1
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
2
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
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Recent Examples of second-class
Launched in 1911, Nomadic was built as a tender ship to ferry first- and second-class passengers to and from the RMS Titanic and her sister ship, the Olympic, in ports where the liners were too large to dock.
—
David Nikel, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025
The Supreme Court's conservatives argued religious institutions can’t be treated as second-class and railed against discrimination.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 May 2025
In a world where kids are often treated like second-class citizens who should be seen and not heard, Janine brings a refreshing perspective toward children.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025
But because of their Palestinian identity, they are confined to second-class citizenship by laws enshrining the country’s Jewish character and by discriminatory practices intended to prevent them from achieving equality with Jewish Israelis.
—Asad Ghanem, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-class
David Nikel, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025
The Supreme Court's conservatives argued religious institutions can’t be treated as second-class and railed against discrimination.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 May 2025
In a world where kids are often treated like second-class citizens who should be seen and not heard, Janine brings a refreshing perspective toward children.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025
But because of their Palestinian identity, they are confined to second-class citizenship by laws enshrining the country’s Jewish character and by discriminatory practices intended to prevent them from achieving equality with Jewish Israelis.
—Asad Ghanem, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-class
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-class
Adjective
-
The Dream had more second-chance points and won the turnover margin, compensating for their inferior 3-point shooting.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
-
Since its establishment by the 1947 National Security Act, the agency’s intelligence collection, analysis and foresight have proven inferior to that of The New York Times at a tiny fraction of the cost.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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But the Tar Heel state has a decent amount of talent this year, and UNC does not appear to be in position to take advantage of it.—
Grace Raynor,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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Reading these reports alongs with your own research can give you a decent idea of which cruise ships are doing the most to reduce their impact.—
Lea Lane,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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In total, 27 people were taken to the hospital, including two with serious injuries, and 20 others were treated at the scene for minor injuries, according to Dave Kitchin of North West Ambulance Service.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
27 May 2025
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Troopers said the two boys were hospitalized with minor injuries.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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Stephen King’s novella about three chapters in the life of an ordinary man named Charles Krantz.—
Andrew Torgan,
CNN Money,
1 June 2025
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In other words, Catherine is a nice, ordinary middle-class English girl.—
Adelle Waldman,
New Yorker,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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The other person who spoke in South Carolina, Tim Walz, is a special mixture of extreme buffoonery and a mean spirit, which is a toxic brew.—
Jenny Goldsberry,
The Washington Examiner,
1 June 2025
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At its core, the CHOICE Act extends the allowable duration of noncompete clauses to four years for employees earning over twice the mean wage in their county, eliminating the requirement for employers to demonstrate a legitimate business interest before enforcing them.—
Sam Peak,
Sun Sentinel,
1 June 2025
Adjective
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The tablet also supports Dolby Atmos sound, and while the stereo separation is satisfactory, don't expect to be surrounded by the audio.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
21 May 2025
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However, the conditions are not satisfactory to all.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
21 May 2025
Adjective
-
Whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl.—
Anne Byrn,
Southern Living,
30 May 2025
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Macron warned that the world risks dividing into two blocs, with medium powers increasingly pressured to choose sides as the U.S.-China rivalry intensifies—threatening to unravel the post-World War II global order.—
Micah McCartney Asia security reporter,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Or perhaps two intense training sessions weekly with perfect recovery outperforms five mediocre workouts.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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So, except for 2019, every full season since 2017 has included one mediocre month.—
Peter O’Malley,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Second-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-class. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
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