as in decent
of average to below average quality
a so-so production of a great play
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in good
in a satisfactory way
I think I did so-so on the test
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 so-so
Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2023
Small turned in a so-so performance, allowing four hits, two runs and four walks with four strikeouts in 2⅔ innings and ultimately didn't earn a decision in a Brewers victory.
—Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2023
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025
The starting pitching was good and the relief pitching was outstanding, but the hitting was so-so, as was the team’s record.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for so-so
Adjective
His results, both in the big leagues and the minors over the past two seasons, have been so-so at best.
—Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2023
Small turned in a so-so performance, allowing four hits, two runs and four walks with four strikeouts in 2⅔ innings and ultimately didn't earn a decision in a Brewers victory.
—Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2023
Adverb
Otherwise, most of my picks are great performances in so-so shows: Cooper Koch in Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Josh Rivera in FX’s American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez and Jimmy O. Yang in Disney+’s American Born Chinese.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025
The starting pitching was good and the relief pitching was outstanding, but the hitting was so-so, as was the team’s record.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for so-so
Recent Examples of Synonyms for so-so
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
Adverb
-
But that worked out good in the long run, to ultimately find performances like this.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
14 June 2025
-
Ours is set in a modern world while subverting the audiences expectations given the character has personified good since its inception.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
10 May 2024
Adjective
-
However, the space program has been restricted so far to a mediocre elite.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
15 July 2025
-
This seems like a tall order for a mediocre team with below-average pitching.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Adverb
-
Deanna Raybourn’s sequel, which reads fine as a standalone, follows a senior quartet of female assassins who are called back into action to track down a mole within the elite assassin organization, the Museum.—
Maureen Lee Lenker Published,
EW.com,
15 July 2025
-
Former model Henstridge acquits herself just fine in her debut role.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 July 2025
Adjective
-
The other specs are perfectly satisfactory for a model at this price.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
9 July 2025
-
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
-
Starfleet Command is always watching—complete the minimum number of objectives and an admiral will give you a middling performance review.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
10 July 2025
-
The Dolphins, meanwhile, were a middling team in that area, scoring touchdowns on just 56.6% of their attempts, which ranked 16th in the league.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
The medium level of compression is achieved with strategic zone cushioning, honeycomb arch support, and a cotton and elastane blend, according to the brand.—
Rachel Trujillo,
People.com,
15 July 2025
-
Customers can play a new installment of the digital game Code Moo and unlock free food rewards like free medium waffle fries, a chocolate chunk cookie, or a five-count Chick-fil-A Nuggets.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
Our party wants to give ordinary workers a raise by raising the living wage.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 July 2025
-
Davis has another theory, that ‘Squid Game’ benefited from a COVID-era viewership and ‘Shōgun’ benefited from the Hollywood strikes, but in ordinary years there’s still a hurdle to non-English programs.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“So-so.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/so-so. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share