Synonyms of mean
120 similar words · 6 opposite words
Another word for mean is pathetic. Other synonyms of mean are bad, wretched, one-star, low-quality and tenth-rate. The opposite of mean is noble.
Synonyms and similar words for mean
verbTo intend, to plan (to do); to have as one's intention.
- intendTo fix the mind upon (something, or something to be accomplished); be intent upon.
verbTo convey (a given sense); to signify, or indicate (an object or idea).
verbOf a person (or animal etc): to intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude.
verbTo cause or produce (a given result); to bring about (a given result).
- bring about
- cause
- lead to
- result inTo bring about; to lead to.
verbTo lament.
- grieveTo feel very sad about; to mourn; to sorrow for.
- mournTo express sadness or sorrow for; to grieve over (especially a death).
- afterthink
- becryTo cry about; cry over; lament; bemourn.
- bemoanTo be dismayed or worried about (someone), particularly because of their situation or what has happened to them.
- bewailTo wail over; to feel or express deep sorrow for.
- beweepTo weep over; weep for; weep about; deplore; lament.
- condole IndiaTo express regret or sorrow over (an undesirable event or other misfortune); to bemoan, to grieve, to lament.
- deploreTo bewail; to weep bitterly over; to feel sorrow for.
- elegizeTo lament, as if in an elegy.
- grievenTo make or become grievous or grief-stricken; to fill or be filled with grief.
- keenTo mourn.
- lament
- pineTo grieve or mourn for.
- repent
- sighTo utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over.
- sorrowTo feel grief over; to mourn, regret.
- wailTo lament; to bewail; to grieve over.
- begrieve archaic, rareTo grieve over or about.
- bemourn rareTo weep or mourn over.
- wayment obsoleteTo lament.
adjectiveLow in quality or degree; inferior; poor; shabby.
- cheapStingy; mean; excessively frugal.
- grottyUnpleasant, dirty, slovenly or offensive.
- ass slang, vulgarOf low quality; bad.
- badTricky; stressful; unpleasant.
- baseOf low value or degree.
- below par
- bottom-shelfCheap or low-quality.
- BTEC UKLow-quality or inferior.
- bumUnpleasant or unhappy.
- cheap and nasty UKCheap and of bad quality.
- cheapshit vulgarCheap; shoddy; of inferior quality.
- cheesy
- chintzy figurativelyExcessively reluctant to spend; miserly, stingy.
- coffee-and derogatory, slangCheap, second-rate.
- crap slang, vulgarOf poor quality.
- crappo slangOf very low quality; crap, lousy.
- crappy vulgar
- craptastic slang, vulgarOf extremely poor quality.
- crapperific slang, vulgarExtremely awful.
- craptabulous slang, vulgarExtremely awful.
- craptacular US, slangSpectacularly awful; so poor in quality as to become a spectacle.
- cruddy slang
- crummy informal
- dogwater slangExtremely bad or unskilled (especially at a video game); trash.
- dreckyTrashy, worthless.
- flimsy
- fourth-rate
- gash UK, slang
- garbageBad, crap, shitty.
- god-awfulExtremely awful, unpleasant or dreadful.
- inferior
- lousyInsufficient and less than expected of a good thing.
- low
- low-grade
- low-qualityOf poor quality; inferior.
- low-rentLow-quality, trashy.
- made in China
- mid slang
- one-starOf low quality; low-quality.
- patheticArousing scorn or contempt, often due to miserable inadequacy.
- poor
- poor man'sCheaper than, simpler than, a low-quality version of, or inferior to.
- pound-shop UK, derogatoryUsed to denote that something is low-quality or an inferior imitation.
- punkBad, substandard.
- rinky-dink US, informal
- ropy Ireland, UK
- rubbish Australia, informalExceedingly bad; awful.
- sad
- schlocky
- scrubby
- second-rate
- shoddy
- slim UK, dialectal
- subpar
- shit vulgarNasty; despicable.
- shite Ireland, UKBad; awful; shit.
- shitty informal, vulgar
- substandard
- ticky-tacky USInferior, minor, trivial.
- tenth-rateOf extremely poor quality, godawful.
- third-rate
- tin-pot informalInsignificant or minor, especially in an amusing and petty manner.
- trash
- trashy
- under parBelow par.
- woefulWretched; paltry; poor.
- wretchedOf an insignificant, mean, or poor nature; miserable, paltry, worthless.
- naughty obsolete
- slazy archaicSleazy; of inferior quality.
- slight dialectal, obsoleteMinor; small in amount.
adjectiveWithout dignity of mind; destitute of honour; low-minded; spiritless; base.
adjectiveUngenerous; stingy; tight-fisted.
- cheeseparingNiggardly, stingy.
- close
- close as waxMiserly, tight, or secretive.
- close-fistedTight-fisted, stingy.
- illiberal
- miserlyLike a miser, very or objectionably cautious with money.
- narrow-fistedSynonym of tight-fisted (“miserly, stingy”).
- niggardlyWithholding for the sake of meanness; stingy, miserly.
- nipcheeseSynonym of miserly.
- parsimoniousExhibiting parsimony; sparing in the expenditure of money; frugal, possibly to excess.
- peddlingInsignificant; unimportant; piddling.
- penny-wiseThrifty in regards to small amounts of money.
- penny-pinchingReluctant to spend money; close-fisted.
- penuriousMiserly; excessively cheap.
Opposite of mean
adjectiveWithout dignity of mind; destitute of honour; low-minded; spiritless; base.
adjectiveMore antonyms
Meaning of mean
- verb To intend, to plan (to do); to have as one's intention.
- verb To have as intentions of a given kind.
- verb To intend (something) for a given purpose or fate; to predestine.
mean in other languages
Questions about synonyms of mean
- What is another word for mean?
- Mean has 120 synonyms on Word.ws, such as pathetic, bad, wretched, one-star, low-quality and tenth-rate.
- What is the opposite of mean?
- The opposite of mean is noble. Other antonyms of mean are nice and honorable.
- What does mean mean?
- Mean means to intend, to plan (to do); to have as one's intention.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: mean (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of mean.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/mean. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.