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
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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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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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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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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of mean
Aislinn Conrad, The Conversation, 13 June 2025
Stronger encryption means hackers can't easily intercept or crack your Wi-Fi traffic.
10.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025
Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 13 June 2025
But his hatred is only a means to an end, and that end his his own glorification [sic].
—Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 12 June 2025
Sam Peak, Sun Sentinel, 1 June 2025
The other person who spoke in South Carolina, Tim Walz, is a special mixture of extreme buffoonery and a mean spirit, which is a toxic brew.
—Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for mean
Verb
Honoring these principles means building systems that respond with care, not punishment.
—Aislinn Conrad, The Conversation, 13 June 2025
Stronger encryption means hackers can't easily intercept or crack your Wi-Fi traffic.
10.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025
Noun
Throughout the rest of the complaint, Hilgers goes on to allege that the means by which Temu entices Nebraskan consumers are also unlawful.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 13 June 2025
But his hatred is only a means to an end, and that end his his own glorification [sic].
—Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 12 June 2025
Adjective
At its core, the CHOICE Act extends the allowable duration of noncompete clauses to four years for employees earning over twice the mean wage in their county, eliminating the requirement for employers to demonstrate a legitimate business interest before enforcing them.
—Sam Peak, Sun Sentinel, 1 June 2025
The other person who spoke in South Carolina, Tim Walz, is a special mixture of extreme buffoonery and a mean spirit, which is a toxic brew.
—Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for mean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mean
Verb
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The two infamous politicians were reviled in the North; their capture signified a great Union victory.—
Zaakir Tameez
June 11,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2025
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The deployment of the Marines and National Guard in Los Angeles signifies an even more direct and troubling method of addressing public dissent, raising critical concerns about the erosion of democratic principles and constitutional rights.—
Emma K. Dashnaw,
Hartford Courant,
11 June 2025
Verb
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That matters here because reconciliation bills (like OBBBA) are subject to special rules in the Senate.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
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That fundamental conflict of interest ought to matter to the Florida Bar.—
The Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2025
Verb
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The homogeneity is intended to equal the playing field while allowing independent management strategies to still play a part as the machines are pushed to the limit over the course of the Earth’s complete rotation on its axis.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
16 June 2025
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Iran’s aircraft are now intended for ground support roles, and few are under any illusions that the air force can compete with Israel’s, the most advanced in the region with the latest U.S. technology, including F-35s.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
16 June 2025
Verb
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Coinbase has indicated that cryptocurrency prices are influenced by multi-year cycles that typically last two to four years.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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The release indicated that Dobbins was inside a marked crosswalk when she was struck around 7:30 p.m. that evening.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
9 June 2025
Noun
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Hamlin came from the middle, making a charge to the front, which resulted in an overtake at lap 197 of 200.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
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The Red Sox mounted a push in the bottom of the seventh, cutting the deficit to one on a run-scoring groundout by Abraham Toro and an RBI single up the middle by Trevor Story.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
10 June 2025
Noun
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Dark doings—abductions, intrigues—fill the Tacoma papers.—
Caroline Fraser
June 10,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2025
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Hoberman pays due attention to the major national and international events that influenced New York’s avant-garde—civil rights, the Vietnam War, political assassinations—and also to historic doings within the city, such as feminist activism and the Stonewall uprising.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 June 2025
Noun
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According to the Mexican foreign ministry, 42 Mexican citizens were arrested in the recent raids, 37 men and five women.—
Patrick J. McDonnell,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
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Thailand's foreign ministry said the bodies of two other citizens were yet to be retrieved.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 June 2025
Noun
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If current trends hold, the world’s farmers will have to clear at least a dozen more Californias’ worth of land to fill nearly 10 billion human bellies by 2050. ...—
Laurie Ochoa,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2025
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This week, the cut reaches a major milestone, hitting 520 frames on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart — a full decade's worth of charting.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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