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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of second-rate
The scandal led to a divorce, followed by Fred’s relocation to a second-rate college on the West Coast—everything had been predictable, stale like last week’s bread.
—
Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025
The father, Buddy Smart (Bryan Cranston), is the clan’s second-rate crackpot visionary, a cockeyed optimist who dresses in fuddy-duddy jackets and never knows where the next paycheck is coming from.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 June 2025
Ultimately, they might be forced to accept a system that codifies them as second-rate.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 4 June 2025
High-quality data have failed to validate those questions, so second-rate research has often been used to make the case against mifepristone.
—Keren Landman, The Atlantic, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025
The father, Buddy Smart (Bryan Cranston), is the clan’s second-rate crackpot visionary, a cockeyed optimist who dresses in fuddy-duddy jackets and never knows where the next paycheck is coming from.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 June 2025
Ultimately, they might be forced to accept a system that codifies them as second-rate.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 4 June 2025
High-quality data have failed to validate those questions, so second-rate research has often been used to make the case against mifepristone.
—Keren Landman, The Atlantic, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-rate
Adjective
-
The transparency mode is decent and keeps your surroundings sounding natural.—
Prakhar Khanna,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
When a president wants to do a decent job — at the least, respecting democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law — the magnet produces an administration of people who respect our institutions of self-government.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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Instead of allowing senior citizens and disabled first-responders choose the plan that was right for them — and the vast majority have chosen traditional Medicare — de Blasio forced every one of them into an inferior Medicare Advantage plan run by a for-profit insurance company.—
Marianne Pizzitola,
New York Daily News,
14 July 2025
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The bolder value vision is in using new AI capabilities to solve long-standing inefficiencies or problems that may have been targeted before, albeit with inferior technology.—
Beena Ammanath,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
Prospect Capital is now the cheapest BDC on the market, trading at just 46% of NAV.—
Brett Owens,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
-
For years, the equation seemed simple: look for the cheapest fare, even if the trip was mediocre.—
Wilson Santiago Burgos,
USA Today,
20 July 2025
Adjective
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However, the space program has been restricted so far to a mediocre elite.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
15 July 2025
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This seems like a tall order for a mediocre team with below-average pitching.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Besides the home advantage, Pia Sundhage’s side had a minor edge on goal difference, which meant a draw would be enough for them.—
Neel Shelat,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Right now, a handful of attorneys are exploiting our legal system, filing thousands of cookie-cutter lawsuits against businesses for minor technical violations.—
Aaron Hichman,
Mercury News,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
This last group is those with still poor (<50) RS Ratings, but strong (>80) 3-month RS Ratings. a.—
Randy Watts,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
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Some other discounts may seem impressive on the surface, but have consistently poor ratings or only a few sizes in stock.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
The other specs are perfectly satisfactory for a model at this price.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
9 July 2025
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Synan’s attorney declined to comment on a similar question, as well as a question about whether the resignation is a satisfactory outcome for the police chief.—
Quinlan Bentley,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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Grab lunch at Red Hills Market or Merenda Italian Deli (both make a mean sandwich) before popping into Sokol Blosser or Durant Vineyards, ending in Dayton with dinner at Loam and overnighting in a retro Airstream at The Vintages campground.—
Zoe Baillargeon,
Travel + Leisure,
20 July 2025
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Or, consider elevator and escalator installers and repairers, who earned a mean annual wage of $106,580.—
Robert Farrington,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Second-rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-rate. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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