low-grade

adjective

ˈlō-ˈgrād 

1

: of inferior grade or quality

2

: being near that extreme of a specified range which is lowest, least intense, least serious, or least competent

a low-grade fever

a low-grade infection

Synonyms

• bad
• bargain-basement
• bum
• cheap
• cheapjack
• cheesy
• coarse
• common
• crappy [slang]
• cut-rate
• el cheapo
• execrable
• gimcrack
• inferior
• junky
• lousy
• low-rent
• mediocre
• miserable
• poor
• rotten
• rubbishy
• schlock
• schlocky
• shlock
• shlocky
• second-rate
• shoddy
• sleazy
• terrible
• trashy
• trumpery
• wretched

Examples of low-grade in a Sentence

plumbing fixtures that were made out of low-grade materials

Recent Examples on the Web

Greed Being ambitious and resourceful—low-grade aspects of greed—is what motivates us to seek stability and growth. —Sandro Da Silva, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

After the surgery, doctors diagnosed her with a grade 2 astrocytoma, also known as a diffuse astrocytoma or low-grade glioma. —Jordan Greene, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024

The latter is a low-grade inflammation that develops with age. —Jennifer Weil, WWD, 12 Dec. 2024

Spondylolisthesis can be considered a low-grade or high-grade condition depending on how much the bone slips out of place, and those with a high-grade slip are more likely to experience significant pain, nerve injury and even require surgery to relieve their symptoms. —Ty Roush, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

low-grade

adjective

ˈlō-ˈgrād

1

: of poor grade or quality

2

: being near that end of a range which is lowest, weakest, or least able

a low-grade fever

Medical Definition

low-grade

adjective

ˈlō-ˈgrād 

: being near that extreme of a specified range which is lowest, least intense, or least competent

a low-grade fever

a low-grade infection

compare high-grade