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Definitions

no great shakes

ADJECTIVE
garden-variety
Synonyms
WEAK
average characterless common commonplace conventional cut-and-dried dull fair familiar formulaic garden generic habitual homespun household humble indifferent inferior mean mediocre modest normal p
ADJECTIVE
mediocre
Synonyms
STRONGEST
decent dull inferior middling ordinary second-rate so-so undistinguished uninspired
WEAK
characterless colorless common conventional fair fair to middling fairish humdrum indifferent insignificant intermediate mainstream mean medium mid moderate of poor quality passable pedestrian run-of-the-mill standard tolerable unexceptional vanilla
Antonyms
STRONGEST
different excellent exceptional extraordinary first-rate superior
WEAK
unusual
ADJECTIVE
ordinary
Synonyms
STRONGEST
common conventional dull generic humble mediocre normal plain simple unremarkable workaday
STRONG
commonplace fair familiar garden homespun household inferior mean pedestrian plastic routine vanilla
WEAK
characterless garden variety habitual indifferent modest prosaic quotidian run-of-the-mill second-rate so-so stereotyped undistinguished uneventful unexceptional uninspired unmemorable unnoteworthy unpretentious usual white-bread
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abnormal complex complicated decorated difficult embellished extraordinary intelligent intricate irregular ornate smart sophisticated strange superior unclear uncommon unconventional unusual
STRONG
different exceptional
WEAK
distinctive remarkable special
ADJECTIVE
undistinguished
Synonyms
STRONGEST
generic mediocre prosaic so-so uneventful uninspired unremarkable
WEAK
average characterless common commonplace dull everyday fair garden-variety mean modest normal nothing special nothing to write home about pedestrian plain routine run-of-the-mill second-rate typical unexceptional unexciting unmemorable unnoteworthy usual
Antonyms
STRONGEST
creative exceptional extraordinary
ADJECTIVE
unexceptional
Synonyms
STRONGEST
mediocre prosaic so-so unremarkable
WEAK
average characterless common commonplace conventional dull everyday fair garden-variety insignificant modest normal nothing special nothing to write home about pedestrian plain routine run-of-the-mill second-rate typical undistinguished uneventful unexciting unimpressive uninspired unmemorable unnoteworthy usual
Antonyms
STRONGEST
exceptional

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I know Napoli have been no great shakes in Europe but they still rarely lose at home and that was a statement win for Liam Rosenior, which should silence some of his doubters.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

Its overall handling of mental illness is no great shakes either.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 6, 2023

Their two previous quarterfinal duels at Roland Garros were actually no great shakes.

From New York Times • May 30, 2022

“Well, now that you know what I meant by it, it’s no great shakes, is it?”

From The New Yorker • Oct. 1, 2019

That gun was no great shakes when I bought it second-hand fifteen years ago, and it has never got any better.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck