Definition of subparnext
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard the service at the restaurant was subpar, to say the least

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 subpar The other redemptions outside of those options typically offer a subpar value of less than 1 cent per point, except for Bilt Travel redemptions and travel partner transfers. Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026 More than half a million residents live in NYCHA development plagued by chronic mold, broken elevators, and heating failures; others reside in subpar tenements run by crooked landlords. Darius Jones, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026 Without it, espresso shots will always taste subpar. Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Feb. 2026 While the state’s current collectors operate over 2,113 collection points, they are heavily clustered near hubs like San Francisco and Los Angeles—leaving rural counties, like those in northern and east-central California, with subpar access. Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subpar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subpar
Adjective
  • There have also been reports that some migrants are being held at the processing center longer than ICE policy allows, something Veasey called unacceptable.
    Marissa Armas, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Government actions have an important symbolic value and show that authorities deem violence against women unacceptable, said Isadora Vianna, a sociology researcher from Rio de Janeiro State University.
    Eléonore Hughes, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • City officials say the long-term leases make buying Liberty Station a poor investment for any potential buyer other than Seligman.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Further, according to the paper, when supply tightens, richer nations outbid poorer ones for scarce shipments, exacerbating challenges for vulnerable economies.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • This story has been updated to correct wrong information from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2026
  • So don't go off topic, don't impersonate anyone, and don't get your facts wrong.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Smith said the legislation could pass in December, during the lame-duck session of Congress that will follow November’s midterm elections, but that the coming days are critical.
    Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Maybe that’s a lame hook, but that, combined with the return of reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, gets them back in their spot.
    Law Murray, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Nobody paid much attention to weather forecasts because winter days were usually the same and, if different, just worse.
    Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Jokic eagerly took advantage of bad transition defense, looking for long outlet passes to Braun and Bruce Brown.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Yet users find forest maps deficient, trail signs dilapidated, campgrounds closed and information scarce.
    Evan Mills, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
  • The city’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, or DOTI, was seen as most deficient among operators and brokers.
    Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • As compiled by Gnostics, who consider the material world to be a fundamentally terrible place.
    Jay Martel, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2026
  • The Astros’ young second baseman, Jose Altuve, was making waves, Fisher remembered, yet the club still looked terrible.
    Evan Drellich, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Arsenal, like Chelsea and City, have that horrible Wednesday-Saturday-Tuesday schedule to contend with.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
  • At this point, however, this news is neither insignificant nor horrible.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Subpar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subpar. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster