suboptimal

adjective

sub·​op·​ti·​mal

ˌsəb-ˈäp-tə-məl

 

variants or sub-optimal

: less than optimal : not at the best possible level

suboptimal performance

suboptimal conditions/results/solutions

received suboptimal care

… such is life at the sharp end of evolution, where the pursuit of self-interest frequently leads to suboptimal outcomes for all concerned.

—The Economist

Training at sub-optimal levels fatigues you and wastes time you could have spent at the high levels you hope to achieve.

—Rick Crawford

suboptimally adverb

or sub-optimally

… countless companies perform suboptimally. They fail to capitalize on a unique competitive advantage.

—Erik Matson

Synonyms

• bad
• bastard
• bush
• bush-league
• crummy
• crumby
• deficient
• dissatisfactory
• ill
• inferior
• lame
• lousy
• off
• paltry
• poor
• punk
• sour
• subpar
• substandard
• unacceptable
• unsatisfactory
• wack [slang]
• wanting
• wretched
• wrong

Examples of suboptimal in a Sentence

yes, living on junk food generally means that you have a suboptimal diet

Recent Examples on the Web

Habits that contribute to insomnia include excessive screen time before bed, suboptimal lighting and room temperatures in the bedroom as well as consuming caffeine, alcohol or large portions of food prior to sleep. —Omer Awan, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024

Before the bell, TJX Companies , in pure TJX fashion, delivered strong quarterly results with a suboptimal guide. —Zev Fima, CNBC, 24 Nov. 2024

My question is, how long are shareholders going to tolerate more suboptimal financial results born of bad decisions being made by leadership around solving these problems? —Jason Parham, WIRED, 4 Oct. 2024

The cost includes a loss on impairment of inventory due to suboptimal THC levels. Operating expenses for the quarter were $141,788, down from $667,497 in the previous year. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

suboptimal

adjective

sub·​op·​ti·​mal ˌsəb-ˈäp-tə-məl 

: less than optimal

a suboptimal diet

a suboptimal dose of a drug