1
: of middle, medium, or moderate size, degree, or quality
2
3
: of, relating to, or being a middle class
middling
adverb
1
: any of various commodities of intermediate size, quality, or position
2
middlings plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: a granular product of grain milling
especially
: a wheat milling by-product used in animal feeds
Synonyms
Examples of middling in a Sentence
Adjective
tired of the city but not particularly interested in small-town life, he moved to a suburb of middling size
was disappointed in the renowned historian's latest book, which is only middling
Recent Examples on the Web
Ari Levy, CNBC, 25 Dec. 2024
As the underwhelming confrontation happens, Mia tries hard to sell the scene, cackling with all 32 teeth showing, and after Jacqueline is unceremoniously booted from the premises, whispering middling insults into the mic from the curb with her friend.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 23 Dec. 2024
Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
Inevitably, many middling and smaller powers will straddle divides and seek to balance their ties to greater powers.
—Shivshankar Menon, Foreign Affairs, 3 Aug. 2022
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Adjective
Up to that point, MicroStrategy had been a middling business intelligence software vendor, but since then, its purchased over 444,000 bitcoins, using its ever-increasing share price as a way to sell stock, raise debt and buy more coin.
—Ari Levy, CNBC, 25 Dec. 2024
As the underwhelming confrontation happens, Mia tries hard to sell the scene, cackling with all 32 teeth showing, and after Jacqueline is unceremoniously booted from the premises, whispering middling insults into the mic from the curb with her friend.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 23 Dec. 2024
Noun
The Edmonton Oilers have officially transitioned from a middling, underachieving group to their rightful status as a contender that just finds ways to win.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
Inevitably, many middling and smaller powers will straddle divides and seek to balance their ties to greater powers.
—Shivshankar Menon, Foreign Affairs, 3 Aug. 2022
See all Example Sentences for middling
Dictionary Entries Near middling
Cite this Entry
“Middling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/middling. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
middling
1 of 2 adjective
mid·dling
ˈmid-liŋ 
-lən
: of medium size, degree, or quality
middling
adverb
middling
2 of 2 noun1
: any of various products of medium quality or size
2
plural
: a product produced by milling grain
especially
: a product of wheat milling that is used in animal feeds
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