1
as in decent
of average to below average quality
a second-rate song from a songwriter who has done much better
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
as in cheap
of low quality
second-rate goods specifically manufactured for the low end of the market
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of second-rate
Moreno said Bad Bunny is a second-rate performer and said his performing at the Super Bowl is a partisan choice.
—
Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Oct. 2025
The freshman quarterback has faced second-rate competition thus far and has daunting matchups next month.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 24 Sep. 2025
Occasionally held back by a very mid-'00s aesthetic and stylistic choices that come across second-rate David Lynch, No Smoking is nonetheless an effectively paranoid adaptation of King for another culture.
—James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
The Hundred feels like a second-rate cartoon animation in comparison.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Oct. 2025
The freshman quarterback has faced second-rate competition thus far and has daunting matchups next month.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 24 Sep. 2025
Occasionally held back by a very mid-'00s aesthetic and stylistic choices that come across second-rate David Lynch, No Smoking is nonetheless an effectively paranoid adaptation of King for another culture.
—James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
The Hundred feels like a second-rate cartoon animation in comparison.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-rate
Adjective
-
Judd, who seems a decent man, wants to know how Agnes would exemplify her wifely duties.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Robinson, 27, has been decent for the Knicks but not as effective as earlier in his career.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The high-flying version of the Avs has yet to arrive in this series, but the defensively-sound edition backed by strong goaltending continues to be enough against an inferior Kings club.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
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In these three scenarios, then, the money market account is inferior in two of them, while the returns will be identical for the shorter, 3-month option.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Solar energy is still one of the cheapest forms of energy, and energy is in higher demand than ever, partly due to artificial intelligence data center construction.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
This new method uses iron, one of the most abundant and cheapest elements on Earth.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Establishing strong communication within your team is the key factor that differentiates a winning team from a mediocre one.—
Nancy Pulciano,
Rolling Stone,
20 Apr. 2026
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If perfect is the enemy of good, then releasing middling attempts is an acknowledgement that artists must push past their mediocre ideas to uncover the gems that lay ahead.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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There could be minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas, periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms, and urban and small stream flooding.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
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There is at least some truth that social media use may cause a minor rise in dopamine levels, but not in a way that resembles drugs or qualifies as addiction.—
William Proctor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Braves couldn’t overcome a poor start from Reynaldo López and saw their six-game winning streak fall by the wayside in an 11-4 loss to the Nationals on Tuesday at Nationals Park.—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
In the days leading up to his fatal overdose, Prince was in poor health and was forced to cancel shows in Atlanta.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The defense was more than satisfactory in subduing the league’s top offense.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
19 Apr. 2026
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Be sure to triple-check that the details are satisfactory before signing anything.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Of course, the first three, the meanest comments of the bunch, are all solidly directed at women.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Hey, don’t be mean to that chicken!—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Second-rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-rate. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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