undersized

adjective

un·​der·​sized ˌən-dər-ˈsīzd 

variants or less commonly undersize

ˌən-dər-ˈsīz 

: of a size less than is common, proper, normal, or average

undersized trout

Synonyms

• bantam
• diminutive
• dinky
• dwarfish
• fine
• half-pint
• Lilliputian
• little
• pint-size
• pint-sized
• pocket
• pocket-size
• pocket-sized
• puny
• pygmy
• shrimpy
• slight
• small
• smallish
• subnormal
• toylike

Examples of undersized in a Sentence

He is undersized for a basketball player.

though a football all-star in high school, he was just a mediocre, undersized player at the college level

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite being undersized at almost every position, the Valkyries held the Storm to 10 points in the paint and 37.9% shooting from the field in the first half. —Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 14 June 2025

The undersized guard, with a relentless motor, teamed with Mathurin to bring an infusion of energy the Thunder did not match. —Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025

The Patriots have used undersized running backs on early downs in the past however, with Lewis and Danny Woodhead being prime examples. —Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 8 June 2025

Block, a natural power forward at 6-foot-9, was often pushed into playing center for the undersized Rockets, who lacked a true starting big man. —Noah Perkins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for undersized

• acclimatized
• actualized
• aerosolized
• alphabetized
• aluminized
• anaesthetized
• anesthetized
• annualized
• antagonized
• apologised
• apologized
• capitalised

Kids Definition

undersized

adjective

un·​der·​sized ˌən-dər-ˈsīzd 

: smaller than is usual or standard

undersized fruit