so-so

Neither great nor terrible

So-so describes something that is neither good nor bad, merely adequate or mediocre.

It functions as both an adjective and an adverb: The food was so-so or I slept so-so last night.

When someone asks how you're doing and you reply "so-so," you're signaling that things could be better but aren't terrible.

The reduplication suggests wavering between two possibilities without committing to either.

mediocre

middling

Of moderate quality

averageArithmetic mean or ordinary
passableMinimally sufficient quality
tolerableAble to be endured

adequate · fair · ordinary · unremarkable · lackluster · uninspiring · moderate · decent · acceptable · satisfactory

unimpressed

meh

Indifference, vocalized

underwhelmedFeeling letdown by something
unenthusedWithout eagerness or interest
lukewarmMildly warm temperature

unmoved · blasé · indifferent · apathetic · cool · tepid · dispassionate · unexcited · flat · uninspired

noncommittal

ambivalent

Having contradictory feelings

equivocalUncertain in meaning
hesitantSlow to act
uncertainNot firmly known

undecided · wishy-washy · waffling · fence-sitting · wavering · tentative · indecisive · irresolute · vague · noncommittal

Categories

Reduplicativesbye-bye, mama, papa, haha, yo-yo
Noncommittalneutral, undecided, on the fence, noncommittal, indifferent
not reallynot quite, sort of, kind of, maybe, hardly
adequacyadequate, enough, sufficient, satisfactory, acceptable
approximationsabout, approximately, around, roughly, almost
unpredictableunpredictable, uncertain, unreliable, erratic, inconsistent

Opposites

quality intensity

Of superior quality

terrible · outstanding · awful · exceptional · horrible

distinctiveness

so-soextraordinary

Beyond what's typical

remarkable · exceptional · special · noteworthy · striking

Family

Familiarity: Top 20,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G