MIDDLING Synonyms: 114 Similar and Opposite Words

middling

adjective

ˈmid-liŋ

Definition of middling

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Hilton, who polls show down 20% or more, said Sacramento Democrats were at fault for California’s high prices and middling outcomes on issues like homelessness. — Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026 Clinton’s public favorability is middling at best, rating well below Sanders, the closest thing to a genuinely popular Democrat. — Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026 Likely voters expressed middling support for Proposition 40, a one-time 5% tax on billionaires’ assets intended to compensate for an impending $100 billion in federal healthcare funding cuts. — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026 The Tigers’ middling performance against Troy and sloppy play in spurts has cast some aspersions on their aspirations. — Pj Green september 22, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for middling

Recent Examples of Synonyms for middling

Adjective

The Southern Taurids have an average zenithal hourly rate of about five meteors per hour.

— Jamie Carter, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026
The average hurricane is about 300 miles (482 kilometers) wide, but hurricanes – or typhoons, as they’re called in the western Pacific of the Northern Hemisphere – can be much bigger or smaller.

— Zachary Handlos, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of average

Adjective

The role of a legitimate people’s government is to level the playing field between the billionaires and the rest of us who are just trying to provide ourselves with decent, dignified lives and get ahead.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
Like any decent strength coach, Potts and his staff hold their athletes to the consistent standard of challenging themselves.

— PJ Green October 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of decent

Adjective

Data the alliance included in the prospectus said homes in the 76112, 76103 and 76120 ZIP codes sell for around $250,000, about $80,000 below the median home sales price for Fort Worth, according to figures from Redfin.

— Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026
Prices start at $35 for Comme Si socks and go up to $11,000 for a wavy gray shearling Marni coat; median prices sit around $895.

— Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of median

Adjective

Jon Stewart set his sights on AI on the latest episode of The Daily Show, unpacking the threats posed by the technology and Donald Trump‘s mediocre reaction.

— Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026
On paper, the Brewers will pose a significantly tougher challenge than the Chicago Cubs’ mediocre staff.

— Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of mediocre

Adjective

Reduce heat to medium; continue to cook, stirring often, until meat is just cooked through, about 1 minute more.

— Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026
But in recent years, trade between the two countries has changed significantly, as government spending decreased due to the country’s economic collapse, while micro, small and medium private enterprises filled the gap.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of medium

Adjective

An uninterrupted trip Stoliker thinks chaos is not a satisfactory explanation for psychedelics’ effect on the brain.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 Oct. 2026
After months of negotiations failed to yield a satisfactory agreement, the union approved strike action earlier this month in a vote held in tandem with unions at the Brooklyn Museum and American Folk Art Museum.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of satisfactory

Adjective

Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income, and early withdrawals may face penalties unless they’re used for qualifying expenses such as education or a first home, so families should review the tax rules before deciding how to use the money.

— Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
The filmmakers bill it as a film less about cracking a murder than about the ordinary days that come after a devastating loss.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of ordinary

Adjective

The longer the song goes on, the more the relentless pulse of the drums starts to seem indifferent and mechanical, an actual machine with no awareness of human life, while the drones grow longer and feel more and more like deep sighs.

— Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
Its government, dominated by hardened veterans of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and largely indifferent to the suffering of the Iranian population, appears determined to fight on.

— RICHARD HAASS, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2026