middling
Neither good nor bad
Middling describes something of moderate or average quality—neither particularly good nor bad, neither high nor low.
It often carries a slightly dismissive tone, suggesting that something falls short of excellence without being outright poor: The food was middling at best.
In older usage, especially in phrases like fair to middling, it serves as a neutral assessment of health or condition.
Middling can also function as an adverb meaning moderately: a middling successful venture.
Of only moderate quality
- passableMinimally sufficient quality
- tolerableAble to be endured
- adequateBarely meeting standards
- satisfactoryMeeting minimum requirements
acceptable · decent · fair · so-so · okay · not bad · serviceable · competent
Unlikely to be recalled
- unmemorableNot worth recalling
- unexceptionalNot standing out
- indistinctUnclear, hard to perceive
- nondescriptWithout distinguishing qualities
plain · inconspicuous · unimpressive · undistinguished · ordinary · commonplace · humdrum · pedestrian
mediocre
Of only moderate quality
satisfactory · acceptable · decent · fair · so-so · okay · not bad · serviceable · competent · workmanlike
forgettable
Unlikely to be recalled
- unmemorableNot worth recalling
- unexceptionalNot standing out
- indistinctUnclear, hard to perceive
nondescript · plain · inconspicuous · unimpressive · undistinguished · ordinary · commonplace · humdrum · pedestrian · lackluster
mean
Average, or spiteful
center · intermediate · medium · central · halfway · betwixt · in-between · neutral · moderate · midway
middlingexcellent
Of superior quality
outstanding · exceptional · superb · stellar · superior
middlingextraordinary
Beyond what's typical
exceptional · remarkable · unusual · unique · distinctive
- fair to middlingAverage, nothing special