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

After two so-so starts, Buchanan approached Lambert with some ideas. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 23 July 2026 Guys’ inability to fully deliver for Dean is explored in trenchant lyrics that seem to be exploring fateful realizations about so-so situationships in real time. — Chris Willman, Variety, 17 July 2026

Adverb

Instead, all four proved to be only so-so reality TV chefs and the judges never had to make a single Sophie’s choice between any of them. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026 But that dosing mechanism only works so-so. — Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for so-so

Recent Examples of Synonyms for so-so

Adjective

There was a time when getting a decent electric dirt bike meant spending serious money.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026
In the Arabic-speaking pic, Barhom stars as Hichem, a customs officer on the Algerian-Tunisian border, who tries to provide a decent life for his wife Leila and little daughter Zineb.

— Annika Pham, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of decent

Adverb

That’s tough to do against a good-hitting team, especially in a big part of their order, middle part of their order.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Aug. 2026
That includes whether the 16 jobs are good-paying professional careers, hourly wage jobs, or something else.

— Olivia Young, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of good

Adjective

The Jays will need many moments in the next month to turn this mediocre season into one worth remembering.

— Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
The mediocre screen was an unpleasant surprise given that this thing advertised 100 percent sRGB gamut coverage when it was announced and on its product page for many weeks (the Internet Archive captures it here).

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of mediocre

Adverb

Concerning her daughter’s hiatus, her mother, Carla Guevara-Laforteza, reassured fans that Sophia is doing fine and finding ways to keep herself busy.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Drugstore shampoos work just fine, if not, better than some of their more expensive counterparts.

— Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of fine

Adjective

For the city, the move represents a satisfactory but temporary solution to a months-long dispute over the market’s location that came to a head last week.

— Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
But Olson cautioned people that investigations don’t guarantee a satisfactory outcome for consumers.

— Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 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

In a morass of middling quarterback play throughout the preseason, Fagnano has stood out.

— Daniel Popper, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
So far, season 11’s workplace dynamic and charismatic crew have elevated it above the low standard set by consecutive middling seasons across the Below Deck franchise.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of middling

Adverb

As for Apple, Amazon and Sony, all three companies have strong technology businesses in addition to theatrical and streaming content, which may align nicely with Imax's tech-heavy business.

— Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
None of this would worry me if the systems failed loudly, but a model out of its depth returns fluent, confident and nicely formatted text that happens to be wrong.

— Faisal Saeed, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of nicely

Browse Nearby Words

sort (through)

so-so

sot

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“So-so.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/so-so. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of so-so

adjective

adverb

Example Sentences

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