SUBSTANDARD Synonyms: 177 Similar and Opposite Words

substandard

adjective

ˌsəb-ˈstan-dərd

Definition of substandard

as in unacceptable

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 The Dolphins, resting their talent-needy starting defense, fought with backups that will provide substandard depth this season. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Young detainees have described inedible food, substandard medical care and callous treatment at the hands of guards and staff at immigration facilities. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Trump paid them substandard wages, and their working conditions were appalling. — Kai Bird, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Cyclospora is most common in tropical climates and areas with substandard sanitation. — Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for substandard

Recent Examples of Synonyms for substandard

Adjective

Laying an egg against the Raiders in Year 3 of the Harbaugh era is unacceptable.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Kip Dellinger Santa Monica The type of play by the Chargers on Sunday was completely unacceptable, lackluster and disappointing for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of unacceptable

Adjective

Because of the drought, woodland deer food is not abundant in most of the state this year, and what exists is in poor condition with low nutritional value.

— Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
The Maracana's turf has been a concern for almost two weeks due to its poor shape amid a long season in Brazilian soccer.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of poor

Adjective

As Trump slides toward lame-duck status, cleavages within the group and between it and traditional progressives are becoming more salient.

— David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2026
The next big issue for me was that Axl shimmied from side to side with an unusual snakelike move that struck me as effeminate and lame.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of lame

Adjective

High base, cuts to public capex for meeting fiscal deficit targets and the impact of deficient rains on sowing patterns are some of the key reasons the brokerage expects India’s growth to slow over the next few quarters.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
There is nonexistent depth, disastrous allocation of resources and a roster so deficient that the general manager who constructed it has already been dismissed.

— Chandler Rome, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of deficient

Adjective

This problem will only get worse, with new cancer cases projected to increase 67% by 2050.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
In a world where true-crime shows of both the fictional and nonfictional variety run rampant on our screens, that’s probably not a bad corporate strategy.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of bad

Adjective

The same can be said for TCU’s offense as well after the past two games against inferior opponents.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026
Beating the Titans on the road in Week 1 proved the Jets can take care of business against an inferior opponent.

— Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of inferior

Adjective

The legal arguments for such claims, however, are extremely flawed and would likely not hold up in the court, said David Loy, the legal director for the nonpartisan First Amendment Coalition.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Dandekar accuses the World Bank of producing a flawed risk assessment report for the project from the get-go.

— Mamita Bhandari, NPR, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of flawed

Browse Nearby Words

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substandard

substantial

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“Substandard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substandard. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of substandard

adjective

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