un·der·strength | \ ˌən-dər-ˈstreŋ(k)th 
\
\Definition of understrength
: deficient in strength especially : lacking sufficient or prescribed personnel
Examples of understrength in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Both teams started understrength sides, with the likes of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe all missing.
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Ravi Ubha, CNN, "Liverpool could withdraw from Carabao Cup due to fixture clashes," 31 Oct. 2019 KOVAC AT BAYERN Eintracht Frankfurt coach Niko Kovac got a look at his future workplace but couldn't prevent Bayern Munich's understrength team winning 4-1.
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Ciaran Fahey, chicagotribune.com, "Bundesliga Recap: Bayern rout Kovac's Frankfurt, Cologne relegated after Freiburg loss," 28 Apr. 2018 KOVAC AT BAYERN Eintracht Frankfurt coach Niko Kovac got a look at his future workplace but couldn't prevent Bayern Munich's understrength team winning 4-1.
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Ciaran Fahey, chicagotribune.com, "Bundesliga Recap: Bayern rout Kovac's Frankfurt, Cologne relegated after Freiburg loss," 28 Apr. 2018 CHELSEA POUNDS CITY Chelsea reached the quarterfinals of the F.A. Cup with a 5-1 victory against an understrength Manchester City, while two of Chelsea’s London rivals, Crystal Palace and West Ham, also advanced.
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The Associated Press, New York Times, "U.S. Women Beat Canada in Concacaf Olympic Qualifier," 21 Feb. 2016
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'understrength.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Time Traveler for understrength
The first known use of understrength was in 1925
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