Find Antonyms

exceptional Antonyms

Opposite of exceptional

Because the opposite of exceptional shifts with each meaning, the 14 antonyms and opposite words below are separated across 2 exact definitions and ranked by contrast strength.
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• adjective (Context 1)

Unusually good; outstanding or superior in quality, ability, or degree.

Usage Example

"The young violinist demonstrated mediocre talent during her debut recital."

Strongest
mediocre
ordinary
average
Strong
inferior
unremarkable
commonplace
run-of-the-mill

• adjective (Context 2)

Unusual or not typical; forming an exception to a general rule or pattern.

Usage Example

"Late-stage applications will only be considered under typical circumstances."

Strongest
typical
normal
usual
standard
Strong
customary
routine
regular

Similar words to exceptional

Words similar to exceptional shift depending on context. Common synonyms include:

outstanding
extraordinary
unusual
remarkable
uncommon
atypical
rare
excellent
See all synonyms of exceptional

• Nearby Words

except
excepting
exception
exceptional
exceptionalism
exceptionally
excerpt

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Antonyms for Exceptional. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/antonyms/exceptional
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