1
as in decent
of average to below average quality
a second-rate song from a songwriter who has done much better
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inferior
of little or less value or merit
a second-rate company that was never considered among the top manufacturers of televisions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cheap
of low quality
second-rate goods specifically manufactured for the low end of the market
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of second-rate
Meanwhile, TPUs are far from a second-rate technology.
—
Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025
Moreno said Bad Bunny is a second-rate performer and said his performing at the Super Bowl is a partisan choice.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Oct. 2025
The freshman quarterback has faced second-rate competition thus far and has daunting matchups next month.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 24 Sep. 2025
Occasionally held back by a very mid-'00s aesthetic and stylistic choices that come across second-rate David Lynch, No Smoking is nonetheless an effectively paranoid adaptation of King for another culture.
—James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025
Moreno said Bad Bunny is a second-rate performer and said his performing at the Super Bowl is a partisan choice.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Oct. 2025
The freshman quarterback has faced second-rate competition thus far and has daunting matchups next month.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 24 Sep. 2025
Occasionally held back by a very mid-'00s aesthetic and stylistic choices that come across second-rate David Lynch, No Smoking is nonetheless an effectively paranoid adaptation of King for another culture.
—James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-rate
Adjective
-
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
-
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
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That makes for a more compelling value proposition, useful in daily life, versus a more specialized machine with inferior performance.—
Matthew Buzzi,
PC Magazine,
14 June 2026
-
People mock Americans for using the word because the rest of the world likes a chance to make the superpower feel inferior.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
The pricier piece is often the cheaper one to own.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
19 June 2026
-
That marks a shift from an older data-center playbook built around cheap land, fiber access and tax incentives, with power planning often becoming a constraint later in the process.—
Ron Schmelzer,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
And a mediocre company can become an extraordinary one when almost everyone has already given up.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
-
Instead, Peralta has been worse than mediocre.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
21 June 2026
Adjective
-
The driver of the pickup suffered minor injuries and declined the offer to be transported to a nearby hospital.—
CBS Baltimore Staff,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
-
After signing a minor-league deal earlier in the month, outfielder Jarred Kelenic was entered into the Texas Rangers’ starting lineup in the 6-4 extra-innings loss to the San Diego Padres on Saturday at Globe Life Field.—
Cal Phillips,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 June 2026
Adjective
-
Rebecca Lowe joins Dan Patrick to discuss some of the top storylines around the World Cup, including Cristiano Ronaldo's poor play to start, the United States' potential and more.—
Monica Alba,
NBC news,
24 June 2026
-
Will the gap between rural and urban America – and the gap between rich and poor America – decline or grow?—
Arthur Cosby,
Fortune,
23 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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Just being in the room and coming up with these really mean-spirited insults and the kind of backstabbing that those performers played so brilliantly and just elevated with every choice.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
-
If politics is reasserting itself in Russia, what does that potentially mean?—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Second-rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-rate. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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