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

• bad
• bastard
• bush
• bush-league
• crummy
• crumby
• deficient
• dissatisfactory
• ill
• inferior
• lame
• lousy
• off
• paltry
• poor
• punk
• sour
• subpar
• substandard
• unacceptable
• unsatisfactory
• wack [slang]
• wanting
• wretched
• wrong

Examples of suboptimal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And women continue to suffer from suboptimal medical care because of procedures and devices that were flawed from the start. —Catherine M. Klapperich, STAT, 12 Apr. 2024

Although more research is needed, some evidence suggests that taking lysine supplements may help lower blood pressure in individuals with suboptimal lysine intake. —Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024

This structure no longer reflects reality and is a suboptimal way to deal with today’s security landscape. —Jeffrey W. Hornung, Foreign Affairs, 10 Apr. 2024

The solutions will be optimal for a few stakeholders (certainly shareholders), while being suboptimal for everyone else, like employees, communities, and the environment. —Michael C. Bush, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024

Decisions based on cost alone can lead to suboptimal outcomes. —Justin Rende, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Many shared stories of their own struggles to find housing, experiencing rising rents and suboptimal living conditions. —Stacy Ryburn, arkansasonline.com, 20 Mar. 2024

Underscoring an opportunity to free procurement from manual tasks and suboptimal business systems, today’s technology advancements – such as AI, collaboration tools, machine learning, and predictive analytics – are reshaping decision-making. —Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024

Enlist The Help Of A Certified Exit Planner Most business owners don’t plan ahead, leading to financial implications like less money, lost employees, unnecessary taxes and suboptimal deal structures. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

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