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
Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
This is the detail that separates a so-so cleaning job from a truly clear result.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2025
And solid exit scores among moviegoers are more than making up for so-so reviews, including a B+ CinemaScore and an 80 percent audience ranking on Rotten Tomatoes.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 15 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for so-so
Adjective
The Rockies’ pitching, excellent for most of the trip, was only so-so on Thursday.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
This is the detail that separates a so-so cleaning job from a truly clear result.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
Adverb
Dylan Cease’s so-so walk year doesn’t appear to have cost him in free agency.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2025
And solid exit scores among moviegoers are more than making up for so-so reviews, including a B+ CinemaScore and an 80 percent audience ranking on Rotten Tomatoes.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 15 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for so-so
Recent Examples of Synonyms for so-so
Adjective
-
Give it a really decent mix and that's fine.—
Emily Elias,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
3 June 2026
-
Teams are obviously attracted to the combination of size, body, work ethic, leadership, poise, shot and decent skill.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Adverb
-
Delivering good-paying jobs by ensuring these centers leverage local trades and pay prevailing wages.—
Ryan Hughes,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
-
Finding a pair that's both comfortable and good-looking is the real challenge, but hundreds of shoppers have found their unicorn in Quince's Italian Leather Platform Sandal.—
Tanya Sharma,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
Winnipeg’s power play was mediocre last season; a merely average 20 percent rate would have been worth three or four more goals.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
-
Those references were firmly planted in 2010s millennial nostalgia, which is reflected in the characters, particularly Oscar Isaac’s Josh Martin, the general manager of an exclusive California country club and a mediocre synth player who’s a huge fan of the English pop band Hot Chip.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
31 May 2026
Adverb
-
Despite the tragicomic instability and the rotating cast of nobodies temporarily tasked with running the country, when seen in macroeconomic terms, Peru appears to be doing just fine, thank you.—
Daniel Alarcón,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
-
South Africa's current favorite chef, Liam Tomlin, has provided guidance and training for all the group's chefs, resulting in a fine-dining menu (for lunch and dinner) that uses as many local products as possible; ergo, the food was excellent.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
The mayor’s office statement indicates that resolution was satisfactory enough to lead to Yancey’s reinstatement to her high-ranking position.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
3 June 2026
-
The keyboard on the TravelMate P6 was perfectly satisfactory in my brief stabs at typing.—
John Burek,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
Adverb
-
Went to Monaco on loan in February and has done alright there.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
-
Rushing has spread his good at-bats out alright.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And these middling temperatures are often coupled with rain.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
-
Getty Images The Philadelphia Phillies can enjoy some new optimism around their season after a brutal start improved into a middling record by the one-third mark of the season.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Adverb
-
The alternately suspenseful and silly scene nicely sets up the tone for this new season, which is infused with references to classic Westerns as much as screwball comedies.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
-
Each medicine is individually packaged, and the whole kit is small enough to fit nicely in your purse or backpack.—
Chantelle Kincy,
Travel + Leisure,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“So-so.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/so-so. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
