Definition of subparnext
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 Tip the scale is exactly what Mbappé did following a subpar Les Bleus first half. Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 16 June 2026 This team was clearly better than its subpar regular season. Jesse Granger, New York Times, 15 June 2026 Lower settings, XeSS, and (if frame rates are truly subpar) frame generation exist to supplement the performance. Matthew Buzzi, PC Magazine, 14 June 2026 The hunger and economic strike began May 19, including at the Desert View Annex, a wing of the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, where detainees alleged subpar conditions and inadequate medical care. Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for subpar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subpar
Adjective
  • If scar tissue is too severe, if prior surgeries have left the blood supply compromised, or if a patient's goals aren't achievable without unacceptable risk, proceeding could cause irreversible damage.
    Victoria Oliva, Allure, 23 June 2026
  • Yes, Stokes’ late night out, in the context of what went on before, was unacceptable.
    Nasser Hussain, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • Rebecca Lowe joins Dan Patrick to discuss some of the top storylines around the World Cup, including Cristiano Ronaldo's poor play to start, the United States' potential and more.
    Monica Alba, NBC news, 24 June 2026
  • Will the gap between rural and urban America – and the gap between rich and poor America – decline or grow?
    Arthur Cosby, Fortune, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • Tom Kim dropped two shots at the wrong time and shot 72.
    Doug Ferguson, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026
  • Every traveler has a trip that went spectacularly wrong.
    Josh Rivera, USA Today, 21 June 2026
Adjective
  • On paper, some of the six, all of whom are far-right conservatives, have enviable educational backgrounds, but the record has proven that each one is openly political and willing to rubber-stamp nearly all of DeSantis’ lame and unconstitutional policies.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2026
  • In November 2008 an errant air strike, conducted under auspices of a lame-duck Bush administration, killed 37 civilians who were at a wedding party in Wech Baghtu, Afghanistan.
    Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • Are those still your worst fears?
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
  • While a higher tracker error is not bad in and of itself, most investors become uncomfortable when their portfolio acts so differently from the index.
    Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Adjective
  • About 220,000 need major repair or replacement, and 41,677 are rated poor, also called structurally deficient.
    Alex Krasnok, Fortune, 21 June 2026
  • About 220,000 need major repair or replacement, and 41,677 are rated poor, also called structurally deficient.
    Alex Krasnok, The Conversation, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • This is Conolly’s Folly, built in 1740 at the height of a terrible famine.
    Amelia Soth, JSTOR Daily, 18 June 2026
  • The heroes who save us from these awful, terrible music haters do so with force.
    David John Chávez, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • Iran’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad World Cup got a lot better Sunday.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026
  • What started as a horrible mistake ended up bringing the community together.
    Andrea Nakano, CBS News, 18 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Subpar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subpar. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

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