1
as in decent
of average to below average quality
a second-rate song from a songwriter who has done much better
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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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of second-rate
No one wants polluted air and water, but no American wants to live in a second-rate nation.
—
Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
But the paucity of high-level talent across those 12 programs reflects the second-rate state of college basketball in the West.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
The scandal led to a divorce, followed by Fred’s relocation to a second-rate college on the West Coast—everything had been predictable, stale like last week’s bread.
—Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025
The father, Buddy Smart (Bryan Cranston), is the clan’s second-rate crackpot visionary, a cockeyed optimist who dresses in fuddy-duddy jackets and never knows where the next paycheck is coming from.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
But the paucity of high-level talent across those 12 programs reflects the second-rate state of college basketball in the West.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
The scandal led to a divorce, followed by Fred’s relocation to a second-rate college on the West Coast—everything had been predictable, stale like last week’s bread.
—Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025
The father, Buddy Smart (Bryan Cranston), is the clan’s second-rate crackpot visionary, a cockeyed optimist who dresses in fuddy-duddy jackets and never knows where the next paycheck is coming from.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-rate
Adjective
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Young and the offense may only get one series of work — head coach Dave Canales only wants that unit to play 8-12 plays, and all of that could be eaten up with a decent first drive.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Aug. 2025
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Only a few Braves have been good at it, and too many of them cost the team repeatedly in close games when merely decent RISP hitting would make a difference.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In this now-infamous opinion, Taney declared that Black Americans were inferior and had no rights under the US Constitution.—
Kathleen Toner,
CNN Money,
1 Aug. 2025
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The creation of a tunnel that could bypass the most congested areas on the way to BNA would make the conventional route comparatively inferior.—
Charles Singh,
The Tennessean,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
Instead, save big by buying store brands, or private labels, which are usually cheaper.—
Gordon Ebanks,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
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Which internet providers offer the cheapest internet in Houston, Texas?—
Roxanne Downer,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In a season of parity and mediocre first-place teams, the Mariners are trying to set themselves apart.—
Grant Brisbee,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
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And prospects are mediocre for the coming months, given the 15% tariff, or import tax, imposed on European goods in the U.S. under the EU-U.S. trade deal announced Sunday.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
30 July 2025
Adjective
-
The elderly man suffered minor injuries, and toughed out the blow, refusing medical attention at the scene of the attack, authorities said.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
7 Aug. 2025
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In April, the government quietly revoked the visas of thousands of students who had allegedly committed minor legal infractions before abruptly reversing the policy.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
This implies a poor Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 52.5% (vs. 19.4% for S&P 500).—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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The general manager, making a rare road trip, told reporters that his presence had more to do with his scheduling availability than the Yankees’ third-place standing or their poor play over the past two-plus months.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The law dropped the requirement to test drugs on animals for FDA approval when there’s other safety data from computer simulations or mini-organs satisfactory to regulators.—
Alex Knapp,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
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But because Cal West is building the park and will pay for its amenities, the city deemed the requirements satisfactory.—
Tammy Murga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 July 2025
Adjective
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There aren’t many actors, after all, who can convincingly play both sad-sack real estate salesman Shelly Levene in a Broadway production of Glengarry Glen Ross and a lean, mean killing machine.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Aug. 2025
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The researchers recruited 68 adults, with a mean age of 64, who had confirmed medial knee OA.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Second-rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-rate. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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