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

Sensing her low-grade panic, my friends moved a few seats down at the bar, leaving me and Janine to get into it. —Allie Volpe, Vox, 14 Nov. 2024

In some cases, vomiting and low-grade fever may also occur. —Michelle Pugle, Verywell Health, 28 Oct. 2024

That, plus the choice of pants rather than a skirt is giving Seyfried a low-grade punk vibe. —Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 24 Oct. 2024

Yet as fate would have it, Skye heads to her former high-school classmate and drug dealer Lewis’ (Lukas Gage) apartment on the eve of her tour to score some low-grade painkillers. —Abby Monteil, Them, 23 Oct. 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