1
as in average
being about midway between extremes of amount or size
tired of the city but not particularly interested in small-town life, he moved to a suburb of middling size
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decent
of average to below average quality
was disappointed in the renowned historian's latest book, which is only middling
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of middling
The Afeela brought bland styling for a fastback, middling 300-mile (483 km) range, and fairly commonplace in-cabin features for an entry-level luxury car.
—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2026
This middling progress—the actual work of government, of public service—is obscured by Kennedy’s online persona.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2026
Their defense was average at best last year, despite unusually good health, and Mahomes’ weapons outside of Walker are middling.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
And why would Venezuela hire a middling, one-term former congressman with a history of scandal?
—Jim Defede, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for middling
Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2026
This middling progress—the actual work of government, of public service—is obscured by Kennedy’s online persona.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2026
Their defense was average at best last year, despite unusually good health, and Mahomes’ weapons outside of Walker are middling.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
And why would Venezuela hire a middling, one-term former congressman with a history of scandal?
—Jim Defede, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for middling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for middling
Adjective
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Precipitation is currently about 90 percent of average, boosted by strong winter storms in December.—
Brady Halbleib,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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The average cost of mold remediation is about $2,300, according to Angi, a home services marketplace.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But there were a few decent ones.—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Apr. 2026
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That’s because this winter brought decent rain and the three years prior were wet, too.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The candidates earned a median annual income of $489,000 from 2021 to 2025, a total that in most cases includes their spouse’s income.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
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Similarly, professionals in substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselor occupations earn median wages below $60,000 a year, despite typically needing a master’s degree in psychology or a related field.—
Kamaron McNair,
CNBC,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Many longtime observers believe forcing the lowest seeds to cannibalize themselves in the opening round would strip the main event of its charm and that the mediocre teams from the heavyweight leagues should fill the 12 opening round matchups.—
Jon Wilner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
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After all, television is a business where thousands of people work, and a mediocre show can employ just as many people (minus a few writers) as an Emmy-winner.—
Jennifer Silverman,
Rolling Stone,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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What once seemed a marginal asset now appears increasingly vital over the medium term.—
Boris Muñoz,
Time,
3 Apr. 2026
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Considered a small to medium tree, the serviceberry averages about 15 feet, but can stretch to 25 feet in ideal conditions.—
Campbell Vaughn,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Privately, some writers walking the staff picket line still had faith in WGAW management to negotiate a satisfactory deal with the AMPTP amid the drama.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2026
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Safety, satisfactory customer service, and ensuring riders feel secure are best achieved by maintaining — and even increasing — staffing in transit systems.—
John Samuelsen,
New York Daily News,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Deuterium can replace one or both of the ordinary hydrogen atoms in water, which is what scientists mean by deuterium enrichment.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
30 Mar. 2026
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For instance, investments that give off income that is taxed at ordinary rates go into retirement accounts like IRAs, said CFP Cathy Curtis, founder and CEO of Curtis Financial Planning.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Leon bemoans, earning hearty laughter from the indifferent crowd.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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Solving difficult medical cases matters, but so does the trust the process restores in a health system many patients experience as rushed, fragmented, and indifferent.—
Alexandra Sifferlin,
STAT,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Middling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/middling. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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