SUBNORMAL Synonyms: 159 Similar and Opposite Words

subnormal

adjective

ˌsəb-ˈnȯr-məl

Definition of subnormal

as in diminutive

of a size that is less than average because of the summer drought, harvests have definitely been subnormal this year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for subnormal

Adjective

The diminutive Taiwanese market-slash-lunch counter Taiwan Best Mart’s cold sesame noodles ($13) are a refreshing tangle of cucumbers, carrots, cilantro, scallions, sesame seeds, flour noodles and the market’s house sesame sauce.

— Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026
There’s even a diminutive bowl from the Roman Empire that dates back 2,000 years.

— Carolanne Griffith Roberts, Southern Living, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of diminutive

Adjective

Those sea views will keep you company during your workout on the little gym platform overlooking the beach.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
Increased regular season importance Arguably the biggest criticism of the current 18-team format is that there was too little reward for teams who demonstrated regular season excellence.

— Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of little

Adjective

Menart’s script does a fine job of building out these jagged women with a sharp eye for the growing pains of flesh-and-bones relationships born from the seed of virtual connection.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 22 Aug. 2026
Synaptic purge To find out how many synapses are lost during QIH, Tanaka’s team implanted tetrodes, bundles of fine electrodes, into the hippocampus of freely moving mice.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of fine

Browse Nearby Words

submit (to)

subnormal

suboptimal

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Subnormal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subnormal. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of subnormal

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

cogent

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes