ˌsəb-ˈäp-tə-məl
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
yes, living on junk food generally means that you have a suboptimal diet
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of suboptimal
The Apple deal was suboptimal for exposure and probably could have been tolerated financially.
—
Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 19 Dec. 2025
Diversification can also lead to suboptimal choices.
—Tanvi Madan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
However suboptimal the timing, few of these elections were close enough that even particularly influential podcasters could have swung them.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
In suboptimal circumstances, Zollers looked the part of a Power 4 quarterback.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suboptimal
Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 19 Dec. 2025
Diversification can also lead to suboptimal choices.
—Tanvi Madan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
However suboptimal the timing, few of these elections were close enough that even particularly influential podcasters could have swung them.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
In suboptimal circumstances, Zollers looked the part of a Power 4 quarterback.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suboptimal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suboptimal
Adjective
-
Local officials criticized the FAA for imposing the closure without advance notice or coordination, calling the lack of communication unacceptable.—
Seung Min Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
That failure to communicate is unacceptable.—
Jay Blackman,
NBC news,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Semmann said stores raise prices primarily in response to supply chain issues, such as poor harvests, changes to international trade policy or increasing logistical costs.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Boating conditions are poor across offshore waters south of Cape Canaveral, while small craft need to exercise caution near the inlets.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Nichols and Vann concede that handing the cup with the apple juice and urine mix to Smith’s son to drink was wrong and Vann has expressed regret for that.—
Jane Harper,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The crash involved a wrong-way driver on eastbound I-84, according to an Idaho State Police Facebook post.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And Siegfried keeps trying to understand what’s wrong with this goat that its owner claims is lame.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
9 Feb. 2026
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With about a year left until the next mayoral election, the attacks from Johnson’s opponents attempting to preemptively paint him as a lame-duck mayor could also turn off candidates worried about job stability, but their contract specifics would vary by agency.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In 2006, ahead of the Turin Olympics, Vonn took a bad fall during downhill training and went to the hospital.—
ANDREW DAMPF,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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Attending a bad Super Bowl is the Super Bowl of communal experiences.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The opinion noted that attorneys did not argue that Idaho’s system of public schools was deficient, or that the tax credit program would make it so.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Feb. 2026
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Those who are deficient in magnesium are more likely to have anemia.—
Jessica Swirble,
Verywell Health,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Thus, as a vision of our transportation system in 2050, this plan is flawed due to placing too much emphasis on freeway expansion and insufficient resources on public transit.—
Chris Roberts,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
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Then their postseason schedule road was made easier by facing three flawed offensive units.—
Hank Gola,
New York Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Suboptimal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suboptimal. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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