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
Sometime in the late 18th century, though, offal started suffering from an image problem, viewed by some people to be an affordable but second-rate food.
—
Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
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, 16 Apr. 2025
The occasion: a second-rate literary award ceremony.
—Dwight Garner, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
It must be acknowledged and accepted that educators are the experts in their profession and not second-rate.
—Patricia A. Daniel, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
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, 16 Apr. 2025
The occasion: a second-rate literary award ceremony.
—Dwight Garner, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
It must be acknowledged and accepted that educators are the experts in their profession and not second-rate.
—Patricia A. Daniel, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-rate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-rate
Adjective
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Reading these reports alongs with your own research can give you a decent idea of which cruise ships are doing the most to reduce their impact.—
Lea Lane,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
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But the Tar Heel state has a decent amount of talent this year, and UNC does not appear to be in position to take advantage of it.—
Grace Raynor,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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The Dream had more second-chance points and won the turnover margin, compensating for their inferior 3-point shooting.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
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Since its establishment by the 1947 National Security Act, the agency’s intelligence collection, analysis and foresight have proven inferior to that of The New York Times at a tiny fraction of the cost.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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Matthew Whelan, executive director of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce, suggests visiting on a weekday when possible; parking will be easier to find, and beach badges are cheaper ($7/day/person, instead of $10).—
Rachel Chang,
AFAR Media,
2 June 2025
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One possible option is a center or third lane with curbs that would require less land to be acquired and be cheaper.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2025
Adjective
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Or perhaps two intense training sessions weekly with perfect recovery outperforms five mediocre workouts.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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So, except for 2019, every full season since 2017 has included one mediocre month.—
Peter O’Malley,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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In total, 27 people were taken to the hospital, including two with serious injuries, and 20 others were treated at the scene for minor injuries, according to Dave Kitchin of North West Ambulance Service.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
27 May 2025
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Troopers said the two boys were hospitalized with minor injuries.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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The original doesn’t go that deeply into it, but this poor girl was essentially forced to be a teen mom at this time in her life when all of her friends would be graduating high school and dating and thinking about their futures.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
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The product was released in 2023 to a poor reception, and discontinued before the company began winding down operations in February.—
Tom Huddleston Jr.,
CNBC,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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However, the conditions are not satisfactory to all.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
21 May 2025
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The tablet also supports Dolby Atmos sound, and while the stereo separation is satisfactory, don't expect to be surrounded by the audio.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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The other person who spoke in South Carolina, Tim Walz, is a special mixture of extreme buffoonery and a mean spirit, which is a toxic brew.—
Jenny Goldsberry,
The Washington Examiner,
1 June 2025
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At its core, the CHOICE Act extends the allowable duration of noncompete clauses to four years for employees earning over twice the mean wage in their county, eliminating the requirement for employers to demonstrate a legitimate business interest before enforcing them.—
Sam Peak,
Sun Sentinel,
1 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Second-rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-rate. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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