so-so

or so so

[soh-soh, soh-soh]

See more synonyms for so-so on Thesaurus.com

adjective

Also so·so. indifferent; neither very good nor very bad.

adverb

in an indifferent or passable manner; indifferently; tolerably.

Origin of so-so

First recorded in 1520–30

Synonyms

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. mediocre, fair, ordinary, average, passable.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for so-so

Contemporary Examples

There is a pro-cable bias that seems to forgive so-so shows and so-so series and judges network series harshly.
‘The Good Wife’ Creators on the Premiere’s Big Cary Twist, Will’s Death, and More
Kevin Fallon
September 22, 2014
For the United States, our so-so results are neither depressing nor affirming.
Are U.S. Kids Creative Enough?
Amanda Ripley
April 2, 2014
Last year, like most sports fans, he did so-so in predicting the winners.
White House Jumps Through Hoops to Increase Obamacare Enrollment
Eleanor Clift
March 18, 2014
It's fair to call all of this exaggerated, but the core point is sound—2013 has been a so-so year for the president.
Worst Fifth Year Ever? Maybe. But the Economy Will be the Judge of Obama
Jamelle Bouie
December 18, 2013
Ezra Klein reminds us that the job news that has the conservative press alleging conspiracy is … only so-so.
If there is a BLS Conspiracy, It's the Worst Executed I've Ever Seen
David Frum
October 5, 2012

Historical Examples

My practice is mostly among the poor, or the people that are only so-so.
The Faith Doctor
Edward Eggleston
If strangers come, So-so may bark, which he can do as well as a bigger dog.
Last Words
Juliana Horatia Ewing
"I'll catch him," said So-so, and he put up his tail, and started off.
Last Words
Juliana Horatia Ewing
"There are sixty seconds in every single minute, So-so," said she.
Last Words
Juliana Horatia Ewing
The Main is an easy stream to follow, and the scenery only so-so.
A Thousand Miles in the Rob Roy Canoe on Rivers and Lakes of Europe
John Macgregor

British Dictionary definitions for so-so

so-so

adjective

(postpositive) neither good nor bad

adverb

in an average or indifferent manner

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for so-so

1520s as an adverb, "indifferently;" as an adjective, "mediocre, neither too good nor too bad," 1540s; from so.

so-so

or so so

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}so-so

Synonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for so-so

Contemporary Examples

There is a pro-cable bias that seems to forgive so-so shows and so-so series and judges network series harshly.

For the United States, our so-so results are neither depressing nor affirming.

Last year, like most sports fans, he did so-so in predicting the winners.

It's fair to call all of this exaggerated, but the core point is sound—2013 has been a so-so year for the president.

Ezra Klein reminds us that the job news that has the conservative press alleging conspiracy is … only so-so.

Historical Examples

My practice is mostly among the poor, or the people that are only so-so.

If strangers come, So-so may bark, which he can do as well as a bigger dog.

"I'll catch him," said So-so, and he put up his tail, and started off.

"There are sixty seconds in every single minute, So-so," said she.

The Main is an easy stream to follow, and the scenery only so-so.

so-so

Word Origin and History for so-so

Origin of so-so