AVERAGE Synonyms: 203 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'average' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of average are mean , median , and norm . While all these words mean "something that represents a middle point," average is the quotient obtained by dividing the sum total of a set of figures by the number of figures. // scored an average of 85 on tests

Q: When can 'mean' be used instead of 'average'?

The words mean and average are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mean may be the simple average or it may represent value midway between two extremes. // a high of 70° and a low of 50° give a mean of 60°

Q: In what contexts can 'median' take the place of 'average'?

While the synonyms median and average are close in meaning, median applies to the value that represents the point at which there are as many instances above as there are below. // average of a group of persons earning 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10 dollars an hour is 6 dollars, whereas the median is 5 dollars

Q: Where would 'norm' be a reasonable alternative to 'average'?

In some situations, the words norm and average are roughly equivalent. However, norm means the average of performance of a significantly large group, class, or grade. // scores about the norm for fifth grade arithmetic

average 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of average

as in median

being about midway between extremes of amount or size since a Chihuahua seems as impractical as a Saint Bernard, let's get a dog of more average dimensions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in normal

being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events just an average day at the office

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in typical

having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind the company's marketing people want to interview average teenagers to see what kinds of clothes appeal to them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

average

2 of 3

noun

ˈa-v(ə-)rij

as in norm

what is typical of a group, class, or series my cat's a cut above the average when it comes to being a finicky eater

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

average

3 of 3

verb

as in to measure

Related Words

as in to equalize

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word average distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of average are mean, median, and norm. While all these words mean "something that represents a middle point," average is the quotient obtained by dividing the sum total of a set of figures by the number of figures.

scored an average of 85 on tests

When can mean be used instead of average?

The words mean and average are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mean may be the simple average or it may represent value midway between two extremes.

a high of 70° and a low of 50° give a mean of 60°

In what contexts can median take the place of average?

While the synonyms median and average are close in meaning, median applies to the value that represents the point at which there are as many instances above as there are below.

average of a group of persons earning 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10 dollars an hour is 6 dollars, whereas the median is 5 dollars

Where would norm be a reasonable alternative to average?

In some situations, the words norm and average are roughly equivalent. However, norm means the average of performance of a significantly large group, class, or grade.

scores about the norm for fifth grade arithmetic

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of average

Adjective

An average ticket price is $800 domestically, which is only a few hundred dollars cheaper than the average international ticket price at $1,240. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 Her business bank statements, though, show average monthly deposits of $45,000 over the past 24 months. — Karen Koehler, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026

Noun

September is a traditionally bad month for the major stock market averages, and analysts are bracing for additional volatility ahead of the midterm elections in just nine weeks. — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026 Twelve months, on the other hand, can favor a business that has recently grown, since last year’s smaller numbers stay out of the average. — Karen Koehler, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026

Verb

The payments will average about $100 per vehicle, varying by state and premiums paid, State Farm said in a February news release. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 Russell Westbrook, the 2016-17 NBA MVP and one of only three players to average a triple-double for a season, announced his retirement Wednesday after 18 years. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for average

Recent Examples of Synonyms for average

Adjective

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, median family income for the Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall metro fair market rent area was $89,800 in 2026.

— Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Like, is the median Claude user a net negative for Anthropic?

— Jack Holmes, Vanity Fair, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of median

Adjective

Although Edouard is not forecast to become a hurricane, the hurricane center has warned coastal residents to closely monitor the forecast as the storm is in an area of warmer than normal water and low wind shear, which favor strengthening.

— Doyle Rice, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
That change was introduced to help give club staff working across transfer departments a more normal working pattern.

— Leon Imber, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of normal

Adjective

Its technology has also reached production at volumes far beyond typical nuclear manufacturing.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
On top of that over the last two weeks of August, a trough over the eastern Pacific was bringing in even heavier rain than typical for multiple days in a row, Weiss said.

— Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of typical

Noun

Combat was a highlight for me and an absolute departure from genre norms.

— Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2026
Some argue that cultural norms of male leadership and even outright discrimination keep women from top roles, while others argue that women are less ambitious than men.

— Laura Clawson, JSTOR Daily, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of norm

Verb

The minimum safe thickness is a threshold that measures a tank’s ability to contain the pressure of the liquid and support the tank’s weight, the report said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
These supernovas were used as a kind of cosmological measuring stick to uncover a mysterious force called dark energy that was causing the universe to expand — a discovery that earned the Nobel Prize in 2011.

— Joe Palca, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of measure

Adjective

This may not come as a surprise in a world not only of AI, but widespread access to technology that requires ordinary people to develop typing skills.

— Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Why network awareness deserves more attention now Online banking and shopping place sensitive information at the center of ordinary internet use.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of ordinary

Adjective

The advancing gas front improves sweep efficiency by penetrating tight, unreached reservoir compartments that standard water-injection floods bypass during secondary extraction campaigns.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
The stock Dax is a practical urban commuter that comes standard with a clutch-free semi-automatic transmission.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of standard

Browse Nearby Words

aver

average

averaged

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Average.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/average. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of average

adjective

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on average

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

apiary

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes