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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of second-rate
According to projections by the International Energy Agency, Russia will forgo more than $1 trillion in oil and gas revenues by 2030, relegating the country to a second-rate energy power.
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Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2023
For some philosophers, hope is a second-rate way of relating to reality.
—Big Think, 24 June 2024
After the composer’s death, a hokey big operatic ending got tacked on with a showy duet by a second-rate composer, Franco Alfano.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024
Iran is another second-rate safe haven for al Qaeda.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
See all Example Sentences for second-rate 
Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2023
For some philosophers, hope is a second-rate way of relating to reality.
—Big Think, 24 June 2024
After the composer’s death, a hokey big operatic ending got tacked on with a showy duet by a second-rate composer, Franco Alfano.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024
Iran is another second-rate safe haven for al Qaeda.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
See all Example Sentences for second-rate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-rate
Adjective
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Jerry Jones, being a decent actor, was not on my bingo card.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
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Good for them — or, more accurately, good for CBS, which is hoping the Globes continue to draw decent viewership, even when airing against the almighty NFL.Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Instead, with a strong enough resume, teams that view the National Championship as a possibility every season can give themselves more avenues to reach the postseason, even if they are caught sleeping against an inferior opponent.Tyler Small, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
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Because top military brass deemed Black people generally inferior, many doubted a successful outcome to clearing endless piles of mail.Ronda Racha Penrice, NBC News, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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New England legislators and regulators consistently blocked building additional pipelines from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and other regions in the U.S. and Canada, which could bring cheap, onshore natural gas to replace fuel oil.Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
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The 25-year-old is cheap, still a season away from salary arbitration eligibility, also plays the corner outfield spots, and won’t be a free agent until after the 2028 season.Brendan Kuty, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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After finishing with a mediocre 46-36 record and the Western Conference's No. 9 seed, the Kings failed to emerge out of the play-in tournament and missed the postseason — which set them up to land in the league's draft lottery and ultimately enabled them to draft Carter.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025
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Just this year, Day struggled against Ohio State’s rival, suffering a stunning loss to a mediocre Michigan team in the regular season finale.Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Suspect in Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion was Army member on leave No one else was seriously hurt, though seven bystanders sustained minor injuries, officials said.Josh Margolin, ABC News, 3 Jan. 2025
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By the standards of our post-Deadpool era, this minor bit of self-aware humor is nothing radical.Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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With sleep disorders affecting approximately 70 million Americans and poor sleep linked to serious health risks like heart disease, stroke and cognitive decline, the Tone Buds represent a significant advancement in personal sleep technology.Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025
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Everybody connected to the death of this poor guy is dead now.Makena Gera, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This side hustle is beneficial in so many ways, not only in benefiting the organization if your pick is selected, but in reducing unemployment, which is such a satisfactory feeling.Rachel Wells, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
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The facility received satisfactory marks during its annual audit, according to the sheriff’s office.Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The 10th pick and an extra second-rounder mean strong draft capital.Jacob Robinson, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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In other words, even now, decades after the disability rights movement began, people are mean.Angela Haupt, TIME, 6 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near second-rate
Cite this Entry
“Second-rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-rate. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
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