as in diminutive
of a size that is less than average
because of the summer drought, harvests have definitely been subnormal this year
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Recent Examples of subnormal
Quite simply, normal human consciousness is optimized for normal human functioning, but is subnormal for achieving goals beyond the ordinary.
—
Brett Steenbarger, Forbes, 30 May 2021
Flow off the 50-degree waters of Lake Michigan will bring our first subnormal temperatures in 10 days.
—Tom Skilling, chicagotribune.com, 31 May 2018
Everybody knew that comics were for children and for intellectually subnormal people, whereas graphic novel sounds like a much more sophisticated proposition.
—Adam Rogers, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2009
Brett Steenbarger, Forbes, 30 May 2021
Flow off the 50-degree waters of Lake Michigan will bring our first subnormal temperatures in 10 days.
—Tom Skilling, chicagotribune.com, 31 May 2018
Everybody knew that comics were for children and for intellectually subnormal people, whereas graphic novel sounds like a much more sophisticated proposition.
—Adam Rogers, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2009
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subnormal
Adjective
-
Set a century before the events of Game of Thrones and 72 years after House of the Dragon, A Knight of Seven Kingdom follows two unlikely heroes wandering Westeros … a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), and his diminutive squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell).—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
22 Jan. 2026
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Steaming, braising, roasting and more ways to make the most of the diminutive green vegetable.—
Aaron Hutcherson,
Washington Post,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The cost for the statue is estimated at $300,000, with half of the funds already raised by two large donations from Rainbow Sandals and Sonance, an audio equipment company based in San Clemente, as well as several smaller community contributions.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
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Despite Jones’ contract only being 50% guaranteed for next season, waiving him for a small amount of savings may not be in the Pacers best interest anyway.—
Tony East,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Sunday dawned sunny and clear with blue skies and little wind, allowing the climb to go ahead.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Carbon nanotube yarns are light yet lift little.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
If your home naturally receives plenty of sun, your indoor plants may be perfectly fine.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
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If your oven doesn’t have a lot of stains and grease buildup, monthly cleaning should be fine.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subnormal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subnormal. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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