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
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
The Trojans still had few postseason options available to them beyond a second-rate bowl game.
—
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024
Virtual meetings aren’t just second-rate versions of the in-person kind.
—William Arruda, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024
According to projections by the International Energy Agency, Russia will forgo more than $1 trillion in oil and gas revenues by 2030, relegating the country to a second-rate energy power.
—Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2023
For some philosophers, hope is a second-rate way of relating to reality.
—Big Think, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for second-rate 
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024
Virtual meetings aren’t just second-rate versions of the in-person kind.
—William Arruda, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024
According to projections by the International Energy Agency, Russia will forgo more than $1 trillion in oil and gas revenues by 2030, relegating the country to a second-rate energy power.
—Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2023
For some philosophers, hope is a second-rate way of relating to reality.
—Big Think, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for second-rate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-rate
Adjective
-
Fleischmann, who had been at the card game but left at a decent hour, was furious.—
Christopher B. Daly,
The Conversation,
11 Feb. 2025
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Employers are posting fewer jobs and monthly job openings have tumbled from a record 12.2 million in March 2022 to 7.6 million in December -- still a decent number by historical standards.—
COMPILED BYDEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFFFROM WIRE REPORTS,
arkansasonline.com,
8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Switch to store brands Over the decades, store brands have evolved from inferior generics into private-label offerings that compete with name brands on quality and price.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA TODAY,
1 Feb. 2025
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Despite Qorvo’s excellent product portfolio and competitiveness with peers Broadcom and Skyworks Solutions, the company’s gross and operating margins have been inferior.—
Kenneth Squire,
CNBC,
25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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For example, new builds are cheaper than existing homes in Austin, Texas, where builders have cranked out more (relatively) affordable inventory.—
Brianna Crane,
Axios,
13 Feb. 2025
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Also, when compared to active mutual funds, with an average fee of 1.02%, active ETFs are relatively cheaper.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The industry and the buyers are placing bad design in the stores and the average consumer; that’s all that is at their fingertips, and so they are forced to buy something from a mediocre assortment.—
Sydney Gore,
Architectural Digest,
6 Feb. 2025
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And the ubiquity of streaming services brought the whole chain together, one suboptimal link after another, landing us in a pre-Stokowski era of audio quality grafted onto a barely fathomable utopia of access: all music, everywhere, in mediocre form.—
Michael Owen,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Dad Drank Too Many 'Tall Boys,' Then Passed Out on His Baby Daughter, Causing 'Horrific' Suffocation While none of the suspects were injured during the incident, one officer from the Clovis Police Department was treated and released for a minor injury to their hand, the press release explained.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
7 Feb. 2025
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The good news is there were no injuries or reports of significant damage from the wreckage, but the FAA confirmed one report of minor damage to a vehicle located in South Caicos.—
Stephen Clark,
Ars Technica,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Cosgrove, a rookie revelation in 2023, is looking to bounce back after a poor 2024 season.—
Dennis Lin,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
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But shortly after its release, AT&T dropped the device’s price down to just $0.99 in what was an unmistakable sign of poor sales – and perhaps an indication that consumers didn’t want more Facebook on their phone other than in its app.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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There’s still no satisfactory explanation for a 13-10 home loss to the middling 2024 Wolverines on Nov. 30, arguably the most shocking outcome that rivalry has seen.—
Joe Rexrode,
The Athletic,
15 Jan. 2025
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But the federal investigation was not satisfactory to many of King’s family members and associates, who knew of the FBI’s years-long investigation of the minister, and Director J. Edgar Hoover’s obsession with him as a potential communist influence.—
Andy Rose,
CNN,
25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This spot features a housemade limoncello and a mean happy hour from Monday to Thursday from 3 p.m to 6 p.m., including a $5 house cabernet and chardonnay, $4.50 domestic beers and $7 bites.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Feb. 2025
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Guests arrive to a warm welcome from innkeeper Todd Schwartz, who lives upstairs, drives a 1967 Lincoln Continental, and stirs a mean Martini.—
Jenny Adams,
AFAR Media,
11 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near second-rate
Cite this Entry
“Second-rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-rate. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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