as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard a teacher who rejects substandard work without hesitation

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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 substandard Underlying the blackouts are three systemic problems: years of inadequate investment, substandard fuel, and deferred maintenance. IEEE Spectrum, 1 July 2025 Quality assurance adds another layer of complexity, with substandard and counterfeit drugs widespread in many of these countries. Nahim Bin Zahur, The Conversation, 17 June 2025 Furthermore, decades of secondary math teacher shortages means that many positions have been filled by individuals teaching on substandard credentials who have inadequate preparation in math or pedagogy or both. Linda Darling-Hammond, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025 The civil-rights lawyers working to force reforms on Sheriff Kelly Martinez are worried about lapses in treatment for mentally ill people, a lack of quality medical care and substandard living conditions in the county’s seven different facilities. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for substandard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substandard
Adjective
  • The use of unilateral sanctions against Special Rapporteurs or any other UN expert or official is unacceptable.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
  • Students, both the ones who behave and the ones who misbehave, need to know that there are real consequences for unacceptable behavior.
    Carrie Lukas, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • Here are the inspection scores and violations for restaurants within the city limits of Arlington for June 29th - July 5th, 2025 A score of 100 is a perfect score and 70 is considered to be extremely poor.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2025
  • This last group is those with still poor (<50) RS Ratings, but strong (>80) 3-month RS Ratings. a.
    Randy Watts, Forbes.com, 11 July 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
  • However, according to the Baseball Rules Academy, the umpires got the call wrong.
    Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025
  • One of the company’s big assumptions about the phone had turned out to be wrong.
    Verne Kopytoff, Fortune, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • The report alleges a range of major violations plaguing St. Hope Public Schools — including conflicts of interests among its top officers, improper use of public funding, deficient accounting processes and the employment of a largely unqualified teaching staff.
    Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 21 May 2025
  • If a person is not deficient in iron, too much iron can cause significant problems.5 3.
    Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • But there's also nothing worse than missing a connection that delays your trip by hours or even a full day.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 July 2025
  • Tom threw batting practice to Jackson, took Ethan down in the garage to vent and hit soft toss after a bad day at school.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Maryland’s home detention/electronic monitoring system is flawed and needs fixing.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 11 July 2025
  • Jess and Felix, by contrast, are real, funny, messy, horny, flawed people.
    Judy Berman, Time, 10 July 2025

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“Substandard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substandard. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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