SO-SO Synonyms: 142 Similar and Opposite Words

so-so 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of so-so

as in decent

of average to below average quality a so-so production of a great play

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

so-so

2 of 2

adverb

ˈsō-ˈsō

as in good

in a satisfactory way I think I did so-so on the test

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of so-so

Adjective

Is solid production in the AHL and abroad, but so-so results in the NHL now worth a long-term deal at $4 million per year? — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Moreover, the battery life is lacking, the camera is so-so, and the speaker isn't great for listening to calls or media. — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026

Adverb

Within Nanjiani’s so-so performance is a cautionary tale about Taskmaster’s recent casting methods and what this show both requires from, and owes to, its competitors. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 June 2026 One sophomore series that has been getting so-so reviews, Tom Segura’s Bad Thoughts, made a quiet return last week. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for so-so

Recent Examples of Synonyms for so-so

Adjective

While the price can be inhibiting for some — with chef pants priced as high as $190 and jackets as much as $210, the price of a decent knife or other cooking tools — Argoti feels the heavy usage justifies the cost for him.

— Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
The other was a decent man constantly being tormented by God in order to test his faith.

— Chuck Lorre, Vanity Fair, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of decent

Adverb

Five weeks before the midterm elections, Republicans seized on the promise of good-paying jobs and a central role for the heartland in the push for American steel manufacturing.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
From this interviewer’s perspective, Diaz appears remarkably good-humored on the eve of his publicity whirlwind.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of good

Adjective

The main downside is mediocre image quality due to limited color coverage and modest brightness, which largely limits it to lower-impact tasks like working with office documents and viewing web pages and short videos.

— Tony Hoffman, PC Magazine, 26 Sep. 2026
Being mediocre in the American League kept most teams in the postseason hunt, but the Royals couldn’t even manage that.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of mediocre

Adverb

So far, Portugal seems to be doing fine without Ronaldo, with Ramos scoring again Thursday during a 4-2 win over Denmark.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
At schools with a lot of poor students, teachers deprioritize the ones who are doing fine, at least in relation to, say, the kid whose sibling just died.

— Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of fine

Adjective

After months of negotiations failed to yield a satisfactory agreement, the union approved strike action earlier this month in a vote held in tandem with unions at the Brooklyn Museum and American Folk Art Museum.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
The effort displayed by Kansas’ 14 men’s basketball players at Bill Self’s 24th annual Boot Camp proved satisfactory to the Hall of Fame Jayhawks coach.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of satisfactory

Adverb

Matthew McConaughey hopes that Woody Harrelson has a more than alright, alright, alright 65th birthday.

— Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 25 July 2026
And in new data released this week from the Ronald Reagan Institute, there are very clear warnings that the kids aren’t alright with MAGA.

— Philip Elliott, Time, 1 July 2026

Definition of alright

Adjective

Bakker was a middling student, but did exhibit an early interest in showbiz and a talent for salesmanship.

— Tim Funk, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026
Hilton, who polls show down 20% or more, said Sacramento Democrats were at fault for California’s high prices and middling outcomes on issues like homelessness.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of middling

Adverb

The amenities in the room are unmarked, in beautiful refillable containers, and have a natural, earthy scent that blends nicely with the environment.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Gia does seem to be settling nicely into her second stint as an NFL WAG, though.

— Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of nicely

Browse Nearby Words

sort (through)

so-so

sot

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Cite this Entry

Style

“So-so.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/so-so. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of so-so

adjective

adverb

Example Sentences

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