nothing special

Examples

• All

• There was nothing special about Somerset County.

  Charlotte's Web (2006)

• People have known for centuries that our place in it is nothing special.

  Academic text (2006)

• It's OK quality, nothing special, but it's great.

• No, nothing special at all.

  To Rome with Love (2012)

• Beyond the car, there seemed to be nothing special about the night.

  Fiction book (1992)

• All of them are different: some strange, some beautiful, some nothing special.

  Fiction book (1994)

• Let's face it, nothing special about that name.

  The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

• Sam's work was nothing special, but he knew what his department valued, and he delivered.

  Academic text (1996)

• Because you're right, there's nothing special about this place.

  Horizon (2019)

• There was nothing special.

  For Love (2021)

Synonyms

A

average

vsnothing special

∞ 1.0

Ordinary and not very good

is broader, focusing on ordinary quality rather than numeric middle

M

mundane

vsnothing special

80 4.3

Ordinary daily things or events that are not special and often feel boring

is more neutral, not necessarily implying boredom or dullness

C

commonplace

vsnothing special

54 3.4

Ordinary and not special or new

is more about being ordinary in value or quality, not frequency

R

run-of-the-mill

vsnothing special

• Informal

24 3.3

Ordinary and not special

is less idiomatic and more flexible in formal speech

N

neutral

vsnothing special

24 3.5

Not having strong or noticeable qualities

is about being simply ordinary, not emotionless or balanced

U

unremarkable

vsnothing special

20 3.5

Being ordinary and not interesting

is more neutral, simply noting commonness without judgement

N

nondescript

vsnothing special

17 7.1

Not having special or interesting features so it does not stand out

is broader, referring to general ordinariness beyond lacking features

N

nothing fancy

vsnothing special

15 2.7

Simple and plain without anything special or expensive

is broader about ordinary quality rather than lack of ornament

U

unimpressive

vsnothing special

9 3.9

Not very good or likely to attract attention

is gentler, stating commonness without implying failure to impress

U

unspectacular

vsnothing special

3 4.1

Ordinary and not very impressive

is a more general term for ordinary situations, not dramatic ones

U

unexceptional

vsnothing special

3 4.4

Not special or impressive, just ordinary

is more informal and conversational in everyday speech

N

nothing spectacular

vsnothing special

1 3.4

Not very impressive or special

is more neutral everyday phrasing without dramatic tone

U

unextraordinary

vsnothing special

1 4.0

Not special or exciting

is the everyday, more casual way to express that idea

U

unfabulous

vsnothing special

1 6.8

Ordinary and not exciting

is more neutral, noting plainness without emotional comment

N

nonexceptional

vsnothing special

5.3

Not special or unusual

is more general everyday phrasing for the same common idea

R

run-of-the-mine

vsnothing special

• Informal

7.2

Common and not special

is the standard neutral expression rather than a quirky colloquial one

N

not worth writing home about

vsnothing special

• Informal

7.0

Not very good or special

is the everyday neutral way to state ordinariness without idiom

Antonyms

R

remarkable

588 2.8

Unusual and easy to notice because it is different or surprising

N

noteworthy

37 4.2

Worth paying attention to because it is important or interesting

How Special

spectacular

265 3.5

remarkable

588 2.8

notable

112 3.7

nothing special

43 2.2

dull

182 1.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology