Mediocre

easyNegative tone

mee-dee-OH-ker

adjective

Definition

Of only moderate quality; not very good

Memory hook

MEDI-OCRE: stuck in the MIDDLE of the mountain, never reaching the top - just average.

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Word roots

mediusmiddle(Latin)
ocrisrugged mountain(Latin)

Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.

Examples

The movie received mediocre reviews from critics.
His performance was mediocre at best.

Test yourself

Fill in the blank with the right word:

The movie received ______ reviews from critics.
Show answer

mediocre

Synonyms

averagemiddlingunremarkablepedestrian

Antonyms

exceptionaloutstandingexcellentexemplary

Categories

View all Average words

GRE Tip

Mediocre is a easy-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "average" or "middling" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "exceptional".

Read: How to Memorize GRE Words That Actually Stick

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