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
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The best part of that bit is a diminutive JD Vance as Tattoo.—
Meredith G. White,
AZCentral.com,
20 Aug. 2025
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Despite being sacked a league-high 48 times in 2019, the diminutive Murray still hit nearly 65 percent of his throws while maintaining his presence as a dual-threat player.—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Aalo expects to complete construction and reach criticality by July 4, 2026, a timeline the company says demonstrates the speed at which small, modular nuclear reactors can be deployed.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Aug. 2025
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Snap up travel essentials, comfy pajamas, small kitchen must-haves, and more gems.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Video footage from the day shows Beau, 4, pacing the hallway and sitting miserably after his little brother said goodbye to him before going to school.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
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Civil libertarians say the systems do little to prevent crime and can be used to invade privacy and chill free speech on campus in an age of protest.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This allows for finer incisions, which can mean faster healing and denser graft placement.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
27 Aug. 2025
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Then the bounce of the match locked back into 50-50 mode, and those fine margins don’t fall in favor of Medvedev this year when things get tight.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Subnormal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subnormal. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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