as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
a teacher who rejects substandard work without hesitation
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Recent Examples of substandard
Stafford has been in such a rhythm for far too long to demote him for one substandard performance against a hot Carolina Panthers team.
—
Jeff Howe, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Tagovailoa’s substandard outing – 157 yards on 52% completion and an interception — gave way to a steady dose of touches for running backs.
—Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
Police said the presence of substandard materials, Styrofoam on windows, and questionable scaffolding installations would be central to the criminal investigation.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025
In 2023, Hijas del Campo began building four tiny homes to provide transitional housing for farmworkers living in unsafe or substandard conditions.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for substandard
Jeff Howe, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Tagovailoa’s substandard outing – 157 yards on 52% completion and an interception — gave way to a steady dose of touches for running backs.
—Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
Police said the presence of substandard materials, Styrofoam on windows, and questionable scaffolding installations would be central to the criminal investigation.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025
In 2023, Hijas del Campo began building four tiny homes to provide transitional housing for farmworkers living in unsafe or substandard conditions.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for substandard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substandard
Adjective
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To make large profits from parking fees to make up for his terrible management of tax dollars and his expensive real estate errors should be unacceptable.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
-
In just 24 hours, the president unveiled three massive state interventions into different markets that might’ve once looked—and sounded—like unacceptable levels of socialist dirigisme for a Republican to champion.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
-
In recent games, KU’s communication has been pretty poor on defense and that’s led to players taking (and too often missing) wide-open 3-pointers.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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As analysis, that’s not wrong, but where’s the sting of it inside this bizarre bonbon of a musical?—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Despite his brilliance and intellect, he was prevented from having a full life by being born on the wrong side of Israel’s separation fence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
His other go-to bogeyman, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, is now firmly in his lame-duck era as his term ends this spring.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
11 Jan. 2026
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Your ultra-lame social media posts (with awful production values) don’t cut it by a Colorado mile high.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Do a Soil Test Plant experts recommend testing garden soil at least once every 3 years to make sure the soil hasn’t become nutrient-deficient or developed a pH imbalance that may interfere with plant growth.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Nov. 2025
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Hamant, a California native in her senior year, was diagnosed with Stage 4 SMARCB1-deficient kidney cancer in April after suffering symptoms such as shortness of breath and a persistent cough, according to The Seattle Times.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Iran is facing its worst drought in decades, raising fears of evacuations in Tehran while threatening the regime’s stability and nuclear ambitions, according to a leading environmental expert.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Keeping bad things out of my body.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The Heat had beat up on inferior opponents this season before Saturday’s ugly loss to the Pacers.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
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The result is an inferior copy of the original.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The London punk rebels seized the revolutionary spirit of 1977 with their raw manifesto The Clash, then refined their sound with the flawed Give ‘Em Enough Rope.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
9 Nov. 2025
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The foundation of this 2025 team is flawed, and McDaniel should shoulder just as much blame for this team’s issues, which pop up week to week, especially during the losses.—
Omar Kelly
November 7,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Substandard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substandard. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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