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
Relevance
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
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 second-class
Women are second-class citizens and must cover their hair and wear loose-fitting clothing in all public spaces.
—
Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
The teen has been charged with reckless homicide, a second-class felony, per the update.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Women were relegated to second-class citizens and gay and lesbian individuals were executed as a matter of public policy.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
Forging East and West Germany into one country after the fall of the Berlin Wall brought economic hardship and fostered resentment among former East Germans, who felt like second-class citizens.
—Sudha David-Wilp, Foreign Affairs, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-class
Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
The teen has been charged with reckless homicide, a second-class felony, per the update.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Women were relegated to second-class citizens and gay and lesbian individuals were executed as a matter of public policy.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
Forging East and West Germany into one country after the fall of the Berlin Wall brought economic hardship and fostered resentment among former East Germans, who felt like second-class citizens.
—Sudha David-Wilp, Foreign Affairs, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-class
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-class
Adjective
-
That has pushed it to explore asymmetric warfare, in which smaller or technologically inferior forces look for ways to frustrate or exhaust the enemy.—
Jane Lytvynenko,
NBC news,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Right now, the Angels have an inferior product in an aging stadium, and visions of a new or refurbished ballpark and surrounding development stalled after talks between the club and the city crashed on the rocks a couple of seasons ago.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Their rubber outsole has decent traction to get me there and back (way better than flip flops), and the interior synthetic dries quickly.—
Lisa Jhung,
Outside,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Whether for noshing in their natural, juicy and delicious form, or for turning into any number of tasty dishes—applesauce, apple pie, apple butter, and so many more—apples are a relatively inexpensive fruit that typically have a decent shelf life and convenience factor that’s hard to beat.—
Stacey Lastoe,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Left-hander Marco Gonzales, a veteran coming back from flexor tendon surgery and in camp on a minor-league deal, followed with another three scoreless innings.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
This will be the period when the threat of severe weather is highest, with large hail, damaging winds and minor flooding as the main concerns throughout the afternoon.—
Mary Wasson,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
From Ireland to Indonesia, there’s nothing ordinary, or forgettable, about these eight hotel beds where architectural inspiration and sweet slumbers collide.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Architectural Digest,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The expectation in Washington was that ordinary Cubans, once given a spark, would rise up and overthrow Castro, weakening Soviet influence in the Western Hemisphere.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
One sister’s adult son and daughter have always been mean to me.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Washington Post,
6 Mar. 2026
-
By 1997, there was another TV remake with Brandy starring as Cinderella for a new generation, with Bernadette Peters as her mean stepmother and Whitney Houston as the fairy godmother.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
When the answer wasn’t satisfactory, Miller reported the company to the Better Business Bureau.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
-
But could not get a satisfactory picture from all this information.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Reduce heat to medium-low heat and cook, stirring often to prevent bottom from burning, until chili thickens slightly, 40–55 minutes.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Whatever the medium—oil or steel—true collectors, as opposed to speculators, are not often keen to part with a coveted piece during their active collecting years, or even beyond.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The mediocre Queen biopic remains one of the most head-scratching best picture nominees in recent memory.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Tua’s glory years, the 2022-25 seasons, added up to a mediocre 35-35 record, including an 0-2 mark in the playoffs as Tua and his cohorts were constantly outplayed and outcoached in games against playoff-caliber teams.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Second-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-class. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
