suboptimal

adjective

sub·​op·​ti·​mal ˌsəb-ˈäp-tə-məl 

variants or sub-optimal

: less than optimal : not at the best possible level

suboptimal performance

suboptimal conditions/results/solutions

received suboptimal care

… such is life at the sharp end of evolution, where the pursuit of self-interest frequently leads to suboptimal outcomes for all concerned.

—The Economist

Training at sub-optimal levels fatigues you and wastes time you could have spent at the high levels you hope to achieve.

—Rick Crawford

suboptimally adverb

or sub-optimally

… countless companies perform suboptimally. They fail to capitalize on a unique competitive advantage.

—Erik Matson

Synonyms of suboptimal

• unacceptable
• poor
• wrong
• lame
• bad
• deficient
• flawed

Examples of suboptimal in a Sentence

yes, living on junk food generally means that you have a suboptimal diet

Recent Examples on the Web

This helps to continuously monitor performance and safely shut down under suboptimal conditions. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026

Before Starlink, someone on a business trip might still decide to expense suboptimal Wi-Fi to keep up the pretense of working. — Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026

But Halle Berry could not be left alone, and addressing this first thing would rob Williams of a couple hours of sleep, which was suboptimal given the demanding nature of her job. — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

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

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

suboptimal

adjective

sub·​op·​ti·​mal ˌsəb-ˈäp-tə-məl 

: less than optimal

a suboptimal diet

a suboptimal dose of a drug