low-grade

adjective

ˈlō-ˈgrād 

1

: of inferior grade or quality

2

: being near that extreme of a specified range which is lowest, least intense, least serious, or least competent

a low-grade fever

a low-grade infection

Synonyms

• bad
• bargain-basement
• bum
• cheap
• cheapjack
• cheesy
• coarse
• common
• crappy [slang]
• cut-rate
• el cheapo
• execrable
• gimcrack
• inferior
• junky
• lousy
• low-rent
• mediocre
• miserable
• poor
• rotten
• rubbishy
• schlock
• schlocky
• shlock
• shlocky
• second-rate
• shoddy
• sleazy
• terrible
• trashy
• trumpery
• wretched

Examples of low-grade in a Sentence

plumbing fixtures that were made out of low-grade materials

Recent Examples on the Web

For many, the bacterial infection starts with symptoms similar to the common cold — a runny nose, sneezing, a low-grade fever and a tickly cough — but a painful, full-body cough can develop after a week or two. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 26 Dec. 2024

Greed Being ambitious and resourceful—low-grade aspects of greed—is what motivates us to seek stability and growth. —Sandro Da Silva, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

After the surgery, doctors diagnosed her with a grade 2 astrocytoma, also known as a diffuse astrocytoma or low-grade glioma. —Jordan Greene, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024

The latter is a low-grade inflammation that develops with age. —Jennifer Weil, WWD, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

low-grade

adjective

ˈlō-ˈgrād

1

: of poor grade or quality

2

: being near that end of a range which is lowest, weakest, or least able

a low-grade fever

Medical Definition

low-grade

adjective

ˈlō-ˈgrād 

: being near that extreme of a specified range which is lowest, least intense, or least competent

a low-grade fever

a low-grade infection

compare high-grade