SECOND-RATE Synonyms: 182 Similar and Opposite Words

second-rate

adjective

ˌse-kən(d)-ˈrāt

Definition of second-rate

as in decent

of average to below average quality a second-rate song from a songwriter who has done much better

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in inferior

of little or less value or merit a second-rate company that was never considered among the top manufacturers of televisions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cheap

of low quality second-rate goods specifically manufactured for the low end of the market

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-rate For those who don't know his story, Darnold has gone through so much during his last eight seasons, including being pushed around the league like a second-rate quarterback and being called a bust by many in the profession. — Noe Padilla, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026 Maybe then the United States will care about slipping to second-rate. — Noah Shachtman, Wired News, 13 Jan. 2026 For three months, Turner’s college football programming has been limited to second-rate Big 12 games, with Fox and ESPN retaining rights to the conference’s most appealing matchups. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 19 Dec. 2025 Meanwhile, TPUs are far from a second-rate technology. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for second-rate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-rate

Adjective

The Crosstrek also has decent off-road capability as a base model and can easily be enhanced with tires or purchased from the factory as a mean off-roading machine (Crosstrek Wilderness).

— Charles Singh, USA Today, 14 July 2026
Insiders added that the power striker, who also is a decent rapper himself, was on his best behavior.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026

Definition of decent

Adjective

But the breaking point came when his wife refused to let their young children near any of his half-century-old vehicles, which lacked air bags and the safety features standard in even the cheapest modern cars.

— Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 10 July 2026
As launch gets cheaper and hardware more standardized, companies can reach into space without having to master or even own the hardware.

— Charlotte Kiang, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026

Definition of cheap

Adjective

Some with the club, however, were concerned that the team’s current 26-8 run, following a disappointing 26-34 start, came mostly against mediocre opponents.

— Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 10 July 2026
Innovative mechanics and a soothing stretch mode make the LiberNovo Omni memorable, but its mediocre support ultimately overshadows its technical achievements.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 9 July 2026

Definition of mediocre

Adjective

On Thursday, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office charged Ramon with lewd and lascivious acts on a minor, police said.

— Jason Green, Mercury News, 10 July 2026
Many of those convicted committed only minor offenses, such as traffic violations, according to Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.

— Mathew Miranda July 9, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of minor

Adjective

Prolonged exposure to heat can lead to insufficient or poor sleep, compromising the immune system, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diminishing cognitive performance.

— Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
On top of this, subterranean drip systems often clog with mineral deposits, sediment, and algae, which Nad warns may eventually require repairs or replacement of portions of the system, particularly in areas with hard water or poor filtration.

— Kamron Sanders, The Spruce, 13 July 2026

Definition of poor

Adjective

The fifth season will have a really hard time wrapping up everything in a satisfactory way at this point.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Kelley said the company believed the existing easement was satisfactory and wasn’t told otherwise until after investing years of work on he project.

— Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026

Definition of satisfactory

Adjective

Free-flowing tournament favorites versus the tournament’s meanest defense.

— David Hickey, NBC news, 14 July 2026
The Crosstrek also has decent off-road capability as a base model and can easily be enhanced with tires or purchased from the factory as a mean off-roading machine (Crosstrek Wilderness).

— Charles Singh, USA Today, 14 July 2026