1
as in decent
of average to below average quality
a second-rate song from a songwriter who has done much better
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cheap
of low quality
second-rate goods specifically manufactured for the low end of the market
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of second-rate
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
High-quality data have failed to validate those questions, so second-rate research has often been used to make the case against mifepristone.
—Keren Landman, The Atlantic, 24 May 2025
European soccer elitists turn up their noses at the Europa League because of its second-rate status.
—Alex Tabet, NBC news, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
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
High-quality data have failed to validate those questions, so second-rate research has often been used to make the case against mifepristone.
—Keren Landman, The Atlantic, 24 May 2025
European soccer elitists turn up their noses at the Europa League because of its second-rate status.
—Alex Tabet, NBC news, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-rate
Adjective
-
But something good and decent rose from their sacrifice.—
EW Staff Published,
EW.com,
4 July 2025
-
Like the Gin Blossoms, who once scored decent hits on the music charts, the pair did pretty well in their 2018 statewide bids for office.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
With a price tag of $99.99, the half-size bottles weren’t exactly cheap by the ounce—but that didn’t prevent stocks from selling out fast, spurred by excellent word of mouth.—
David Thomas Tao,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
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So Amazfit Active 2 $100 $80 (20% off) Amazon $100 $80 (20% off) Amazfit Our top budget fitness tracker is even cheaper thanks to Prime Day.—
Parker Hall,
Wired News,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
However, the space program has been restricted so far to a mediocre elite.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
15 July 2025
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Bringing him back to the mound after his second reconstructive right elbow surgery for the first time since Aug. 23, 2023, has turned Ohtani from one of the most prolific hitters in the game to a short-shift pitcher and, for now, a mediocre batter.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Besides the home advantage, Pia Sundhage’s side had a minor edge on goal difference, which meant a draw would be enough for them.—
Neel Shelat,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
If some minor differences related to your job occur today, don’t let this get in the way of happy times with others.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
In Miami’s poorer communities, such as Allapattah and Liberty City, a helicopter inspection suggested extensive roof damage to homes, businesses and churches.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
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The day before the Apollo 11 moon launch on 16 July 1969, Ralph Abernathy, Martin Luther King’s successor as head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, led a march of poor Black families, complete with wagons drawn by mules, to the fence of Cape Kennedy in Florida.—
Ekow Eshun
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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The other specs are perfectly satisfactory for a model at this price.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
9 July 2025
-
Synan’s attorney declined to comment on a similar question, as well as a question about whether the resignation is a satisfactory outcome for the police chief.—
Quinlan Bentley,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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The World Meteorological Association has said global mean near-surface temperatures are expected to remain at, or near, record levels for the next five years.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
The series of short social media videos follows Chit, a slightly awkward and slightly hunched office worker who sports a mean bowl cut and Jeffrey Dahmer-style glasses.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Second-rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-rate. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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