1
as in decent
of average to below average quality
a second-rate song from a songwriter who has done much better
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inferior
of little or less value or merit
a second-rate company that was never considered among the top manufacturers of televisions
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3
as in cheap
of low quality
second-rate goods specifically manufactured for the low end of the market
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of second-rate
But the paucity of high-level talent across those 12 programs reflects the second-rate state of college basketball in the West.
—
Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
The scandal led to a divorce, followed by Fred’s relocation to a second-rate college on the West Coast—everything had been predictable, stale like last week’s bread.
—Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025
The father, Buddy Smart (Bryan Cranston), is the clan’s second-rate crackpot visionary, a cockeyed optimist who dresses in fuddy-duddy jackets and never knows where the next paycheck is coming from.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 June 2025
Ultimately, they might be forced to accept a system that codifies them as second-rate.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
The scandal led to a divorce, followed by Fred’s relocation to a second-rate college on the West Coast—everything had been predictable, stale like last week’s bread.
—Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025
The father, Buddy Smart (Bryan Cranston), is the clan’s second-rate crackpot visionary, a cockeyed optimist who dresses in fuddy-duddy jackets and never knows where the next paycheck is coming from.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 June 2025
Ultimately, they might be forced to accept a system that codifies them as second-rate.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-rate
Adjective
-
Either could be combined with a trade-in if Google is running a decent deal.—
Janhoi McGregor,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
-
Jimenez is a decent prospect to send to a division foe in exchange for a rental pitcher and a glorified project in Dobnak.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
29 July 2025
Adjective
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Instead of allowing senior citizens and disabled first-responders choose the plan that was right for them — and the vast majority have chosen traditional Medicare — de Blasio forced every one of them into an inferior Medicare Advantage plan run by a for-profit insurance company.—
Marianne Pizzitola,
New York Daily News,
14 July 2025
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The bolder value vision is in using new AI capabilities to solve long-standing inefficiencies or problems that may have been targeted before, albeit with inferior technology.—
Beena Ammanath,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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Though prices at the pump typically jump when refineries switch to a more expensive summer blend of gasoline, lower crude oil prices have led to cheaper gas this summer.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Under 25% Source: Zillow These cities became incredibly overheated during the pandemic, when out-of-state remote workers moved in to find cheaper homes, a more affordable cost of living, and a good quality of life.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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To that end, consider not who is best, but rather how an uptick from an individual component could make the overall product something, well, less mediocre.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
26 July 2025
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Reporting for work on time, doing one’s duties as expected, demonstrating a respectful and positive work presence and being a reliable colleague—none of that sounds average to me, at least not with the mediocre connotations incorrectly connected to the word.—
Edward DeAngelis,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
More Songs is, in effect, Eno’s debut as a capital-P producer, notwithstanding some minor early efforts and, of course, David Bowie’s landmark sessions for Low and Heroes.—
Will Hermes,
Rolling Stone,
26 July 2025
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The club insisted Isak was left behind because of a minor thigh problem but The Athletic reported on Thursday sources, speaking anonymously as they were not authorised to do so publicly, indicated the forward favoured being omitted amid his uncertain future.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
26 July 2025
Adjective
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Spurred by climate change, Canadian wildfires have increasingly exacerbated poor air quality across Milwaukee and southern Wisconsin.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
24 July 2025
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Other critical factors that led to several brands exiting Japan, like Ford in 2016, were insufficient product lineups, and a poor dealer network.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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One factor that now seems to ensure a satisfactory resolution for both parties is the resurrection of the NFL’s interest in taking an equity stake in ESPN, rumors of which first began circulating in early 2024.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
25 July 2025
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The plane’s fuel was tested and found to be of satisfactory quality, and no significant bird activity is observed in the vicinity of the flight path, according to the report.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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She's known in the sport around the state as Big D — and for her mean two-handed backhand.—
La Risa R. Lynch,
jsonline.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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One is a mysterious young woman with some mean kung fu skills who has just arrived from China in the Italian capital in search of her missing sister; the other is the son of an indebted local restaurant owner who has disappeared with his lover.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Second-rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-rate. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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