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
Sometime in the late 18th century, though, offal started suffering from an image problem, viewed by some people to be an affordable but second-rate food.
—
Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
Aside from the weather, hourlong wait times for food, defective wristbands and second-rate VIP experiences were among the complaints from festivalgoers.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2025
The occasion: a second-rate literary award ceremony.
—Dwight Garner, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
It must be acknowledged and accepted that educators are the experts in their profession and not second-rate.
—Patricia A. Daniel, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
Aside from the weather, hourlong wait times for food, defective wristbands and second-rate VIP experiences were among the complaints from festivalgoers.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2025
The occasion: a second-rate literary award ceremony.
—Dwight Garner, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
It must be acknowledged and accepted that educators are the experts in their profession and not second-rate.
—Patricia A. Daniel, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-rate
Adjective
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Reading these reports alongs with your own research can give you a decent idea of which cruise ships are doing the most to reduce their impact.—
Lea Lane,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
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But the Tar Heel state has a decent amount of talent this year, and UNC does not appear to be in position to take advantage of it.—
Grace Raynor,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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If college sports morph into inferior versions of the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB and other major pro leagues, college teams run the risk of resembling minor league squads that would generate much less revenue.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
8 June 2025
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While North Korea's naval forces are widely seen as far inferior to those of its rivals, analysts say a destroyer equipped with modern missile and radar systems could still boost the North's offensive and defensive capabilities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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Matthew Whelan, executive director of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce, suggests visiting on a weekday when possible; parking will be easier to find, and beach badges are cheaper ($7/day/person, instead of $10).—
Rachel Chang,
AFAR Media,
2 June 2025
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One possible option is a center or third lane with curbs that would require less land to be acquired and be cheaper.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2025
Adjective
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Or perhaps two intense training sessions weekly with perfect recovery outperforms five mediocre workouts.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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So, except for 2019, every full season since 2017 has included one mediocre month.—
Peter O’Malley,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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One allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail, and three deputies were struck, causing minor injuries, the department said.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
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Per the Sheriff’s Office, the unidentified suspect broke in and assaulted a resident living in the home, who escaped after suffering a minor injury.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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This lack of preparation yields poor communication that worsens difficult situations and burns bridges between companies and fired employees.—
Nicole Tidei,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
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Zooming in reveals a poor level of detail, while the colors look unnaturally bright.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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Father’s Day tends to carry the rep of being a lower-key celebration, with a satisfactory time including food and beverages, maybe a clothing item, and peace and quiet.—
DeVonne Goode,
Parents,
6 June 2025
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Multiple audits — including one presented to the supervisors last month — found the company has continuously fallen short of the 90-95% compliance rate needed for a satisfactory rating.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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The other person who spoke in South Carolina, Tim Walz, is a special mixture of extreme buffoonery and a mean spirit, which is a toxic brew.—
Jenny Goldsberry,
The Washington Examiner,
1 June 2025
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At its core, the CHOICE Act extends the allowable duration of noncompete clauses to four years for employees earning over twice the mean wage in their county, eliminating the requirement for employers to demonstrate a legitimate business interest before enforcing them.—
Sam Peak,
Sun Sentinel,
1 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Second-rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-rate. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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