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
Ron comes to realize that his fulltime commitment to Jay has nullified his own needs, making his family feel like second-class citizens, especially his justifiably impatient wife Lois (Greta Gerwig).
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
About nine months after assuming power, al-Sharaa’s new regime is struggling to consolidate its authority, in large measure because Syrian minority groups are concerned they will be treated as second-class citizens — or worse — by the Sunni Islamists who now rule Damascus.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Having second-class citizens of color in a country that touted its democracy and model as the best-in-the-world was a real liability during WWII.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 10 Aug. 2025
On the weekend of August 9, the Okmulgee Roy LeBlanc Invitational Rodeo marks its 70th year, the legacy of two dozen Black businessmen, farmers and ranchers frustrated with the second-class treatment accorded to Black rodeo competitors and their fans in the 1950s.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-class
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
About nine months after assuming power, al-Sharaa’s new regime is struggling to consolidate its authority, in large measure because Syrian minority groups are concerned they will be treated as second-class citizens — or worse — by the Sunni Islamists who now rule Damascus.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Having second-class citizens of color in a country that touted its democracy and model as the best-in-the-world was a real liability during WWII.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 10 Aug. 2025
On the weekend of August 9, the Okmulgee Roy LeBlanc Invitational Rodeo marks its 70th year, the legacy of two dozen Black businessmen, farmers and ranchers frustrated with the second-class treatment accorded to Black rodeo competitors and their fans in the 1950s.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-class
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-class
Adjective
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Over time, Buffett has always said gold is inferior as a long-term investment.—
Alex Crippen,
CNBC,
18 Oct. 2025
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An inferior pass rush impacts that.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Newcastle’s Under-18s are third in their league which, on the face of it, looks decent, but winning is not everything.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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There's some decent rain chances the rest of the week, so keep an umbrella handy.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Curing or drying potatoes thickens their skins, allows minor cuts and abrasions to heal, and makes spuds less likely to rot or shrivel in storage.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Oct. 2025
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Prisoners are not allowed to keep money behind bars, but cash can be provided by family members to a commissary fund used to buy food, toiletries and other minor needs, according to the Prison Fellowship.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Now, the stage sure seems set for a more convincing victory this weekend over the 1-5 Saints, who are altogether ordinary across all three phases and in their first season under new coach Kellen Moore.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Reichardt emphasizes the extremity of the action with a strikingly novel form of cinematic narrative that, in a more ordinary drama, might feel like a facile evasion.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Johnston said the inspiration behind the plot point came from wanting to address the feeling that, since the original book was published, the world has gotten meaner and crueler.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
17 Oct. 2025
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This country is increasingly mean-spirited in its energy.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Overall, the sound quality is comparable to that of a basic Bluetooth speaker—more than satisfactory for an AIO PC.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
15 Oct. 2025
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According to a poll conducted by the company, eight out of 10 users were happy with the experience, while another one in five described it as satisfactory.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Add buttermilk, oil, and vanilla; beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until well blended, 1 to 2 minutes.—
Ann Taylor Pittman,
Southern Living,
18 Oct. 2025
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Using an electric hand mixer, blend on medium speed.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In an era when executive compensation philosophy is often criticized for rewarding mediocre performance or short-term thinking at the expense of long-term strategy, Tesla’s approach stands out for its rigor and emphasis on accountability.—
Shane Goodwin,
Fortune,
14 Oct. 2025
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For every National Business Solutions and Darmine Devices that appear impenetrable in their genericness, there’s a small-time local establishment finding a way to sell a mediocre product to Robinson.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Second-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-class. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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