as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard the service at the restaurant was subpar, to say the least

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of subpar Persistently monitoring employees suggests a deficit of confidence and independence in their roles, conveying that the employees’ performance is subpar and cultivating a sense of inadequacy. Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025 The veteran head coach was seen as the man to lead Sacramento forward for the foreseeable future but a subpar season last year started to put doubt into things around the league. David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024 Shorn of some of the 49ers’ key weapons in wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and running back Christian McCaffrey, and with Deebo Samuel having a subpar season, Purdy remains the likely 49ers’ quarterback of the future and is due a huge contract extension in the offseason. Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024 The email claimed that their practice's rankings were subpar in the U.S. Ajay Prasad, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for subpar 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subpar
Adjective
  • Without any supporting facts alleging, political impropriety, unacceptable public safety threats, national security concerns, and the potential failure of not executing federal immigration initiatives and policies, all of which will have an impact on Adams’ ability to govern NYC.
    Arnold Kriss, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Many of them will likely be seen in Kyiv as unacceptable.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • But shortly after its release, AT&T dropped the device’s price down to just $0.99 in what was an unmistakable sign of poor sales – and perhaps an indication that consumers didn’t want more Facebook on their phone other than in its app.
    Lisa Eadicicco, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025
  • Cosgrove, a rookie revelation in 2023, is looking to bounce back after a poor 2024 season.
    Dennis Lin, The Athletic, 17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.
    Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 June 2021
  • 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
  • Still, experts say there’s nothing wrong with enjoying chocolate in moderation.
    Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Some reasons why economists blundered on free trade In their new study, the China Shock economists throw a bit of shade on the economics profession for getting the effects of free trade so wrong in the past.
    Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The weather was bad enough that MassDOT dropped the speed limit on the pike and forbid tandem trucks from the road.
    Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 17 Feb. 2025
  • There have been worse trades than the one that sent Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, along with Max Christie and a future first-round draft pick.
    Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Of course, soil can also be deficient in important nutrients.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2025
  • In people deficient in vitamin K, the levels of these factors are generally less than 50% of normal.4 If a vitamin K deficiency is found, testing for health conditions that can lead to such a deficiency may be performed.
    Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • There have been plenty of terrible Oscar hosts over the years but this was a car crash that could easily have been avoided.
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2025
  • Secrets bob to the surface like drowning victims from the deep until nobody — not even the reader — can easily separate the terrible truth from even more terrible fictions.
    M.L. Rio, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Meanwhile the parents had suffered years of horrible harassment and death threats from Jones’ followers.
    Rochelle Eastman, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
  • His death was so horrible that people still don’t talk about it.
    Julie Seabaugh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near subpar

Cite this Entry

“Subpar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subpar. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

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