underpowered

adjective

un·​der·​pow·​ered ˌən-dər-ˈpau̇(-ə)rd How to pronounce underpowered (audio)
1
: driven by an engine of insufficient power
2
: having or supplied with insufficient power

Examples of underpowered in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Next Gen car, launched in 2022, has faced significant criticism from drivers for being underpowered, a problem most pronounced during overtaking in dirty air. Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Oct. 2025 The director’s approach is coolly distant and underpowered; even scenes of bloody battle in the ring feel merely informational. Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025 Like all SpaceX rockets, it’s optimized to go to low Earth orbit—its relatively underpowered engines burn through nearly all of their fuel in just a few minutes. Noah Shachtman, Wired News, 22 Sep. 2025 For the first few hours, the gatekeeping of these features leaves Hornet feeling dramatically underpowered in both a fight and basic traversal. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for underpowered

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of underpowered was in 1905

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Cite this Entry

“Underpowered.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underpowered. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

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