serviceable
adjective
Irving Kolodin 
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Someone who speaks serviceable Spanish isn't fluent in it but gets by pretty well. A serviceable jacket is practical and maybe even rugged. But serviceable sometimes damns with faint praise. A serviceable performance is all right but not inspired. Serviceable curtains aren't the ideal color or pattern, but they serve their purpose. A serviceable pair of shoes is sturdy but won't win you any fashion points.
Synonyms
Examples of serviceable in a Sentence
Matthew Buzzi, PCMAG, 21 Mar. 2024
The new base config comes with a serviceable 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD, with a 16GB RAM upgrade available for another $200.
—Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 21 Sep. 2023
The spa and gym in the basement are serviceable, but the hotel earns a bonus point for an unexpected amenity: its beach club.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024
Though Byard was serviceable, his $14.4 million cap hit is extremely difficult to justify given the state of the Eagles' secondary.
—Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024
Most of those players started three to 10 games last season; all are at least serviceable.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2024
Here the directing is serviceable at best, and the result never looks pretty.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2024
Dinwiddie is a veteran combo guard who can both create for himself and others and is serviceable on the defensive end.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2024
The cast does a serviceable job, but the real strengths of this film are its big swings to connect calculations with the central mysteries of religion, the universe, and everything in between.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 5 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'serviceable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Middle English serviseable "willing to serve or be of assistance, suitable, useful," borrowed from Anglo-French servissable, from servise service entry 1 + -able -able
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near serviceable
Cite this Entry
“Serviceable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serviceable. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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serviceable
adjective
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