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 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

The Chiefs went on to emerge victorious 24-10, but like the offense, the defense’s focus now will be identifying how an inferior team that lost its star player early managed to stay involved until late in the fourth quarter.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026
The same can be said for TCU’s offense as well after the past two games against inferior opponents.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of inferior

Adjective

This, the perfectly decent people of Kettleborough reasoned, was a natural and godly rebuke for Susan and Cuthbert’s sin.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
With fast charging capability, 60 hours of playback time, and a foldable design, the Q20i also offers high resolution sound, and very decent ANC performance.

— Carlos Mejia, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of decent

Adjective

Georgia Power estimates this system will deliver 900 million dollars in net savings for ordinary customers over the working life of the reactors.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026
Kyiv argued the warehouses held dual-use goods, and that hitting them would impose an immediate cost on ordinary Russians, who would pressure the Kremlin to end the war.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of ordinary

Adjective

The mean score for the Peach State’s public school students was higher than the national average for the ninth year in a row, Georgia Department of Education officials said in a news release Tuesday.

— Eric Stirgus, AJC.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Related Stories Cruise, declaiming every line, acting with blind bluster and a mean gleam of good-ol’-boy joy, makes Digger a walking cartoon — a larger-than-life satire of over-the-top American arrogance, like LBJ crossed with Foghorn Leghorn.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of mean

Adjective

There may never be a satisfactory explanation for the WNBA’s insistence on abandoning such a loyal, durable fanbase, but the fans didn’t come to Mohegan Sun Arena one last time to ask why.

— Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
This is not a satisfactory outcome for anyone — not people experiencing homelessness, the surrounding community or the institutions serving vulnerable Chicagoans.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of satisfactory

Adjective

Paris Baguette Paris Baguette guests with PB Rewards can receive a free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase.

— Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Dunkin' National Coffee Day Dunkin' is giving rewards members a free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase through the app.

— Neal Riley, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of medium

Browse Nearby Words

second childhood

second-class

seconded

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Style

“Second-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-class. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of second-class

adjective

Example Sentences

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