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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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 Snow flurries could last into Monday, the cold staying through Tuesday with a temperature rebound of sorts into the still subnormal 50s by the middle of next week. Tom Skilling, chicagotribune.com, 15 Apr. 2018 An amplified jet stream pattern that has brought subnormal temperatures to eastern portions of North America and unseasonable warmth to the West is forecast to continue much of the workweek. Tom Skilling, chicagotribune.com, 11 Dec. 2017 Sunday marked our fifth straight day of subnormal readings. Tom Skilling, chicagotribune.com, 27 Aug. 2017 Resulting northwest wind flow will bring to the area temperatures more typical of mid-May, making this the only weekend this month with subnormal readings. Tom Skilling, chicagotribune.com, 23 June 2017 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 Another day of subnormal temperatures is slated for Monday before winds shift to a west-to-east orientation. Tom Skilling, chicagotribune.com, 25 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subnormal
Adjective
  • Their double act had begun at secondary school, in North London, where Mulcahy protected the diminutive Duffy from bullies.
    Sarah Beckwith, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
  • With that hardware, the diminutive DGX Spark will produce 1,000 trillion operations per second (TOPS) when working on AI tasks, vastly outperforming consumer AI PCs' 40-50 TOPS.
    Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • Pay Attention to Heavy Metals Some chocolate contains small amounts of cadmium and lead—and dark chocolate tends to be the bigger offender.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 26 May 2025
  • To meet rising demand, companies sprang up and began churning out rides – smaller versions for traveling carnivals and larger ones for town squares and amusement parks.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 26 May 2025
Adjective
  • When Carter was little, his mother always included him in her life, as Anderson told PEOPLE in 2016.
    Julie Tremaine, People.com, 18 May 2025
  • The musical features a scene about little Sarah making her joke about Jeffrey’s death and no one laughing.
    Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • There have been constant rumors the attacker has been close to signing a new contract at San Siro, but a deal has not yet been agreed and there may well be Champions League clubs interested in him this summer after his fine personal form during the team’s otherwise tumultuous campaign.
    Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 16 May 2025
  • The team first crushes the rocks into fine grains and separates out the zircons using dense liquids and magnetic fields.
    Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Built with water-resistant polyester, this spacious duffel has a dedicated shoe compartment, an end pocket for wet or dirty clothes, a multi-pocket compression panel for organization, and an interior divider curtain that can be removed to hold bulky clothes or outdoor gear.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 17 Jan. 2025
  • The Vault by Vans x Nicole McLaughlin Collection includes special-edition versions of the iconic Vans Slip-On VP VR3 LX with adaptations—think canvas pockets and easy-carry heel straps—inspired by a classic multi-pocket garden tote and workwear bucket bag often used on construction job sites.
    Hollyanna McCollom, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Subnormal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subnormal. Accessed 30 May. 2025.

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