What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mediocre
Example
The food at the restaurant was mediocre. [mediocre: adjective]
Example
She gave a mediocre presentation that failed to impress the audience. [mediocre: adjective]
Example
He was a mediocre athlete who never made it to the professional level. [mediocre: adjective]
middling
Example
The movie received middling reviews from critics. [middling: adjective]
Example
She did a middling job on the project, meeting the basic requirements but not exceeding expectations. [middling: adjective]
Example
He was a middling musician who played adequately but lacked originality. [middling: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mediocre is more common than middling in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mediocre and middling?
Both mediocre and middling are neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
