Synonyms of mean
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as in to signify 
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as in to matter
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as in to intend
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as in to indicate
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as in middle
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as in doing
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as in ministry
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as in worth
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as in average
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as in low
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as in careful
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as in cruel
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as in dirty
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as in inferior
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as in awesome
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as in dilapidated
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as in lame
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1
as in to signify
to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind
the national anthem means various things to various people
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Relevance
2
as in to matter
to be of importance
your presence at my graduation would mean a lot to me
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3
as in to intend
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
I mean to win this race
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1
as in middle
a middle point between extremes
that candidate's moderate views were seen as the mean that voters were looking for
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2
as in doing
means plural
an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result
won the competition by fair and honest means
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3
as in ministry
means plural
something used to achieve an end
the ends don't justify the means
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4
as in worth
means plural
the total of one's money and property
a woman of considerable means
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as in average
being about midway between extremes of amount or size
for the state of Florida, what is the mean number of sunny days per month?
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1
as in low
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank
Alexander Hamilton seems to have had feelings of inferiority because of his mean origins
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2
as in careful
giving or sharing as little as possible
a mean child who hoarded all her toys
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3
as in cruel
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
a mean, embittered old woman who wanted company for her misery
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4
as in dirty
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency
a mean trick to play on a trusting person
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5
as in inferior
of little or less value or merit
it's no mean feat to memorize that long poem
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6
as in awesome
of the very best kind
I'm a mean dancer, so you could do worse than go to the prom with me
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7
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
he worked hard to escape the mean neighborhood of his youth
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8
as in lame
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
that was no mean stunt to pull off, especially with so little advance preparation
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of mean
Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Which means that for as long as there have been human beings, there is something like religion.
—Sean Illing, Vox, 9 Dec. 2024
Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
So the Mets will look to add more pitching through any means necessary to supplement a rotation that consists of Kodai Senga, David Peterson (left), Paul Blackburn, Montas and Holmes, with Tylor Megill and Jose Butto as depth options.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 10 Dec. 2024
Laura Bradley, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024
Participants in tests reported high satisfaction with the device, giving it a mean rating of 6 out of 7 for its ability to assist while maintaining a sense of control.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mean 
Verb
Still, the 49ers will need to turn things around for a run at the playoffs, and that means involving Samuel far more.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Which means that for as long as there have been human beings, there is something like religion.
—Sean Illing, Vox, 9 Dec. 2024
Noun
Private college is becoming a path for only those with the means to pay for it, other reports show.
—Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
So the Mets will look to add more pitching through any means necessary to supplement a rotation that consists of Kodai Senga, David Peterson (left), Paul Blackburn, Montas and Holmes, with Tylor Megill and Jose Butto as depth options.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Under normal circumstances, this would not be a big deal, but Erica is a mean mom to the extreme, so Avery panics and blames the family dog — whom Erica rushes to the vet for a stomach pump.
—Laura Bradley, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024
Participants in tests reported high satisfaction with the device, giving it a mean rating of 6 out of 7 for its ability to assist while maintaining a sense of control.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mean
Verb
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This announcement signifies the company’s ongoing commitment to expand its footprint slowly and carefully throughout the world’s most glamorous destinations.Caroline Tell, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
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Her departure signifies a change for the two papers, which will now have two different leaders.Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Pre Apple’s release of iOS 18 there was only one RCS app that mattered—Google Messages.Zak Doffman, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
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Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.Remington Miller, arkansasonline.com, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The rules were intended to prevent Social Security from overpaying people who worked in non-covered pension jobs, policy experts said.Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
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The decision to greenlight the project is the strongest signal yet that DC Studios co-chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran intend the studio to incorporate a wide assortment of storytelling tones.Adam B. Vary, Variety, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This timepiece indicates a second time zone with an additional skeletonized hand that can be hidden behind the hour hand when its owner is not traveling.Sophie Furley, Robb Report, 7 Dec. 2024
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There are reports coming from FanSided's Robert Murray indicating that the Red Sox made a strong push for Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber before Bieber agreed to a two-year deal with Cleveland.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
Noun
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On 2nd-and-8 from the Texas 12-yard line, Stockton took off from the pocket and burst through the middle of the Longhorns defense for a first down.Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 7 Dec. 2024
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Advertisement McConkey’s relatively slight, 6-foot, 185-pound frame, combined with his role that often puts him in position to absorb big tackles while crossing the middle of the field has made his long-term durability a concern.Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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On Thursday, there was another closed-door House Ethics Committee meeting to debate whether to release the panel’s report on Gaetz’s seamy doings.Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2024
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This is another of many federal government doings that merits the attention of incoming president Donald Trump’s advisory Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.Clyde Wayne Crews Jr., Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The Chinese foreign ministry responded to that move last week by calling the bans laughable.Stephen Groves, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
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Newsweek has contacted Russia's emergency situations ministry for comment.Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The 108th running of Indy 500 includes evacuations, crashes, lots of rain The Month of May is historically the very best month to be a Hoosier, with weeks' worth of track activities leading up to the 500-mile race on Memorial Day weekend.Holly V. Hays, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Dec. 2024
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Polo therefore comes at a time when Hollywood is still waiting for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to prove their worth as TV producers outside their own royal story.Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Mean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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