subcritical
adjective
sub·crit·i·cal
ˌsəb-ˈkri-ti-kəl 
1
: less or lower than critical in respect to a specified factor
2
a
: of insufficient size to sustain a chain reaction
a subcritical mass of fissionable material
b
: designed for use with fissionable material of subcritical mass
a subcritical reactor
Examples of subcritical in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Fortunately, the installation was in a subcritical state at the time, which greatly decreased the risk of radiation escaping.
—
IEEE Spectrum, 9 Mar. 2022
Whether a cocktail made from pineapples clarified through soy milk or a mezcal blend infused with essential oils extracted via subcritical CO2, Tubert’s technique incites intrigue in sampling his next invention.
—Lilian Raji, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
Evaluation of the biological activity and chemical profile of supercritical and subcritical extracts of Bursera graveolens from northern Peru
Health.com.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 11 Oct. 2024
Some analysts argue that China may not be planning large blasts but instead ramping up its program of subcritical experiments, which stop short of producing self-sustaining chain reactions.
—William J. Broad, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
Their rocky depths could be used to bottle up blasts from small atom bombs or large subcritical tests.
—William J. Broad, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
The original uranium and graphite used by Dr. Enrico Fermi and his associates in the world's first nuclear reactor have been used in this exponential assembly or subcritical reactor constructed at Argonne National Laboratory, circa 1956.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2023
In a subcritical network, the connections are so weak that very few neurons are coupled together, so only a few small assemblies can form.
—John M. Beggs, Quanta Magazine, 31 Jan. 2023
If the brain were extremely subcritical, according to Beggs, incoming signals would get damped and have no impact.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Quanta Magazine, 14 June 2018
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IEEE Spectrum, 9 Mar. 2022
Whether a cocktail made from pineapples clarified through soy milk or a mezcal blend infused with essential oils extracted via subcritical CO2, Tubert’s technique incites intrigue in sampling his next invention.
—Lilian Raji, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
Evaluation of the biological activity and chemical profile of supercritical and subcritical extracts of Bursera graveolens from northern Peru
Health.com.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 11 Oct. 2024
Some analysts argue that China may not be planning large blasts but instead ramping up its program of subcritical experiments, which stop short of producing self-sustaining chain reactions.
—William J. Broad, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
Their rocky depths could be used to bottle up blasts from small atom bombs or large subcritical tests.
—William J. Broad, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
The original uranium and graphite used by Dr. Enrico Fermi and his associates in the world's first nuclear reactor have been used in this exponential assembly or subcritical reactor constructed at Argonne National Laboratory, circa 1956.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2023
In a subcritical network, the connections are so weak that very few neurons are coupled together, so only a few small assemblies can form.
—John M. Beggs, Quanta Magazine, 31 Jan. 2023
If the brain were extremely subcritical, according to Beggs, incoming signals would get damped and have no impact.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Quanta Magazine, 14 June 2018
Cite this Entry
“Subcritical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subcritical. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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