underqualified
adjective
un·der·qual·i·fied
ˌən-dər-ˈkwä-lə-ˌfīd 
: lacking sufficient qualifications (such as adequate education and experience) for a particular job, assignment, etc.
an underqualified candidate
… if entrants are greatly underqualified academically, new curricula will be required.—
Julian C. Stanley
Julian C. Stanley
Examples of underqualified in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Rwandan countryside still struggles with poor schools and underqualified teachers, low crop yields, and lack of social and real capital.
—Jonathan M. Hansen, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024
Additionally, earning certifications can boost your confidence and provide a high level of credibility and validation in an unregulated industry flooded with underqualified businesses.
—Laura Decarlo, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Doctors’ and pharmaceutical companies’ refusal to go near executions results in underqualified and minimally trained staff being left in charge of carrying out an execution, Denno said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024
Someone should ask Rufo what the difference is between a hire made of an underqualified individual in pursuit of breaking a glass ceiling that has existed at Harvard for 387 years and a hire made to perpetuate conservative control of a university system.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, The Denver Post, 19 Jan. 2024
However, the experience or lack thereof of Wade—who Roman’s attorneys argued was underqualified—and alleged violations of Fulton County code are not relevant.
—Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024
With fewer college graduates training to be educators, more districts are hiring what many consider underqualified teachers, often relying on long-term substitutes or paraprofessionals.
—Gabe Cohen, CNN, 11 Sep. 2023
Nationwide, there are at least 36,500 teacher vacancies, along with approximately 163,000 positions held by underqualified teachers, according to estimates by Tuan Nguyen, an associate professor of education at Kansas State University.
—Kavitha Cardoza, USA TODAY, 7 Aug. 2023
Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro are underqualified co-pilots in Jimmy Butler’s offense, and Butler turns 34 before next season.
—Jimmy Watkins, cleveland, 14 July 2023
Jonathan M. Hansen, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024
Additionally, earning certifications can boost your confidence and provide a high level of credibility and validation in an unregulated industry flooded with underqualified businesses.
—Laura Decarlo, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Doctors’ and pharmaceutical companies’ refusal to go near executions results in underqualified and minimally trained staff being left in charge of carrying out an execution, Denno said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024
Someone should ask Rufo what the difference is between a hire made of an underqualified individual in pursuit of breaking a glass ceiling that has existed at Harvard for 387 years and a hire made to perpetuate conservative control of a university system.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, The Denver Post, 19 Jan. 2024
However, the experience or lack thereof of Wade—who Roman’s attorneys argued was underqualified—and alleged violations of Fulton County code are not relevant.
—Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024
With fewer college graduates training to be educators, more districts are hiring what many consider underqualified teachers, often relying on long-term substitutes or paraprofessionals.
—Gabe Cohen, CNN, 11 Sep. 2023
Nationwide, there are at least 36,500 teacher vacancies, along with approximately 163,000 positions held by underqualified teachers, according to estimates by Tuan Nguyen, an associate professor of education at Kansas State University.
—Kavitha Cardoza, USA TODAY, 7 Aug. 2023
Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro are underqualified co-pilots in Jimmy Butler’s offense, and Butler turns 34 before next season.
—Jimmy Watkins, cleveland, 14 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underqualified.' 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
1624, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near underqualified
Cite this Entry
“Underqualified.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underqualified. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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