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
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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of second-rate
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.
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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
After the composer’s death, a hokey big operatic ending got tacked on with a showy duet by a second-rate composer, Franco Alfano.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024
Iran is another second-rate safe haven for al Qaeda.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
See all Example Sentences for second-rate 
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
After the composer’s death, a hokey big operatic ending got tacked on with a showy duet by a second-rate composer, Franco Alfano.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024
Iran is another second-rate safe haven for al Qaeda.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
See all Example Sentences for second-rate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-rate
Adjective
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Also worth noting is a decent sale on shares at present, with MFIC trading at a 7% discount to net asset value (NAV).Brett Owens, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
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DocuSign was up 27% Friday alone on a decent quarterly report, and has doubled from the early-August low.Michael Santoli, CNBC, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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One Czech general later recalled that Israel’s performance in that operation made the Soviet Union realize how inferior its technology was to its Cold War rivals.Paul Iddon, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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Millions of Jews were murdered at those camps during the Holocaust, alongside political opponents of the Nazi regime and members of groups declared to be racially or biologically inferior, such as Roma and homosexuals.Hannah Peart, NBC News, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The electric vehicle maker still is shooting for a launch of its cheaper vehicle in the first half of next year and other models later in the year, the bank said after the meeting with investor relations chief Travis Axelrod.Rachael Levy, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
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And cheap, lower-tech methods of creating and disseminating false information have been extremely successful on their own.Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Sam Darnold and the Vikings offense was mediocre until the late stages of the third quarter, and that was not the way to respond after the Lions lost to the Bills.Steve Silverman, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
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This move is a clear indication that Chicago is looking to win in 2025 rather than repeat the mediocre season from 2024.Zach Pressnell, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Next to the rivers of food that flood the modern appetite, risotto is a minor tributary.Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
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Areas that are low-lying, already wet or have poor drainage could be at a risk for minor flooding depending on how heavy the rain is this week.Remington Miller, arkansasonline.com, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In many poor and densely populated neighborhoods across the country, people have access to free, unmetered electricity.Nasser Karimi and Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
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So this poor kid [who finished in last], this single guy, for a year had to have a Fathead of his buddy in boxers, a giant life-size Fathead above his bed.Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The bridge's deck was found to be in satisfactory condition, while the substructure was in fair condition.Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 5 Dec. 2024
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Overall, the team is running smoothly but one individual, who previously didn’t have any issues, is now struggling: missing deadlines, not catching mistakes, not completing assignments in a satisfactory way.Eva Epker, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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What's more, there was a mean 8.3-fold improvement in microbial diversity, including beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia muciniphila, helping the body to build its own natural defense against inflammation.New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Dec. 2024
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Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch plots to steal Christmas away from the holiday-loving Whos. Runs Dec. 10-15.Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 8 Dec. 2024
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 22 Dec. 2024.
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