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 The current system buys shareholder returns for the primes and second-rate capability for those in uniform. — Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2026 The animation features a lot of rotoscoping, and the result is an aesthetic that’s both oddly fluid and charmingly cheap, like some second-rate Ralph Bakshi effort. — Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026 LaFleur could never find the winning formula during Green Bay’s second-rate, 8-9 season in 2022, then Gutekunst traded Rodgers to the New York Jets 3 ½ months later. — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 15 Mar. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for second-rate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-rate

Adjective

The role of a legitimate people’s government is to level the playing field between the billionaires and the rest of us who are just trying to provide ourselves with decent, dignified lives and get ahead.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
Like any decent strength coach, Potts and his staff hold their athletes to the consistent standard of challenging themselves.

— PJ Green October 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of decent

Adjective

After years of looking inferior to its Western brethren, the NBA’s Eastern Conference is enjoying a renaissance, galvanized by a steady influx of talent and the relocation of star players to new teams.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
Brandon put up big numbers against inferior opponents, but struggled against Texas and Auburn, and Heupel clearly doesn’t see this as a development year for his team.

— Seth Emerson, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of inferior

Adjective

Amazon’s two cheaper models also come in child-friendly versions tailored to whether your child is between three and five, or six and 12.

— James Peckham, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026
The audience is full of young people — the revival has continued the original production’s commitment to offering cheap day-of tickets — many of whom have strong connections to the material.

— Ellise Shafer, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of cheap

Adjective

Jon Stewart set his sights on AI on the latest episode of The Daily Show, unpacking the threats posed by the technology and Donald Trump‘s mediocre reaction.

— Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026
On paper, the Brewers will pose a significantly tougher challenge than the Chicago Cubs’ mediocre staff.

— Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of mediocre

Adjective

An uninterrupted trip Stoliker thinks chaos is not a satisfactory explanation for psychedelics’ effect on the brain.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 Oct. 2026
After months of negotiations failed to yield a satisfactory agreement, the union approved strike action earlier this month in a vote held in tandem with unions at the Brooklyn Museum and American Folk Art Museum.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of satisfactory

Adjective

The last time a streak had a mean reading that high was during a period ending in the 1980s.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
For this leaner, meaner Deafheaven, stylistic variety takes a backseat to speed and chaos, and when properly executed, subtle melodic or rhythmic tweaks wield the heft of the more tectonic transitions in the band’s defining songs.

— Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026