suboptimal

adjective

ˌsəb-ˈäp-tə-məl
Definition of suboptimalnext
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard yes, living on junk food generally means that you have a suboptimal diet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 suboptimal The article suggests that stress narrows judgment, pushing leaders towards quick, often suboptimal, choices driven by discomfort rather than clear thinking. — Alfonso Cahero, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 The risk is that some of the most popular kinds of motor oil will be in very short supply, forcing drivers to delay getting their oil changed or rely on suboptimal lubricants. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 19 May 2026 The home-and-home approach is wholly unprecedented and slightly suboptimal. — Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026 Even from my extremely suboptimal vantage point in the very front corner of the theater, I was awed by the depth and crispness of the 3D imagery. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for suboptimal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suboptimal
  1. unacceptable
  2. poor
  3. wrong
  4. lame
  5. bad
  6. deficient
  7. flawed
Adjective
  • Carney has called that demand unacceptable and a question of Canadian sovereignty.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Custard said, for the public, all this adds up to unacceptable risk.
    — Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of unacceptable
Adjective
  • Dozens of companies have withdrawn over the past decades due to poor profits, an uncertain business outlook and concerns about harm to their reputations from making arms, especially lethal weapons.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Along the way, the audience can expect tons of humiliation, terrible second prizes, and the guarantee that Robertson will turn at least one poor soul's wrong turn into several minutes of unhinged public destruction.
    — Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • Remember, taking the wrong benefit at the wrong time is always smaller and forever.
    — Thomas Hager, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Therefore, therapy should do more than help people identify what’s wrong with their relationships.
    — David H. Rosmarin, Time, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of wrong
Adjective
  • But between now, November and the lame-duck period, there’s still time to pass legislation before election results shake things up.
    — Washington Post Opinions, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Payton seemed awfully pleased with himself for his lame dad joke.
    — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of lame
Adjective
  • Poor Anton has been left out of the drama all day, an effort by Billie and Samir to prevent an already bad futzing from escalating to something severe, and that’s never where Anton likes to be.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Although rarely seen, its reemergence earlier this summer is a signal of how bad the region’s ongoing drought has gotten, as well as a warning for the difficult months ahead.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of bad
Adjective
  • Yet researchers have found that nearly a third of adults in the United States are iron deficient.
    — Anahad O’Connor, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In a deficient area, the exception is exposed, and to last, the exception must be exceptional somewhere else.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of deficient
Adjective
  • Hubble launched in 1990 with a flawed mirror that required spacewalking astronauts’ dramatic intervention.
    — Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Historically, retail rankings were flawed, often missing true leaders like A&P, which dominated for decades before Sears and Walmart.
    — Jason Goldberg, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of flawed

Browse Nearby Words

subnormal
suboptimal
subordinate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Suboptimal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suboptimal. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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