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mean

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noun

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as in middle
a middle point between extremes that candidate's moderate views were seen as the mean that voters were looking for

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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adjective (1)

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adjective (2)

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word mean distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of mean are average, median, and norm. While all these words mean "something that represents a middle point," mean may be the simple average or it may represent value midway between two extremes.

a high of 70° and a low of 50° give a mean of 60°

In what contexts can average take the place of mean?

Although the words average and mean have much in common, average is the quotient obtained by dividing the sum total of a set of figures by the number of figures.

scored an average of 85 on tests

When could median be used to replace mean?

While the synonyms median and mean are close in meaning, median applies to the value that represents the point at which there are as many instances above as there are below.

average of a group of persons earning 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10 dollars an hour is 6 dollars, whereas the median is 5 dollars

When is it sensible to use norm instead of mean?

The words norm and mean can be used in similar contexts, but norm means the average of performance of a significantly large group, class, or grade.

scores about the norm for fifth grade arithmetic

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mean
Verb
As an executive from another team pointed out, the Chiefs are generally less convicted than the Ravens about running the ball, and less physical in their ground game, which could mean Buffalo's defense survived its toughest test of the playoffs Sunday night. Mike Sando, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025 That means expanding its production of metals like nickel and copper, currently not major parts of the company’s output. Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia, 20 Jan. 2025
Noun
Hamm plays a hedge-fund manager who gets canned and resorts to criminal means to maintain his lifestyle. Joe Reid, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2025 The Trump’s administration discontinuation of CBP One on Monday has led to worries that maritime migration attempts will once more increase now that migrants have one less legal means to enter the country. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
This trade setup is straightforward, utilizing just two technical signals to guide the trade: RSI (Relative Strength Index): RSI measures the strength of a trend and can also act as a mean reversion indicator. Nishant Pant, CNBC, 7 Jan. 2025 The 10th pick and an extra second-rounder mean strong draft capital. Jacob Robinson, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for mean 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mean
Verb
  • On-screen, Paimon is considered the god of Ellen's group, and in real life, the character has been written about for centuries, signified by the loopy symbol that shows up throughout the film, namely in Ellen's necklace.
    Erica Marrison, People.com, 19 Jan. 2025
  • The growing number of Red and Orange List countries signifies a world becoming more divided and challenging to navigate, even for the most privileged travelers.
    Alex Ledsom, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Only opinion that matters is your own and Jeff's 💯.
    Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Knowing what truly matters to you makes the job search process so much easier.
    Julia Korn, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • This production is clearly intended to present a one-sided and prejudicial narrative.
    Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Jan. 2025
  • In other words, adults and kids don’t have to pigeonhole themselves—pun sort of intended.
    Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 23 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Some studies indicate that smoke’s contaminants can effectively bypass the skin barrier altogether.
    Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
  • In San Diego, a 2023 report indicated that the majority of people in county jails had previously experienced homelessness.
    Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Houston established the run early with Joe Mixon, and Stroud made clutch throws while gashing the Chiefs with passes over the middle of the field.
    Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2025
  • The attacking midfielder constantly moved away from the middle to overload the flanks, as seen from his touch map.
    Ahmed Walid, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The doing is what demonstrates that our commitment to growth is real and a constant work in progress.
    James Fishler, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Edwards missed six of his first seven shots — all his own doing — but went on to make 11 of his final 14 attempts.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The post-Shoigu defense ministry has also been reorganized, the report added.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
  • China’s foreign ministry announced on Thursday that Han Zheng, the vice president of China, will arrive to represent President Xi Jinping.
    Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • These are professionals stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of items at a time.
    Cailey Locklair, Baltimore Sun, 27 Jan. 2025
  • But that could also hurt American consumers: The U.S. imported $17.5 billion dollars' worth of goods from Colombia in 2024, according to Moody's Analytics.
    Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 26 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near mean

Cite this Entry

“Mean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mean

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