second-rate
adjective
sec·ond-rate
ˌse-kən(d)-ˈrāt 
: of second or inferior quality or value : mediocre
a second-rate restaurant
second-rateness
noun
Examples of second-rate in a Sentence
a second-rate song from a songwriter who has done much better
a second-rate company that was never considered among the top manufacturers of televisions
second-rate goods specifically manufactured for the low end of the market
Recent Examples on the Web
Farke has found a way to maximise Firpo’s talents, even with the caveat this is a former Barcelona full-back playing against second-rate opposition.
—
Beren Cross, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
Investors and CEOs pointed to the underwhelming outcomes of companies like LendingClub and Prosper, dismissing lenders as destined for second-rate market values and investment returns.
—Jeff Kauflin, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
While the setup is often different from what happens in a bustling medical office, a new study blows away quibbles over protocol and suggests that even when done perfectly, the method is second-rate.
—Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2025
And if Russia is a second-rate energy power, Putin’s political and economic model, much less his imperialist fantasies, no longer makes sense.
—Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
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Beren Cross, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
Investors and CEOs pointed to the underwhelming outcomes of companies like LendingClub and Prosper, dismissing lenders as destined for second-rate market values and investment returns.
—Jeff Kauflin, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
While the setup is often different from what happens in a bustling medical office, a new study blows away quibbles over protocol and suggests that even when done perfectly, the method is second-rate.
—Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2025
And if Russia is a second-rate energy power, Putin’s political and economic model, much less his imperialist fantasies, no longer makes sense.
—Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Cite this Entry
“Second-rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-rate. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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