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Mediocre vs Underwhelming - What's the difference?

mediocre | underwhelming |

As adjectives the difference between mediocre and underwhelming

is that mediocre is mediocre (ordinary: not extraordinary; not special, exceptional, or great; of medium quality) while underwhelming is failing to interest; usually used in response to something that was presented as exciting.

mediocre

English

Alternative forms

* mediocer (obsolete) * (dated)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Ordinary: not extraordinary; not special, exceptional, or great; of medium quality;
    • I'm pretty good at tennis but only mediocre at racquetball.

    Synonyms

    * middling * See also

    Related terms

    * mean * medium * mediate * mediation * mediator * median * mediocrely * mediocrity

    External links

    * * ----

    underwhelming

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Failing to interest; usually used in response to something that was presented as exciting.
  • :The dinosaur island in Crystal Palace Park is underwhelming.
  • *{{quote-news, year=1990, date=July 13, author=Rita Kempley, title=‘Quick Change’ (R), work=The Washington Post citation
    • , passage=Davis, plush as ever, is a little whiny and underwhelming as Murray's girlfriend, who spends much of her time nurturing Quaid, doing his familiar sweet-natured lummox.}}
  • *{{quote-news, year=2005, date=August 17, author=Edward Wyatt, title=Sales Lag for Book on Deep Throat, work=New York Times citation
    • , passage=But in Washington and just about everywhere else, sales of "The Secret Man," Bob Woodward's story of the source known as Deep Throat, have been underwhelming .}}

    Synonyms

    * bland, , insipid, disappointing

    Antonyms

    * overwhelming