so-so

Short definition: The expression so-so describes a feeling, experience, or result that is just okay, not impressive and not terrible either, often used when someone feels neutral or slightly unimpressed.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the word so-so? The word so-so is commonly used in everyday conversation to describe something that is neither very good nor very bad. It often appears in casual speech when people want to give an honest but neutral response. You will hear it when talking about feelings, experiences, food, work, or overall conditions. Because it is informal and conversational, it usually reflects a relaxed and slightly indifferent tone. Below, each meaning is explained in a calm and natural way, with enough detail to feel clear, human, and practical.

so-so adj., adv. /ˈsoʊˌsoʊ/

Forms: so-so
Related: okay adj., average adj., mediocre adj.
Syllable: so-so

  1. (Adjective) Neither very good nor very bad just average and nothing special.

    So-so describes something that is acceptable but unremarkable, meaning it does not stand out as impressive or terrible and simply falls somewhere in the middle.

    The movie was so-so because it had a few good moments but overall it did not leave a strong impression.
    His performance at work was so-so this week as he met basic expectations but did not exceed them.
    The restaurant looked promising but the food turned out to be so-so in taste and presentation.

    Synonyms: average, okay, fair, mediocre, ordinary, not bad, passable, middle of the road, decent enough, nothing special, tolerable, moderate
    Antonyms: excellent, great, amazing, outstanding, terrible, awful, impressive, fantastic, exceptional, wonderful, very bad, remarkable

  2. (Adverb) In an average or neutral way without strong positive or negative feeling.

    As an adverb, so-so is used to describe how something is done or how someone feels in a neutral way, often as a casual response that avoids strong emotion.

    When asked how he was feeling he replied so-so because he was not great but not terrible either.
    She did so-so on the test which meant she passed but did not score very high.
    The project went so-so despite everyone putting in a reasonable amount of effort.

    Synonyms: moderately, fairly, okayish, averagely, passably, in a neutral way, without enthusiasm, halfway, indifferently, acceptably, reasonably, not badly
    Antonyms: excellently, poorly, badly, wonderfully, terribly, enthusiastically, outstandingly, impressively, brilliantly, disastrously, extremely, perfectly

An Explanation of the Word "so-so" in an Image

Colorful landscape illustration titled Synonyms for So-So showing common expressions such as average, mediocre, just okay, fair, nothing special, and could be better.
A colorful landscape educational illustration titled Synonyms for So-So, presenting common alternatives like average, mediocre, just okay, fair, nothing special, and could be better in a friendly visual layout.

Conversation Using the Expression So-So

The following conversation takes place between friends casually chatting after work. It shows how the expression so-so is used naturally to describe feelings and everyday experiences.

The exchange reflects relaxed, informal speech commonly heard in daily life.

Mark: How was your day?

Olivia: It was so-so, not terrible, but nothing exciting happened.

Mark: That sounds like a long day.

Olivia: Yeah, work was fine, just a bit repetitive.

Mark: At least it wasn’t stressful.

Olivia: True, a so-so day is better than a bad one.

Mark: Want to grab dinner and relax?

Olivia: Sure, that might turn this so-so day into a good one.

Phrases Containing the Expression So-So

The phrases below show how so-so is commonly used to describe moods, experiences, opinions, and everyday situations in casual English.

Feeling so-so

Having an average or neutral mood.

After a long day at work, he said he was feeling so-so and just wanted to rest quietly at home.

So-so day

An ordinary day.

It was a so-so day, with nothing particularly exciting but no major problems either.

So-so mood

An in-between emotional state.

Her so-so mood reflected how tired she was after dealing with small issues all morning.

So-so experience

An average experience.

The restaurant visit was a so-so experience, with decent food but slow service.

So-so result

An outcome that is neither great nor poor.

The exam result was so-so, good enough to pass but not high enough to feel proud.

So-so performance

An average performance.

His presentation was so-so, clear enough but lacking strong impact.

So-so answer

A weak or incomplete response.

She gave a so-so answer because she wasn’t fully prepared.

So-so quality

Moderate quality.

The product had so-so quality and didn’t last very long.

So-so reaction

A neutral response.

The audience gave a so-so reaction, clapping politely but without excitement.

So-so opinion

A mixed or neutral view.

He had a so-so opinion about the movie and probably wouldn’t watch it again.

So-so review

An average evaluation.

The so-so review mentioned both strengths and weaknesses.

So-so progress

Moderate improvement.

Her so-so progress showed she needed more practice.

So-so condition

Neither good nor bad.

The car was in so-so condition and would need repairs soon.

So-so weather

Unremarkable weather.

The so-so weather made the trip less exciting but still manageable.

So-so taste

An average flavor.

The soup had a so-so taste and needed more seasoning.

So-so service

Acceptable but unimpressive service.

The so-so service made the wait feel longer than necessary.

So-so feeling

A mixed emotional state.

He had a so-so feeling about the plan but agreed to try it anyway.

So-so score

An average score.

The team ended the season with a so-so score overall.

So-so situation

An acceptable but imperfect situation.

It was a so-so situation, but there were still ways to improve it.

So-so outcome

A mixed result.

The negotiation ended with a so-so outcome for both sides.

Words Rhyme with so-so

go
low
no
row
show
slow
snow
tow
ago
below
bestow
echo
hello
mellow
yellow
follow
hollow
borrow
sorrow
tomorrow
volcano
torpedo
tuxedo
domino
pueblo
studio
video
audio
scenario
ufo
POS: Adjective