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

The two have similarities as undersized quarterbacks who played in the Malzahn offense. —Austin Meek, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025

But the guard-heavy groups didn’t miss a beat against an undersized Villanova team, outscoring the Wildcats 20-6 in the paint in the first half. —Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 5 Jan. 2025

Since then, injuries have turned the undersized Alexander (5-10, 196) into a part-time player. —Rob Reischel, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025

The revised plan also addresses issues with small classrooms, undersized and outdated technical education spaces, as well as antiquated gym spaces. —Alec Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

undersized

adjective

un·​der·​sized ˌən-dər-ˈsīzd 

: smaller than is usual or standard

undersized fruit