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
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Just the nicest, most talented, and most decent kid around.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
29 July 2025
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Either could be combined with a trade-in if Google is running a decent deal.—
Janhoi McGregor,
Forbes.com,
29 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
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Prospect Capital is now the cheapest BDC on the market, trading at just 46% of NAV.—
Brett Owens,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
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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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To that end, consider not who is best, but rather how an uptick from an individual component could make the overall product something, well, less mediocre.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
26 July 2025
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Reporting for work on time, doing one’s duties as expected, demonstrating a respectful and positive work presence and being a reliable colleague—none of that sounds average to me, at least not with the mediocre connotations incorrectly connected to the word.—
Edward DeAngelis,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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More Songs is, in effect, Eno’s debut as a capital-P producer, notwithstanding some minor early efforts and, of course, David Bowie’s landmark sessions for Low and Heroes.—
Will Hermes,
Rolling Stone,
26 July 2025
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The club insisted Isak was left behind because of a minor thigh problem but The Athletic reported on Thursday sources, speaking anonymously as they were not authorised to do so publicly, indicated the forward favoured being omitted amid his uncertain future.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
26 July 2025
Adjective
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Spurred by climate change, Canadian wildfires have increasingly exacerbated poor air quality across Milwaukee and southern Wisconsin.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
24 July 2025
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Cocoa prices have more than doubled over the past two years due to poor weather and disease in West Africa, which supplies more than 70% of the world’s cocoa.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Chicago Tribune,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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One factor that now seems to ensure a satisfactory resolution for both parties is the resurrection of the NFL’s interest in taking an equity stake in ESPN, rumors of which first began circulating in early 2024.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
25 July 2025
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The plane’s fuel was tested and found to be of satisfactory quality, and no significant bird activity is observed in the vicinity of the flight path, according to the report.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Second-rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-rate. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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