MEDIOCRITY Synonyms: 137 Similar and Opposite Words

mediocrity

noun

Definition of mediocrity

as in normality

the quality or state of being mediocre She's a perfectionist who refuses to settle for mediocrity.

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Dissimilar Words

as in nothing

a person of little fame He surrounded himself with mediocrities to appear more notable by comparison.

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of mediocrity The culprit behind this mediocrity has been a developmental system that annually is the subject of criticism from media, former players, and coaches. — Mac Engel june 22, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 June 2026 In 2012, when Mark Walter and his partners bought the Dodgers, team president Stan Kasten declared mediocrity would no longer be acceptable. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 The fact of the matter is, even without Judge, the Yankees are the best team in the American League, although that might not be saying a lot this year because the American League is rife with mediocrity. — Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 20 June 2026 Fortunately for you, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, who famously griped about the mediocrity of the 348, has launched the radical new F355. — Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for mediocrity

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mediocrity

Noun

Sometimes there’s no need to look any further than normality.

— TIME, Time, 26 June 2026
Oil prices fell to their lowest level since the US-Israel war with Iran, as growing signs of a tentative return to normality through the Strait of Hormuz soothed markets.

— Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 25 June 2026

Definition of normality

Noun

While CinemaCon 2026 brought us exciting news about new films, it was also bogged down with status quo nothings about how Amazon MGM still hasn’t found a new James Bond.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
When Dana, who, like Virginia, had been successful in writing pleasant but undistinguished nothings—in her case, songs for Billy Rose’s revues—decided to try taking on more serious music by studying with Boulanger, Virginia entered a deep downward spiral.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026

Definition of nothing

Noun

But that is just one expression of its structural bias toward familiarity and averageness.

— Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Joe, who was selected because of his averageness, turns out to be the smartest person on Earth in the future and lands a job working for President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho (Terry Crews).

— David Faris, TheWeek, 22 Apr. 2026

Definition of averageness

Noun

The short version is that after defeating the Kilrathi at the climax of Wing Commander 3, Mark Hamill’s Christopher Blair retires to a backwater world to live out a life in peace and obscurity.

— Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 3 July 2026
He had been dressed as a woman among the king’s daughters in order to avoid participating in the Trojan War and ultimately his fate to die a young heroic death, as opposed to a long life of obscurity.

— Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of obscurity

Noun

The rate has been gradually dropping for decades, due to cigarette taxes, tobacco product price hikes, smoking bans, public education campaigns and changes in the social acceptability of lighting up in public.

— Mike Stobbe, Fortune, 29 May 2026
People who feel othered often describe exhaustion from performing acceptability.

— Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

Definition of acceptability

Noun

On one side, a satanic figure named Randall Flagg who gathers his forces of badness to Las Vegas; on the other, the good guys, led by 108-year-old Mother Abigail in, of all places, Boulder.

— Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
The show premiered over Thanksgiving weekend, when people were tired and full and bored (and probably also horny), and countered our world’s unceasing badness with its world’s buoyant sweetness.

— Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026

Definition of badness

Noun

Significant stinging insect infestations like wasps and carpenter bees may also require a specialized plan that isn’t included in your general pest control service.

— Alora Bopray, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Other eco-amenities include all-natural insect repellent and sunscreen in refillable containers, plus a handy pouch with reusable straw and cutlery to bring along during day trips.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 July 2026

Definition of insect

Browse Nearby Words

mediocrities

mediocrity

meditate

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Cite this Entry

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“Mediocrity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mediocrity. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of mediocrity

noun

Example Sentences

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