1
as in average
being about midway between extremes of amount or size
tired of the city but not particularly interested in small-town life, he moved to a suburb of middling size
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decent
of average to below average quality
was disappointed in the renowned historian's latest book, which is only middling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of middling
In the Pacific Northwest, that creates dry, warmer-than-usual conditions in winter, which is a concern this year because much of the region is already mired in drought after receiving middling snow.
—
Evan Bush, NBC news, 11 June 2026
Five bucks in the early 20th century comes out to about $170 now, about the same as today’s middling speeding ticket.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 10 June 2026
Our tasters agreed that texture was a critical factor in differentiating a middling scoop from a great one.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 June 2026
Until the Heat gets real and welcomes Pat Riley or his way overdue replacement to the 21st century, the middling Heat will have an annual reservation at the NBA table of mediocrity.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for middling
Evan Bush, NBC news, 11 June 2026
Five bucks in the early 20th century comes out to about $170 now, about the same as today’s middling speeding ticket.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 10 June 2026
Our tasters agreed that texture was a critical factor in differentiating a middling scoop from a great one.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 June 2026
Until the Heat gets real and welcomes Pat Riley or his way overdue replacement to the 21st century, the middling Heat will have an annual reservation at the NBA table of mediocrity.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for middling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for middling
Adjective
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Next year, these plans for retirees will increase on average by less than 1%.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
-
How heat can impact the body Typically, during extreme heat -- meaning temperatures are hotter or more humid than average -- the body tries to cool itself by sweating.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
Adjective
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There is still a decent spread amongst model guidance, but a track farther north would result in a better chance of severe weather, while a track farther south would lead to more general rain showers and thunderstorms.—
Trey Fulbright,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
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Accompaniment assigns first priority to those in greatest need and those most likely to be left out of dignified and decent treatment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
Wealth and power are tightly intertwined, and the median white household has a net worth 10 times the median Black household, a disparity that adds up to more than $10 trillion.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2026
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Today, two families earning 30% or less of Boise’s area median income — $33,200 for a family of four — lease the homes behind the church.—
Mark Dee
June 19,
Idaho Statesman,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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And a mediocre company can become an extraordinary one when almost everyone has already given up.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
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Instead, Peralta has been worse than mediocre.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
21 June 2026
Adjective
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Hand-rolled with tobaccos grown higher than 3,500 feet above sea level on Plasencia’s Finca San Julián in Condega, the cigar has a café con crema aroma and medium-plus flavors of grass and leather, accented by a natural sweetness locked into the higher-elevation leaves.—
Richard Carleton Hacker,
Robb Report,
19 June 2026
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The new variant is tailored to launch medium-class satellites at lower cost than the heavier version of the H3 with two or four strap-on boosters.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
Iran hawks and an array of dissidents and mainstream voices within the Republican Party have cast doubt on whether the agreement secured satisfactory concessions from Iran.—
Matthew Kelly
Updated June 18,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
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In several tweets shared to X on Monday, June 15, the 44-year-old former professional soccer player called out the company for allegedly delaying a flight and not resolving the issue in a satisfactory manner.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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This high-impact look is a bit out of the ordinary for the star, save for that show-stopping blue eye makeup look—a literal something blue—to conclude The Drama press in April.—
Mykenna Maniece,
Vogue,
22 June 2026
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My situation was, on some level, achingly ordinary.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Adjective
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Alex Lock, a communications officer at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, asked people to resist feeling indifferent.—
Justin Kabumba,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
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My brother knew of my plot but remained indifferent as grief took hold.—
Griffin Dunne,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Middling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/middling. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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