ˌsəb-ˈäp-tə-məl
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
yes, living on junk food generally means that you have a suboptimal diet
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of suboptimal
Poor posture, prolonged sitting, and suboptimal ergonomics contribute to chronic discomfort and micro-strain injuries.
—
Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025
Even this season, the Vikings faced off against the Lions at a suboptimal time.
—Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
Sometimes the problem is not contamination but suboptimal quality.
—David Cox, NPR, 5 Dec. 2024
But the overall point is valid, looks like suboptimal surgery.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for suboptimal
Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025
Even this season, the Vikings faced off against the Lions at a suboptimal time.
—Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
Sometimes the problem is not contamination but suboptimal quality.
—David Cox, NPR, 5 Dec. 2024
But the overall point is valid, looks like suboptimal surgery.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for suboptimal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suboptimal
Adjective
-
The alternative — courts that fail to protect our fundamental rights — is unacceptable.—
Peter Martin,
New York Daily News,
28 Feb. 2025
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Environmental groups have long opposed the new reservoir and objected to a shorter judicial review, saying the project will release unacceptable amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas, into the air in addition to other adverse impacts.—
Ari Plachta,
Sacramento Bee,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
And another research team, using data from 2015 to 2022, observed in an article available in Energy Research and Social Science that poor income distribution correlates with social unrest when fossil fuel subsidies are removed.—
Aldo Flores-Quiroga,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
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Federal workers got commendations, awards, positive reviews – and then were fired for 'poor performance' Taxes are coming.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA TODAY,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This reveals Wrexham have still been creating more than the opposition, suggesting there wasn’t a lot wrong and that an upturn in individual form, as happened at Mansfield with the back three, will bring the necessary results to stay in the promotion hunt.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
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Remains of Shiri Bibas returned, family says The latest hostage exchange is going ahead after tensions mounted over a grisly and heart-wrenching dispute triggered this week when Hamas initially handed over the wrong body for Shiri Bibas, an Israeli mother of two young boys abducted by militants.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.—
Kevin Fisher-Paulson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 June 2021
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My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.—
Tim Neville,
Outside Online,
23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
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The Browns are coming off a 3-14 season, their worst since a 0-16 campaign in 2017, Garrett's rookie year.—
Ryan Morik,
Fox News,
28 Feb. 2025
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Infinitely worse is Kenneth Marshall, the leader of the expedition and the wannabe conqueror of Niflheim.—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Second, laser technology is deficient in energy, efficiency, and is too expensive.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Feb. 2025
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Of course, soil can also be deficient in important nutrients.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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At the time, the majority of council members followed the lead of Councilmember Raul Campillo, who represents Del Cerro and said the church’s application was legally flawed.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Feb. 2025
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In April last year, a Bucharest court said a trial could start and ultimately decided not to start it, claiming the indictment was flawed.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Suboptimal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suboptimal. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
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