Synonyms of mean
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as in to signify 
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as in to matter
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as in to intend
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as in to indicate
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as in middle
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as in doing
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as in ministry
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as in worth
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as in average
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as in low
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as in stingy
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as in cruel
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as in dirty
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as in inferior
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as in awesome
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as in dilapidated
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as in lame
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1
as in to signify
to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind
the national anthem means various things to various people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to matter
to be of importance
your presence at my graduation would mean a lot to me
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3
as in to intend
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
I mean to win this race
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1
as in middle
a middle point between extremes
that candidate's moderate views were seen as the mean that voters were looking for
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2
as in doing
means plural
an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result
won the competition by fair and honest means
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3
as in ministry
means plural
something used to achieve an end
the ends don't justify the means
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4
as in worth
means plural
the total of one's money and property
a woman of considerable means
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in average
being about midway between extremes of amount or size
for the state of Florida, what is the mean number of sunny days per month?
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1
as in low
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank
Alexander Hamilton seems to have had feelings of inferiority because of his mean origins
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2
as in stingy
giving or sharing as little as possible
a mean child who hoarded all her toys
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3
as in cruel
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
a mean, embittered old woman who wanted company for her misery
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4
as in dirty
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency
a mean trick to play on a trusting person
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5
as in inferior
of little or less value or merit
it's no mean feat to memorize that long poem
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6
as in awesome
of the very best kind
I'm a mean dancer, so you could do worse than go to the prom with me
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7
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
he worked hard to escape the mean neighborhood of his youth
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8
as in lame
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
that was no mean stunt to pull off, especially with so little advance preparation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mean
Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2025
But that doesn’t mean that ICE agents still can’t stop motorists.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2025
George Laws Garcia, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2025
Government civil cases and class action lawsuits are common means to protect consumers’ rights when encountering false advertising, discrepancy and any other violation.
—Tina Chen, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 23 July 2025
This includes a measure of the average size of your red blood cells called mean corpuscular volume (MCV).
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for mean
Verb
His appointment means there will be three vacant seats in the Senate.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2025
But that doesn’t mean that ICE agents still can’t stop motorists.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
It should be determined by the people, through democratic means — not symbolic concerts.
—George Laws Garcia, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2025
Government civil cases and class action lawsuits are common means to protect consumers’ rights when encountering false advertising, discrepancy and any other violation.
—Tina Chen, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
One is a mysterious young woman with some mean kung fu skills who has just arrived from China in the Italian capital in search of her missing sister; the other is the son of an indebted local restaurant owner who has disappeared with his lover.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 23 July 2025
This includes a measure of the average size of your red blood cells called mean corpuscular volume (MCV).
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for mean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mean
Verb
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This year, the movement is spreading across the league as there is a drastic rise in the number of Raise Awareness for Mental Health Games, signifying a cultural shift: mental health is no longer a side conversation in professional football.—
Brook Choulet,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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The sturgeon moon signifies people harvesting and preparing for fall.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Whatever happened before Tuesday night mattered little, and what happens from here is a story for another night.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
13 Aug. 2025
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And his confessional episode intros, which tackle matters as mundane as the latest cat updates and as wrenching as the death of his late partner, director Lynn Shelton, have cultivated a unique bond with many who contribute to his 55 million in annual listens.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Japan Coast Guard In areas known to contain seabed resources, these activities could be intended to prospect marine economic data that supports follow-on extractive operations, the analyst said.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
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That said, when asked about their five-year plans, more family offices intended to increase rather than decrease their allocations to private equity and other private assets.—
Hayley Cuccinello,
CNBC,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Court documents indicated that there were at least four other co-conspirators, including Larry Conner, Roderick Prescott, Suzanne Thompson, and Weldon Wulstein.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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The problem is not the roadway, which has double lines and reflectors and miles of yellow barriers indicating no passing.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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There are two simple yet powerful audience segments to focus on here: the movable middle and your most valuable consumers and stores.—
Michael Della Penna,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Rural India might seem like the middle of nowhere to someone who has never been to Uttar Pradesh.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Later, once a series of gory doings propels matters into prime horror territory, the movie takes an altogether different path, a supernatural one.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
8 Aug. 2025
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But the budget problem is not just Springfield’s doing.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2025
Noun
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The youth unemployment rate in urban areas, among those aged 15 to 29 years, also spiked to nearly 19% from 17.9% in May, and 17.2% in April, according to the statistics ministry.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
4 Aug. 2025
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Newsweek reached out to the foreign ministries of France and Israel outside of normal business hours on Saturday afternoon for comment.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
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One year ago, however, the river carried enough water to reach the roof of a package store at the far end of the shopping plaza that lost about $750,000 worth of liquor bottles that were broken and covered in mud.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
19 Aug. 2025
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If DeSoto plays for another state championship this fall, that’ll be 16 more, giving him basically four seasons’ worth of games in three years.—
Sam Khan Jr,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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