a decent living with an album that sold even modestly.—
Roy Trakin,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Fallah was productive on a decent Oregon State team, and Coleman was the leading scorer on a last-place Big East team.—
CJ Moore,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
According to figures from a housing assessment released this April, the median house value in Fayetteville has grown 275% in the last two decades, and the median gross rent has increased 78%.—
Juan Cordoba,
Arkansas Online,
5 Oct. 2025
-
According to Larson’s book, from 2009 to 2014, romance authors’ median income from books increased by 73 percent.—
Rebecca Ackermann,
The Atlantic,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
How many grafts does each zone need to achieve a satisfactory outcome for the eye?—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
If someone asks if arrangements are satisfactory?—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In a medium bowl, combine honey, soy sauce and teriyaki sauce and stir into skillet.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
While the chicken cooks, adjust the heat of the skillet with the chicken drippings to medium-low.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Davis was the second-leading scorer on a mediocre Southern Illinois team.—
CJ Moore,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
There are slumps, patches of mediocre play, doldrums of various kinds.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This fungus, usually seen as an ordinary decomposer, shows a remarkable ability to grow into hydrogels, the materials that hold water and mimic the softness of human tissue.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Oct. 2025
-
An intimate portrait of love and exhaustion that finds the comic edge in ordinary chaos.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
If the script is a tad heavy-handed in making Clara seem almost indifferent to her mother’s suffering, Touzani is too generous a director not to allow the character some redeeming displays of conscience before the domestic drama plays out.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The private remark reinforced a sense, even among conservatives, that the wealthy businessman was an out-of-touch elitist who was ready to write-off about half the country as indifferent to his economic agenda.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Middling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/middling. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share