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
While the setup is often different from what happens in a bustling medical office, a new study blows away quibbles over protocol and suggests that even when done perfectly, the method is second-rate.
—
Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2025
And if Russia is a second-rate energy power, Putin’s political and economic model, much less his imperialist fantasies, no longer makes sense.
—Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2023
So don’t expect anything different this December, even if USC manages to blow out some mid-tier Mountain West team in a second-rate bowl matchup.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2024
While Holmes won’t be behind the wheel, Hettinger Racing isn’t settling for second-rate talent.
—Greg Engle, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2025
And if Russia is a second-rate energy power, Putin’s political and economic model, much less his imperialist fantasies, no longer makes sense.
—Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2023
So don’t expect anything different this December, even if USC manages to blow out some mid-tier Mountain West team in a second-rate bowl matchup.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2024
While Holmes won’t be behind the wheel, Hettinger Racing isn’t settling for second-rate talent.
—Greg Engle, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-rate
Adjective
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Thus far, Wall Street has had a decent start to the first-quarter earnings season.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2025
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The former Washington Husky has had a decent start to his 2025 season.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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His radically inferior Black Panther sequel was rewritten in a scramble following the death of star Chadwick Boseman, and its very existence can be seen both as a testament to corporate inertia and a big, forgivable asterisk on an otherwise stellar CV.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
22 Apr. 2025
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That is often viewed by us profligate, protein-burning, fat-loving energy spendthrifts as an inferior form of metabolism.—
Stephen S. Hall,
Time,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Their tech lets clothing companies show off a wide variety of sizes and styles—and for a whole lot cheaper.—
Alexandra York,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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In Flacco and Pickett, the Browns have two veteran backups on cheap contracts signed only for 2025.—
Zac Jackson,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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For small teams, especially in early-stage startups, spreading content efforts thin often leads to mediocre results across all platforms.—
Abdo Riani,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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After a mediocre entry in 2023’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage—which began as Valhalla DLC and was developed by B-team Ubisoft Bordeaux—Shadows is an all-in, massive budget monstrosity led by the very Aist of teams.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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As mentioned above, taking creatine in higher doses, such as 20 grams per day, may trigger minor side effects like water retention.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
21 Apr. 2025
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Commonly known as Tylenol, it's thought to reduce fever and relieve minor aches and pains by raising your body's pain threshold and regulating your body temperature.—
Andee Tagle,
NPR,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Then someone pointed a finger at a surprising culprit: the soldiers’ poor health.—
Maxim Sytch,
Harvard Business Review,
18 Apr. 2025
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Some parents worry that Alexa's high tolerance for rudeness instills poor behavior in their kids, according to Quartz.—
Emily Forlini,
PC Magazine,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The surgery was difficult due to Bolsonaro’s prior surgeries and stab wound, but Sunday’s procedure did not have unexpected complications and the result was satisfactory, doctors said, adding that hospital visits for now should be limited to family.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
14 Apr. 2025
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According to the complaint, Combs allegedly said the act wasn’t satisfactory and threatened Doe with violence afterward.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Monitor performance using mean absolute error (MAE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE).—
Devadas Pattathil,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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Larsa Pippen found out the hard way what life is like in the mean ‘burbs.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Second-rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-rate. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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