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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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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3
as in cheap
of low quality
second-rate goods specifically manufactured for the low end of the market
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Examples of second-rate in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
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
Aside from the weather, hourlong wait times for food, defective wristbands and second-rate VIP experiences were among the complaints from festivalgoers.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 5 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for second-rate 
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
Aside from the weather, hourlong wait times for food, defective wristbands and second-rate VIP experiences were among the complaints from festivalgoers.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 5 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for second-rate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-rate
Adjective
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While its mono sound is decent, the lack of physical playback controls and auxiliary input might be limiting for some users.Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
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Jazz voters recently flexing their muscles in the generals, with awards for Jon Batiste and Samara Joy, means André could have a decent chance at a second AOTY trophy.Justin Curto, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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For example, girls and parents might notice inequities like girls’ playing fields being inferior to boys’ fields, a lack of money for transportation for girls to play, and ill-fitting uniforms or equipment, explains Issokson-Silver.Allison Torres Burtka, Parents, 5 Nov. 2024
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The complaint alleges that Under Armour makes nearly all of its assortment for its factory stores exclusively for those stores, and that the items are inferior in quality to the goods sold in its regular stores and on its regular site.Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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For more advice, check out our guide on the best time to book a flight, read about the best ways to find cheap flights, and discover the best time of day to fly to avoid cancellations.Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2024
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High-performance mechanical switches or potentiometer sticks still perform incredibly well, and some budget Hall effect peripherals will still cheap out on materials, quality control, and manufacturing tolerances.Henri Robbins, WIRED, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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However, with the Niners’ defense undefined and its defensive line play underwhelming, San Francisco cannot afford to be a mediocre offense in the second half of the season.Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
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While Dave could have easily turned into some mediocre experiment in meta storytelling, Burd—who cocreated the series, stars in it, and has written several episodes—grapples with some surprisingly touchy topics, including mental illness.Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Over a decade later, the streaming space is filled with entries from major and minor media companies alike.Bruce Gil, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
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Walman is dealing with a minor upper-body injury incurred in the first period of Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Trump, for one thing, had a favorable set of issues behind him and the Republican Party: Biden had seen poor favorability and approval ratings throughout his term in office, despite scoring several legislative wins, including a bipartisan infrastructure deal that had previously eluded Trump.Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024
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Something begins in disrepair, disarray, poor shape.Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Please note that many of these AI tools offer free plans (which are limited but may be perfectly satisfactory depending on your current needs).Rachel Wells, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
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The expert committee offered some explanations such as a systematic difference between those who did and did not participate in the polls, but ultimately felt none of them was completely satisfactory.Karlyn Bowman, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Zeroing in on just the nearly 2.2 million servers and bartenders, half earned a mean annual wage of $36,530 last year, or $17.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.Bob Woods, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024
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What a perfectionist, what a control freak, what a mean lady.Constance Grady, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
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 Nov. 2024.
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