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

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 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 Today, the resident commissioner is a second-class lawmaker. — Austin Bussing, The Conversation, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for second-class

Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-class

Adjective

Across state and federal lands, accommodations designated for Black Americans were routinely and nakedly inferior, relegated to remote, underdeveloped parcels or mosquito-prone swamplands.

— Kimmie Gordon, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
But those three road losses were either in the postseason to a top-two team, at Oregon or the inexplicable 2024 loss to a far inferior Michigan team in The Game.

— Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of inferior

Adjective

There was a time when getting a decent electric dirt bike meant spending serious money.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026
In the Arabic-speaking pic, Barhom stars as Hichem, a customs officer on the Algerian-Tunisian border, who tries to provide a decent life for his wife Leila and little daughter Zineb.

— Annika Pham, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of decent

Adjective

Other areas of concern are the library system's self-check-out kiosks, instances in which minor teenagers handle materials while working or volunteering at a branch, and platforms for loaning electronic materials, Adams said.

— Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2026
His discipline could be minor compared to the hit on his reputation.

— Jim Reineking, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of minor

Adjective

This may not come as a surprise in a world not only of AI, but widespread access to technology that requires ordinary people to develop typing skills.

— Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Why network awareness deserves more attention now Online banking and shopping place sensitive information at the center of ordinary internet use.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of ordinary

Adjective

Line Islands corals show a similar mean increase but far wider scatter, which the researchers partly attribute to these records’ reliance on oxygen isotopes alone.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
That’s what being mean to Heather is like and, so far this season, that is the only meal we’ve been served.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of mean

Adjective

For the city, the move represents a satisfactory but temporary solution to a months-long dispute over the market’s location that came to a head last week.

— Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
But Olson cautioned people that investigations don’t guarantee a satisfactory outcome for consumers.

— Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of satisfactory

Adjective

The rice is stirred over medium heat for a few minutes, giving the grains time to become opaque or lightly golden and release a toasty, nutty aroma.

— Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2026
In a medium bowl, combine the garlic, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and onions.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of medium

Adjective

The Jays will need many moments in the next month to turn this mediocre season into one worth remembering.

— Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
The mediocre screen was an unpleasant surprise given that this thing advertised 100 percent sRGB gamut coverage when it was announced and on its product page for many weeks (the Internet Archive captures it here).

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of mediocre

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 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of second-class

adjective

Example Sentences

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