underachiever

noun

un·​der·​achiev·​er ˌən-dər-ə-ˈchē-vər How to pronounce underachiever (audio)
: one (such as a student) that fails to attain a predicted level of achievement or does not do as well as expected
underachieve intransitive verb
underachievement noun

Examples of underachiever in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool was the equivalent of replacing Bill Belichick or Andy Reid, but Arne Slot has already somehow made Klopp, who won seven major trophies in his eight years and totally rebuilt the club back to a global power, look like an underachiever. Joe Prince-Wright, Nbc Sports, NBC News, 1 Dec. 2024 His team was considered a bunch of underachievers before Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700-million contract. Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024 To be frank, before 2021, Argentina teams were deemed losers and underachievers. Paul Tenorio, The Athletic, 19 July 2024 The film tells the story of a lovable underachiever who hatches an outrageous scheme to avoid paying alimony to his fashion-executive ex-wife. Patrick Frater, Variety, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for underachiever 

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of underachiever was in 1952

Dictionary Entries Near underachiever

Cite this Entry

“Underachiever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underachiever. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

underachiever

noun
un·​der·​achiev·​er ˌən-də-rə-ˈchē-vər How to pronounce underachiever (audio)
: one (as a student) that fails to do as well as expected

Medical Definition

underachiever

noun
un·​der·​achiev·​er ˌən-dər-ə-ˈchē-vər How to pronounce underachiever (audio)
: a person (as a student) who fails to attain a predicted level of achievement or does not do as well as expected
underachieve
-ˈchēv
intransitive verb
underachieved; underachieving
underachievement noun

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