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
However, both cards are suboptimal compared to rewards cards like the Chase Freedom Flex® or the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, both of which offer equal or longer introductory APR periods on purchases and more rewards and benefits.
—
Raina He, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025
This can lead to slow responses, suboptimal trade-offs and undisciplined reactions.
—Tom Strohl, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Even though the Red Sox had Thursday off after Wednesday’s unpleasant bullpen loss at Fenway the night before, Tolle’s short start was suboptimal.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Washington and New Delhi must do more than simply restore the old, suboptimal status quo.
—Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suboptimal
Raina He, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025
This can lead to slow responses, suboptimal trade-offs and undisciplined reactions.
—Tom Strohl, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Even though the Red Sox had Thursday off after Wednesday’s unpleasant bullpen loss at Fenway the night before, Tolle’s short start was suboptimal.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Washington and New Delhi must do more than simply restore the old, suboptimal status quo.
—Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suboptimal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suboptimal
Adjective
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Not making payments to them for even another day is simply unacceptable.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
7 Nov. 2025
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Hufanga deemed that first-quarter Jeanty touchdown unacceptable because any touchdown is unacceptable at this point to Denver’s defense.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The Ministry of Environment blamed this year’s surge on a poor acorn harvest – which drove a similar spate of attacks in 2023.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Rather, the slow start (by Ovechkin’s standards) to this season seemed due more to poor puck luck.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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As analysis, that’s not wrong, but where’s the sting of it inside this bizarre bonbon of a musical?—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
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Despite his brilliance and intellect, he was prevented from having a full life by being born on the wrong side of Israel’s separation fence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The flowers are the best, even if the leaves are lame and flop over.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
25 Oct. 2025
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Cut to Culhane doing lame bits with chopsticks as walrus teeth.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Iran is facing its worst drought in decades, raising fears of evacuations in Tehran while threatening the regime’s stability and nuclear ambitions, according to a leading environmental expert.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Keeping bad things out of my body.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Do a Soil Test Plant experts recommend testing garden soil at least once every 3 years to make sure the soil hasn’t become nutrient-deficient or developed a pH imbalance that may interfere with plant growth.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Nov. 2025
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Hamant, a California native in her senior year, was diagnosed with Stage 4 SMARCB1-deficient kidney cancer in April after suffering symptoms such as shortness of breath and a persistent cough, according to The Seattle Times.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The London punk rebels seized the revolutionary spirit of 1977 with their raw manifesto The Clash, then refined their sound with the flawed Give ‘Em Enough Rope.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
9 Nov. 2025
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The foundation of this 2025 team is flawed, and McDaniel should shoulder just as much blame for this team’s issues, which pop up week to week, especially during the losses.—
Omar Kelly
November 7,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Suboptimal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suboptimal. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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