mediocrity
Neither good nor bad
Mediocrity is the quality of being neither good nor bad—thoroughly average, unremarkable.
The word carries disappointment: The film was a study in mediocrity.
A mediocrity is a person of middling talent or achievement: The department was staffed with mediocrites.
The term implies settling for less than excellence, coasting on adequacy.
Of moderate quality
- ordinaryStandard, unremarkable
- unremarkableNot worthy of comment
- unexceptionalNot standing out
- middle-of-the-roadUncontroversially conventional stance
so-so · fair-to-middling · moderate · medium · midpoint · mean · median · indifferent
Unlikely to be recalled
- unremarkableNot worthy of comment
- unimpressiveFailing to inspire admiration
- second-rateBelow acceptable standards
- inferiorOf lower rank
subpar · lackluster · bland · insipid · colorless · dull · vanilla · generic
Commonplace, lacking excitement
- prosaicLacking imagination or excitement
- humdrumLacking variety or excitement
- quotidianOccurring every day
- banalUnoriginal and dull
pedestrian · uninspired · unimaginative · derivative · clichéd · trite · stale · tired
State of being enough
- competenceAdequate ability to function
- acceptableMeeting minimum standards
- passableMinimally sufficient quality
- satisfactoryMeeting minimum requirements
tolerable · serviceable · functional · decent · fair · adequate · workable · reasonable
middling
Of moderate quality
- ordinaryStandard, unremarkable
- unremarkableNot worthy of comment
- unexceptionalNot standing out
middle-of-the-road · so-so · fair-to-middling · moderate · medium · midpoint · mean · median · indifferent · lukewarm
forgettable
Unlikely to be recalled
- unremarkableNot worthy of comment
- unimpressiveFailing to inspire admiration
- second-rateBelow acceptable standards
inferior · subpar · lackluster · bland · insipid · colorless · dull · vanilla · generic · nondescript
mundane
Commonplace, lacking excitement
- prosaicLacking imagination or excitement
- humdrumLacking variety or excitement
- quotidianOccurring every day
banal · pedestrian · uninspired · unimaginative · derivative · clichéd · trite · stale · tired · hackneyed
sufficiency
State of being enough
- competenceAdequate ability to function
- acceptableMeeting minimum standards
- passableMinimally sufficient quality
satisfactory · tolerable · serviceable · functional · decent · fair · adequate · workable · reasonable · moderate
- reviewsreview, reviews, rating, ratings, critic
- failuresfailure, failures, flop, flops, bust
- qualityquality, excellence, grade, caliber, superior
- setbacksfailing, back to square one, stuck, losing, stumbles
- statusstatus, prestige, ranking, reputation, elite
- dullnessboring, boredom, monotony, dullness, banality
mediocrityexcellence
Outstanding quality or merit
greatness · brilliance · superiority · perfection · mastery
mediocritydistinction
Notable difference or honor
eminence · renown · celebrity · fame · prominence
mediocritygenius
Person of rare brilliance
brilliance · talent · giftedness · prodigy · virtuosity