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 Since the last wipe things haven’t been quite as bad thanks to the new recoil and armor systems, but previously and still in some cases, your ammo type can decide a fight, and going in with underpowered ammo can often result in death. Mike Stubbs, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 That the company is still in business and touting how little the settlement matters underscores how truly underpowered and ill-equipped the FTC is for the job it's been asked to perform. Dell Cameron, WIRED, 16 Jan. 2024 However, determining the exact effects have been difficult, and studies have been small and underpowered. Monique Brouillette, Popular Mechanics, 28 Aug. 2023 Robot vacuums Once costly and underpowered, robot vacuums have dropped in price significantly and gotten much more powerful, too. Nick Guy, wsj.com, 13 Nov. 2023 Some may find this underpowered and want more fireworks from the movie. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2023 An underpowered one will drive slowly and require more passes to get your grass sharp and even. Tony Carrick, Popular Mechanics, 27 Apr. 2023 Next best options is selling all your underpowered gear to a vendors. Paul Tassi, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2023 The British Army replaced its Centurions in the late 1960s with the 60-ton Chieftain, a powerful though underpowered tank, which never achieved the fame of its predecessor. Michael Peck, Popular Mechanics, 10 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underpowered.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of underpowered was in 1905

Dictionary Entries Near underpowered

Cite this Entry

“Underpowered.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underpowered. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!