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
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Recent Examples of second-class
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
No more treating the people who make movies possible as second-class citizens in their own celebration.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-class
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
No more treating the people who make movies possible as second-class citizens in their own celebration.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-class
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-class
Adjective
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The complaint alleges NeuralHash is a far inferior tool to PhotoDNA.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
How about make a product that costs so much that these customers feel compelled make their own inferior chip or join forces with second-place player AMD.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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And thanks to a television show that entered the zeitgeist in 2006, the arts started to pay a decent wage.—
Sarah Hepola,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Rear passengers look to be getting decent space (unlike its predecessor).—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
He was convicted eight years earlier of solicitation of prostitution involving a minor.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
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The mountains are expected to see minor snowfall going into next week for areas with elevation above 3,000 feet.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
Updated February 20,
Sacbee.com,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In this respect, Rose is a companion piece, being the story of another ordinary man, a struggling farmer in early 17th century Germany.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2026
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In maybe more ordinary times, a Fritz, Shelton or Tiafoe may have won a Grand Slam by now.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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To me, being mean to each other was not supposed to be part of it.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Feb. 2026
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McDonald's was a mean one last year, only bringing its Grinch meal to Canada for the 2024 holidays.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But could not get a satisfactory picture from all this information.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
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The move also apparently addresses a growing frustration among travelers that in-flight dining has been less than satisfactory in recent years.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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At the northwestern Tabriz air base linked to Iran’s medium-range ballistic missiles, taxiways and runways have been restored.—
Farida Elsebai,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
In a small skillet, cook ginger and garlic over medium heat in oil, stirring, 1 minute.—
Martha Stewart,
Martha Stewart,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Fittingly, the song’s thumping beat is heard twice, real loud, in Rosebush Pruning, Karim Aїnouz’s high-gloss, pitch-dark satire about an American family described by one of its scions as mediocre, vapid egotists, who will never have to work thanks to a large inheritance.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
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The seltzer leavens it, enlivens it, puts room between the flavors where the room is needed most, and turns a derivative and mediocre drink into a fascinating and bizarre one.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Second-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-class. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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