second-rate
Below the standard
Second-rate means inferior or mediocre—not of the highest quality or importance.
A second-rate hotel disappoints.
A second-rate performance fails to impress.
The term carries dismissive judgment: He's a second-rate novelist at best.
Unlike "second-class," which can neutrally describe a tier, second-rate almost always disparages.
Below required quality
- low-gradeOf poor quality
- shoddyOf poor craftsmanship
- low-qualitySubstandard in nature
- bottom-tierWorst category or ranking
downmarket · bargain-basement · cut-rate · cheap · trashy · junky · crummy · lousy
Failing to meet expectations
- letdownFailure to satisfy expectations
- anticlimaxDisappointing conclusion after buildup
- unimpressiveFailing to inspire admiration
- lacklusterLacking brilliance or vitality
dismal · unsatisfying · unfulfilling · wannabe · also-ran · has-been · never-was · pretender
Having inherent faults
- imperfectHaving flaws or faults
- faultyHaving defects or errors
- blemishedHaving visible defects
- damagedMade worse by injury
marred · compromised · suboptimal · deficient · wanting · lacking · inadequate · insufficient
Arithmetic mean or ordinary
- middlingOf moderate quality
- ordinaryStandard, unremarkable
- unremarkableNot worthy of comment
- passableMinimally sufficient quality
so-so · run-of-the-mill · forgettable · undistinguished · unexceptional · pedestrian · garden-variety · commonplace
substandard
Below required quality
- low-gradeOf poor quality
- shoddyOf poor craftsmanship
- low-qualitySubstandard in nature
bottom-tier · downmarket · bargain-basement · cut-rate · cheap · trashy · junky · crummy · lousy · schlocky
underwhelming
Failing to meet expectations
- letdownFailure to satisfy expectations
- anticlimaxDisappointing conclusion after buildup
- unimpressiveFailing to inspire admiration
lackluster · dismal · unsatisfying · unfulfilling · wannabe · also-ran · has-been · never-was · pretender · knockoff
defective
Having inherent faults
damaged · marred · compromised · suboptimal · deficient · wanting · lacking · inadequate · insufficient · incomplete
average
Arithmetic mean or ordinary
- middlingOf moderate quality
- ordinaryStandard, unremarkable
- unremarkableNot worthy of comment
passable · so-so · run-of-the-mill · forgettable · undistinguished · unexceptional · pedestrian · garden-variety · commonplace · vanilla
- inferiorinferior, substandard, subpar, low-grade, lesser
- shortcomingsdeficient, inadequate, lacking, inferior, subpar
- shoddinessslipshod, slapdash, hack job, botch job, botch
- povertypoverty line, poor, poverty rate, impoverished, generational poverty
- bargainsbargain, bargain hunting, discount store, coupon, rebate
- Incompetencebungle, failure, botch, inability, blunder
second-ratefirst-rate
Of superior quality
excellent · superior · top-notch · outstanding · exceptional
second-ratefirst-rate
Of superior quality
top-tier · high-class · elite · premier · leading
second, secondary, secondhand, seconds, first-rate, secondly, second-class, third-rate, second-rater