1
as in decent
of average to below average quality
a second-rate song from a songwriter who has done much better
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
-
There are plenty of bars and pubs in downtown Atlanta, but for those looking to enjoy a decent meal and avoid some of the crowds, check out these eight bars offering good food and great sports viewing vibes around metro Atlanta.—
Olivia Wakim,
AJC.com,
4 Mar. 2026
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The 2012 draft brought a decent linebacker in Olivier Vernon and squeezed one 1,00-yard season from running back Lamar Miller.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That has pushed it to explore asymmetric warfare, in which smaller or technologically inferior forces look for ways to frustrate or exhaust the enemy.—
Jane Lytvynenko,
NBC news,
3 Mar. 2026
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Right now, the Angels have an inferior product in an aging stadium, and visions of a new or refurbished ballpark and surrounding development stalled after talks between the club and the city crashed on the rocks a couple of seasons ago.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Their weekly grocery bill has dropped from the equivalent of about $400 to $267; fuel and public transport are 40% cheaper; and GP visits cost 25% less – with same-day appointments replacing week-long waits.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
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Respect yourself by choosing quality items over the cheapest possible options, then treat those purchases with care.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Would an army with excellent captains and mediocre generals be better than one with a brilliant general and crummy captains?—
Andrew Van Dam,
Washington Post,
2 Mar. 2026
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Stop using your mediocre academics as a way to patronize communities.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Left-hander Marco Gonzales, a veteran coming back from flexor tendon surgery and in camp on a minor-league deal, followed with another three scoreless innings.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
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This will be the period when the threat of severe weather is highest, with large hail, damaging winds and minor flooding as the main concerns throughout the afternoon.—
Mary Wasson,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Through its clear imagery, operators can navigate safely and assess fire scenes even with poor visibility.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Mar. 2026
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An injection like this has a clear advantage over daily prevention pills in poorer countries, where patients – particularly young women – might struggle to access clinics or feel stigmatised for seeking treatment.—
Harriet Marsden,
TheWeek,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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When the answer wasn’t satisfactory, Miller reported the company to the Better Business Bureau.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
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But could not get a satisfactory picture from all this information.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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One sister’s adult son and daughter have always been mean to me.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Washington Post,
6 Mar. 2026
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By 1997, there was another TV remake with Brandy starring as Cinderella for a new generation, with Bernadette Peters as her mean stepmother and Whitney Houston as the fairy godmother.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Second-rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-rate. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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