suboptimal

adjective

ˌsəb-ˈäp-tə-məl
Definition of suboptimalnext
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard yes, living on junk food generally means that you have a suboptimal diet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 suboptimal The long, seemingly suboptimal route taken by our Alaskan myrtle warblers is actually mirrored by some other songbird species tracked from northwestern North America, including blackpoll warblers and Swainson’s thrushes. — Stephanie Szarmach, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2026 Various micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi, yeasts) can also lie dormant in the tissues for centuries and can recolonize and multiply due to a ready supply of organic material—particularly if the remains have been stored in suboptimal conditions. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026 This helps to continuously monitor performance and safely shut down under suboptimal conditions. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026 Before Starlink, someone on a business trip might still decide to expense suboptimal Wi-Fi to keep up the pretense of working. — Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for suboptimal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suboptimal
  1. unacceptable
  2. poor
  3. wrong
  4. lame
  5. bad
  6. deficient
  7. flawed
Adjective
  • But singling out businesses because their owners are Jewish is unacceptable and has no place in our city.
    — Eva Andersen, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • William James Middle received its fifth unacceptable rating in a row in the 2025-26 school year.
    — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of unacceptable
Adjective
  • Nearby residents have argued that the large apartment complex will be a poor fit for their neighborhood, citing concerns about traffic congestion and fire department access, among other things.
    — Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The Lions’ high-flying offense is at its best on turf, not nearly as fast on grass, and their poor red zone defense has been an issue.
    — Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • The company argues that much of the opposition is based on wrong or insufficient information, and contends that its operation wouldn’t drain resources or damage the environment, but would produce a hefty tax revenue boost for Cromwell.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Moreover, when the wrong people are punished, the real criminals go free.
    — Arne Duncan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of wrong
Adjective
  • In the meantime, Congress may consider a ban on stock trading by members of Congress during the post-election lame-duck session.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Blumenthal and others hope to make an 11th-hour push on policy priorities in the lame-duck session before the end of the year.
    — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of lame
Adjective
  • During that period, the number of women killed because of their gender rose by 44%, suggesting the problem is only getting worse.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Read my colleague Nate Freeman’s soaring eulogy for the Cybertruck, Elon Musk’s grand experiment in bad taste.
    — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of bad
Adjective
  • The Importance of Understanding Soil Biology Such approaches will not eliminate the need for conventional fertilizers, particularly in soils where phosphorus is genuinely deficient.
    — Rafael De Toledo, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Nearly one-third of adults in the United States may be iron deficient, according to a 2024 study.
    — Amanda Schupak, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of deficient
Adjective
  • But the party was wrecked on Election Day not by its flawed attorney general.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Throughout his time in the governor’s office, DeSantis has abused special sessions to force rushed and often deceitful debate (including the two days of meetings that produced the badly flawed Amendment 3 in the first place).
    — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of flawed

Browse Nearby Words

subnormal
suboptimal
subordinate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Suboptimal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suboptimal. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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