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low-grade

low-grade

11 4.4
Not very good and worth less than similar things
  • adjective
  • /loʊ ɡreɪd/
translation icon : de baja calidad
  • And tell the cook this is low-grade dog food.
  • low-grade fever
  • low-grade ore
  • low-grade tumor

So in terms of memory, it's a pretty low grade thing.

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Examples

  • But back in June, he was diagnosed with a slow growing low grade lymphoma.

  • The film stock is definitely Russian, low grade.

  • It's a constant low grade inflammation and it makes people feel sick.

  • Jared had been listless for the past few days, with a low-grade fever.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Mr. Racine has a low-grade fever and is exhibiting tenderness in his lower right calf.

  • But her body longed for him with an insistence like a low-grade fever that flared unpredictably.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Its overexpression is more prevalent in higher-grade tumours compared to low-grade tumours.

    Academic text (2007)
  • For example, asthma with obesity is associated with mechanical problems with ventilation, low-grade systemic inflammation, and airway inflammation.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The restaurant was known for serving low-grade food that disappointed its customers.

  • He decided to stop using low-grade materials for his art project and opted for higher quality options.

Synonyms

bad
vslow-grade
1.0

Not good in quality or below the usual standard

is similar but can also suggest low value or low importance
poor
vslow-grade
838 1.0

Not good enough in quality or amount

adds a sense of lower value or reduced importance beyond quality
mediocre
vslow-grade
109 4.8

Only average in quality and not very good

is worse in degree, suggesting actual inferiority or lesser worth
inferior
vslow-grade
63 3.7

Not as good in quality as something else

is broader, also implying lower importance as well as poor quality
substandard
vslow-grade
27 4.4

Not as good as the usual or required quality

is broader, also suggesting low value or limited importance
second-rate
vslow-grade
23 4.4

Not as good as the best, often cheap or simple

is similar but can stress lower value or importance too
so-so
vslow-grade
21 3.0

Neither good nor bad

is more negative, indicating notably low quality or importance
third-rate
vslow-grade
  • Informal
17 4.7

Of very low quality and not good enough

is like this but may be less harsh or absolute in tone
subpar
vslow-grade
15 4.5

Not as good as people expect

is like this but also covers lower importance or worth
suboptimal
vslow-grade
4 5.6

Less good than the best choice

is more general, pointing to low value or importance too
fourth-rate
vslow-grade
  • Offensive
1 6.6

Very poor quality and not good enough

is similar but can be used more generally for lesser importance
fifth-rate
vslow-grade
  • Informal
1 6.8

Very low quality and not good enough

is broader, applying to low value or lesser importance as well
subaverage
vslow-grade
4.9

Lower than the normal level in quality or performance

focuses more generally on low worth or lesser importance
poorish
vslow-grade
  • Informal
4.6

Not very good in quality or condition

is stronger, implying clear inferiority in value or importance
rubbishy
vslow-grade
  • UK
7.0

Cheap and poorly made

is a more neutral label for low quality or lesser importance

Antonyms

74 4.3

Higher quality and more expensive than normal

68 2.7

Very good and done with care

How Good

excellent
1.0
good
1.0
average
1.0
low-grade
11 4.4
worthless
298 3.0

Surface Forms

low-grade positive
lower-grade comparative
lowest-grade superlative

Morphology

low-grade = low + grade (transparent) = low + grade

Both components are common words and the meaning 'of inferior quality' follows directly from 'low' + 'grade'.

Etymology

Low-grade joins low, which means 'not high', and grade, which means 'level' or 'step', so think of a low score at school or a lower step on a ladder. That's why calling something low-grade means it is of 'lower quality' or less important.