underutilized

adjective

un·​der·​uti·​lized ˌən-dər-ˈyü-tə-ˌlīzd 

: not fully utilized : underused

an underutilized resource

… Japan is harnessing two of its assets—one long underutilized and the other a long-standing source of strength—to support continued economic expansion.

—Paul A. Laudicina

Examples of underutilized in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While lavender is globally prized for its fragrance, its agricultural residue—totaling approximately 1,000–1,500 tons annually—has long been an underutilized byproduct. —Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Jan. 2026

The team assembled 10 vacant and underutilized parcels that had once provided housing and commercial uses to the Park Heights neighborhood. —Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026

This exodus has resulted in numerous underutilized schools in the city’s poorer areas. —Ray Domanico, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2026

But a constant churn of financial maneuvers (spinning off Saks’ e-commerce, creating co-working spaces in underutilized stores, all while being highly leveraged) brought some benefit but never obviated the need to invest more in basics. —Phil Wahba, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for underutilized

• adrenalectomized
• editorialized
• hypophysectomized
• immunocompromised
• institutionalised
• operationalized
• ovariectomized
• undercapitalized
• acclimatized
• actualized
• aerosolized
• alphabetized