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

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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 subpar Sure, everyone wants to be an early selection, but more often than not, that leads to landing on a subpar team. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2025 Former New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo had a subpar year last season, with a .233 batting average and .647 OPS while striking out 93 times in 621 plate appearances. Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 May 2025 Siakam can get the Pacers going on some nights when their offense is subpar. Tony East, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025 But some bumps in the road are to be expected, and Friday was one of those days for Rea, who turned in a subpar performance in a 6-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds before 36,019 at Wrigley Field. Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for subpar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subpar
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, an unacceptable state of affairs persists.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2025
  • Sending everything to centralized clouds for processing often introduces unacceptable lag, measured in lost opportunities, safety risks or operational disruptions.
    Sven Oehme, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • The key drivers are BGE’s soaring spending and profits and poor management by PJM Interconnection, the private entity that operates our electric grid.
    Emily Scarr, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2025
  • Despite having a poor 2024 season that saw the Pirates remove Bednar from the closer role, the right-hander is back to his dominant form.
    Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.
    Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 June 2021
  • My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.
    Tim Neville, Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
  • Effective leaders recognize that different doesn’t mean wrong.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • Using the wrong cleaners, such as ammonia and glass cleaner, can cause permanent streaks and damage.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • That is not inherently bad and tactical flexibility, particularly during a major tournament, is usually a boon.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • After several months of strong economic news but incredibly weak consumer sentiment, America is starting to see those trends reverse: The vibes are on the rebound, but evidence is mounting that the economy is getting worse.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • If a person is not deficient in iron, too much iron can cause significant problems.5 3.
    Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 23 June 2025
  • Noted: Nearly 1 in 4 Americans is deficient in Vitamin D.
    Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • Rarely great, and consistently cringey in that NHL way we’re used to by now, but rarely terrible.
    Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • Even the ones that aren’t strictly evil in the biblical sense are often prone to doing terrible things.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • And in addition to the swing itself, his overall approach at the plate has always been horrible.
    Tim Britton, New York Times, 19 June 2025
  • With guidance from Benny’s older sister and her campus-legend boyfriend, Benny and Carmen juggle horrible hookups, flavored vodka, and fake IDs.
    Peter White, Deadline, 16 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Subpar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subpar. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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