serviceable
adjective
ser·vice·able
ˈsər-və-sə-bəl 
2
: fit for use
a serviceable design
also
: of adequate quality
her serviceable but not exceptional voice —
Irving Kolodin
Irving Kolodin 
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Someone who speaks serviceable Spanish isn't fluent in it but gets by pretty well. A serviceable jacket is practical and maybe even rugged. But serviceable sometimes damns with faint praise. A serviceable performance is all right but not inspired. Serviceable curtains aren't the ideal color or pattern, but they serve their purpose. A serviceable pair of shoes is sturdy but won't win you any fashion points.
Synonyms
Examples of serviceable in a Sentence
I bought an old but still serviceable bicycle.
be sure to wear serviceable shoes if you're going to be walking on the rocks along the shore
Recent Examples on the Web
It’s not been an offensive masterclass by the Black and Gold but between serviceable quarterback play from at first Justin Fields and now Russell Wilson has provided just enough at the key moment.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 1 Dec. 2024
The planned upgrade from a still serviceable TV set to larger and flashier one may be dropped, but some money saved may go to a ski weekend.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 17 Nov. 2024
But Malik Harrison, Smith’s primary replacement, was serviceable even if not revelatory.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 26 Nov. 2024
Someone to Watch Over Me is a product of its time, a serviceable romantic thriller that wound up looking chaste and old-fashioned next to the films that would soon flood the market in the same genre.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2024
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Ben Morse, CNN, 1 Dec. 2024
The planned upgrade from a still serviceable TV set to larger and flashier one may be dropped, but some money saved may go to a ski weekend.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 17 Nov. 2024
But Malik Harrison, Smith’s primary replacement, was serviceable even if not revelatory.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 26 Nov. 2024
Someone to Watch Over Me is a product of its time, a serviceable romantic thriller that wound up looking chaste and old-fashioned next to the films that would soon flood the market in the same genre.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for serviceable
Dictionary Entries Near serviceable
Cite this Entry
“Serviceable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serviceable. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
serviceable
adjective
ser·vice·able
ˈsər-və-sə-bəl
1
: prepared for or capable of service : useful
2
: lasting or wearing well in use
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