1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

underprepared

adjective

Definition of underpreparednext
as in unprepared

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 underprepared Indian troops were deployed to thwart Chinese advances but were reportedly inadequately supplied, underprepared, and overwhelmed. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026 The White House remains underprepared to manage infectious threats. — David Blumenthal, STAT, 20 July 2026 Women are seeking care from specialized platforms precisely because their own physicians are underprepared. — Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 Current and former Israeli military officials have also acknowledged that Israel was underprepared for the drone threat. — Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for underprepared
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underprepared
  1. unprepared
  2. unready
Adjective
  • Atlanta’s snow-day reality When Atlanta gets meaningful snow or ice, AWD can help; but the larger problem is that the roads themselves become hazardous and other drivers may be unprepared.
    — Beth Livesay, AJC.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Despite knowing a windfall is coming, most women are still unprepared to handle it.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of unprepared
Adjective
  • Even if maritime regulators demanded shippers purchase more defendable vessels, the crews aboard are unready for the challenge.
    — Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Andrews has gone viral multiple times for demystifying how ballroom dancers get ready, and, more specifically, unready.
    — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
Definition of unready

Browse Nearby Words

underplays
underprepared
underprice
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Underprepared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underprepared. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of epistemic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All