SECOND-CLASS Synonyms: 120 Similar and Opposite Words

second-class

adjective

ˈse-kən(d)-ˈklas

Definition of second-class

as in inferior

of little or less value or merit a playwright who produced only second-class work when he turned his hand to poetry

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in decent

of average to below average quality it's only a second-class restaurant and not worth the high prices

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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 second-class The date stood out to Browning, who’d lost thousands in anticipated shillings when 584 steerage and 253 second-class passengers chose drowning in a Canadian river over registering at one of his boarding houses near the port of Liverpool. — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 Muslim residents have long complained of being treated like second-class citizens in Thailand, and separatist movements have been periodically active for decades. — ABC News, 23 July 2026 There, he’s attacked by The Denied, a militia group of non-benders who feel like second-class citizens in this world seeking an old totem of a prior Avatar known as Sonam. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 20 July 2026 Ali refused to fight in the Vietnam War for a country that treated Black people as second-class citizens. — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for second-class

Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-class

Adjective

Teams — worried about how a politically defiant Black quarterback on the roster would impact their bottom lines — over the next several seasons signed dozens of inferior quarterbacks to round out their depth charts.

— Mike Jones, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Luckily for the Hurricanes, the rest of their game on defense has held up against a pair of inferior opponents.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of inferior

Adjective

But there’s no reason for alarm; none of the pitchers drafted by the Marlins in July were used in a minor-league game.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
The front camera uses a 135-degree field of view, which introduces minor edge distortion, but that's the price for capturing a broad swath of the road ahead.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of minor

Adjective

Now, with growing bipartisan opposition to the rapid buildout of data centers suggest that even ordinary residents of communities and voters have increased power to help pace the frontier from the bottom up.

— Bhaskar Chakravorti, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026
Still, this trip could answer questions that eventually affect far more ordinary electric vehicles.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of ordinary

Adjective

The bonus would be paid over two years, contingent on satisfactory evaluations.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Not ready for prime time The video-generation technology rarely gets the content right on its first try, Sun said, adding that her team takes at least 10 attempts to create a satisfactory 15-second clip.

— Ling Wei, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of satisfactory

Adjective

However, researchers warn that an export ban would likely only provide a temporary reprieve from sky-high diesel prices and would backfire in the medium and long run.

— Matt Egan, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Cook saag over medium-low heat, stirring often, until heated through (do not bring to a simmer or saag may split).

— Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of medium

Browse Nearby Words

second childhood

second-class

seconded

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“Second-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-class. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of second-class

adjective

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