as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
a teacher who rejects substandard work without hesitation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 federal government has denied allegations of substandard conditions and accused protesters of inflaming tensions.
—
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Despite to this day being a thriving port city and with so many people so close to the sea, Naples has plenty of substandard fish restaurants.
—
Jamie Timson,
TheWeek,
27 May 2026
The Department of Homeland Security has denied allegations of substandard conditions.
—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Calling Southern schools for Black children in the first half of the 20th century substandard to those for white children would be a gross insult to the word substandard.
—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for substandard
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Despite to this day being a thriving port city and with so many people so close to the sea, Naples has plenty of substandard fish restaurants.
—
Jamie Timson,
TheWeek,
27 May 2026
The Department of Homeland Security has denied allegations of substandard conditions.
—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Calling Southern schools for Black children in the first half of the 20th century substandard to those for white children would be a gross insult to the word substandard.
—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for substandard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substandard
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.
-
Yes, Stokes’ late night out, in the context of what went on before, was unacceptable.
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.
-
Will the gap between rural and urban America – and the gap between rich and poor America – decline or grow?
Adjective
-
Tom Kim dropped two shots at the wrong time and shot 72.
-
Every traveler has a trip that went spectacularly wrong.
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.
-
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.
Adjective
-
About 220,000 need major repair or replacement, and 41,677 are rated poor, also called structurally deficient.
-
About 220,000 need major repair or replacement, and 41,677 are rated poor, also called structurally deficient.
Adjective
-
Are those still your worst fears?
-
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.
Adjective
-
Against Australia in the last 16, Argentina were again labouring when faced with an inferior opponent, digging in and determined to spoil their World Cup dreams.
-
Uruguay tied again, this time a 2-2 stalemate against another adversary that less than two weeks ago, pretty much every soccer pundit would have deemed inferior.
Adjective
-
When an audience member posed a hypothetical choice between a flawed but distinctive film and a polished but unremarkable one, Leung said either would do, arguing that cinema’s goal was sincerity, in performance or in a director’s expression, rather than polish.
-
By the time the tournament reached Argentina four years later, though, the Dutch were not quite the slick — if defensively-flawed — outfit that played in 1974.
Cite this Entry
“Substandard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substandard. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
