Another Word for Mean – Meaning, Synonyms, and Examples
The word mean is highly versatile. As a verb, it signifies to intend to convey or to intend to do something. As an adjective, it means unkind or unwilling to give. To make your English more varied and specific, learning another word for mean will help. Using synonyms allows you to specify whether you mean define, intend, or cruel.
What is Another Word for Mean?
A great synonym for mean (in the sense of definition or intention) is intend. Mean means to convey, signify, or denote; or, to have in mind as a purpose. Intend means to have (a course of action) as one’s purpose or object. Both words capture the idea of having a specific purpose or significance. Learning words like intend helps you emphasize the purpose or goal behind an action or statement.
Meaning of “Mean”
Mean (verb) means to intend to convey, indicate, or refer to; or, to have in mind as a purpose or goal. (Adjective) means unkind, malicious, or ungenerous. (Noun) refers to the average of a set of numbers.
We use the verb for definition (What does this word mean?), intention (I mean to finish this project), or the adjective for character (a mean person).
Synonyms for “Mean”
Here are some common ways to say mean:
- Intend: To have (a course of action) as one’s purpose or object. (A strong alternative for purpose/intention.)
- Signify: To be an indication of; to denote. (Used when emphasizing indication or importance.)
- Cruel: Willfully causing pain or suffering to others. (A strong alternative for unkindness/malice.)
- Inferior: Lower in rank, status, or quality. (Used when describing poor quality or low standing.)
- Averages: (Noun) The result obtained by adding the numbers and then dividing by the number of values. (Used when referring to the statistical term.)
Example Sentences
- I intend to finish this book before the end of the week.
- The sudden drop in temperature may signify the coming of a major storm.
- His cruel remarks were hurtful to the entire team.
- The quality of the material was clearly inferior to what was promised.
- We calculated the simple average of the test scores to determine the class standing.
Mini Dialogue
Sam: “What did your manager mean when she said the project was ‘critical’?”
Mia: “She didn’t intend for you to drop everything, but she wanted to signify its high importance.”
Sam: “I see. I just thought she was being a little cruel with the tight deadline.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Don’t use Signify when referring to personal intention. Signify is best for objects or concepts showing a meaning.
✅ Do use Intend when talking about a person’s purpose or goal, and Cruel when describing unkindness.
Let’s Practice!
Which synonym best fits this sentence? “The company tried to cut costs by using __________ parts in the new production model.” (Answer: Inferior – This synonym works best because it refers specifically to the quality of the parts being low or poor.)
Practice Tip
Use intend instead of “mean” in your next professional conversation to sound more deliberate and clear about your purpose.
Final Note
Knowing what is another word for mean and practicing synonyms like intend and cruel will help you describe purpose, definition, and character clearly.
