Synonyms of mean
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as in to signify 
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as in to matter
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as in to intend
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as in to indicate
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as in middle
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as in doing
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as in ministry
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as in worth
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as in average
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as in low
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as in careful
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as in cruel
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as in dirty
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as in inferior
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as in awesome
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as in dilapidated
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as in lame
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1
as in to signify
to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind
the national anthem means various things to various people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to matter
to be of importance
your presence at my graduation would mean a lot to me
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3
as in to intend
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
I mean to win this race
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1
as in middle
a middle point between extremes
that candidate's moderate views were seen as the mean that voters were looking for
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in doing
means plural
an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result
won the competition by fair and honest means
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3
as in ministry
means plural
something used to achieve an end
the ends don't justify the means
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4
as in worth
means plural
the total of one's money and property
a woman of considerable means
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in average
being about midway between extremes of amount or size
for the state of Florida, what is the mean number of sunny days per month?
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in low
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank
Alexander Hamilton seems to have had feelings of inferiority because of his mean origins
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2
as in careful
giving or sharing as little as possible
a mean child who hoarded all her toys
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3
as in cruel
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
a mean, embittered old woman who wanted company for her misery
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4
as in dirty
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency
a mean trick to play on a trusting person
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5
as in inferior
of little or less value or merit
it's no mean feat to memorize that long poem
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6
as in awesome
of the very best kind
I'm a mean dancer, so you could do worse than go to the prom with me
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7
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
he worked hard to escape the mean neighborhood of his youth
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8
as in lame
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
that was no mean stunt to pull off, especially with so little advance preparation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of mean
Clayton Davis, Variety, 25 Feb. 2025
For some people, this might mean lying in bed, while for others, it's propped upright in a chair or on the couch.
—Amanda Chatel, Glamour, 25 Feb. 2025
David Opie, IndieWire, 25 Feb. 2025
The department has been criticized for using surreptitious means to collect DNA, like grabbing a soda can used by a suspect after questioning.
—Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2025
Jenny Adams, AFAR Media, 11 Feb. 2025
This spot features a housemade limoncello and a mean happy hour from Monday to Thursday from 3 p.m to 6 p.m., including a $5 house cabernet and chardonnay, $4.50 domestic beers and $7 bites.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mean
Verb
The preferential ballot means a film’s best chance at winning depends on which movies get eliminated first — those with the fewest No. 1 votes.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 25 Feb. 2025
For some people, this might mean lying in bed, while for others, it's propped upright in a chair or on the couch.
—Amanda Chatel, Glamour, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
And what does the film’s unprecedented success mean for global cinema moving forward?
—David Opie, IndieWire, 25 Feb. 2025
The department has been criticized for using surreptitious means to collect DNA, like grabbing a soda can used by a suspect after questioning.
—Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Guests arrive to a warm welcome from innkeeper Todd Schwartz, who lives upstairs, drives a 1967 Lincoln Continental, and stirs a mean Martini.
—Jenny Adams, AFAR Media, 11 Feb. 2025
This spot features a housemade limoncello and a mean happy hour from Monday to Thursday from 3 p.m to 6 p.m., including a $5 house cabernet and chardonnay, $4.50 domestic beers and $7 bites.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mean
Verb
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This commitment signifies a departure from traditional norms, a bold strategy aiming to redefine consumer expectations.—
Hudson Lindenberger,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
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However, tongue bleeding can also signify other conditions, including vitamin deficiency, infections, or cancer.—
Kelly Burch Published,
Verywell Health,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But the relative rankings did not matter when Teel stepped in against Sasaki on Tuesday.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
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What matters most is that members who are paying dues at their clubs have their rights and privileges protected.—
Mike Dojc,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Meier intended to use her credit to build up a nest egg after years of grad school.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
28 Feb. 2025
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Black men, it was said, intended to take the profits and the means of cotton production and sale for themselves.—
Christmaelle Vernet & Kathy Roberts Forde / Made by History,
TIME,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The ongoing confusion and mystery regarding Lionel Messi’s availability was amplified before kickoff on Thursday, and what followed was a tense victory that was tighter than the final scoreline indicated.—
Franco Panizo,
Miami Herald,
7 Mar. 2025
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The alert indicates that neither any of the children nor Lauren had been seen or heard from in at least 48 hours as of Thursday night.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Piling snow in the middle or at the bottom of a slope can cause a dam effect, resulting in an icy mess during freezing and thawing cycles.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Mar. 2025
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The Bar at Asher Adams The hotel's signature bar sits in the middle of its main hall built into the train station's original ticket windows with a wall of clocks above.—
Hudson Lindenberger,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
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For example, the White House Correspondents Association decides which reporters go into small spaces like the Oval Office or Air Force One to report on the president’s doings.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
25 Feb. 2025
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The region has long suffered from civil conflict, and bodies washing up on the riverbanks may not have all been Gustave’s doing.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Ukrainian defense ministry capture Watching and waiting outside the ruins of Ulakly in eastern Ukraine in recent days, Ukrainian drones demonstrated how Kyiv’s drone crews and artillery gunners work together to spot, track, fix and finish off Russian assault troops.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
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Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian foreign ministry for comment.—
Russel Honoré,
Newsweek,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Scientists estimate a garbage truck's worth of plastic waste enters the oceans every minute, where large debris threatens fish, sea turtles and marine mammals with entanglement and smaller plastics enter the ocean food web.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
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The Niners’ first big move of the offseason has already been made, but San Francisco has so much work left to do to rebuild a roster that will require two offseasons’ worth of work in one.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
The Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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