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suboptimal

suboptimal

4 5.6
Less good than the best choice
  • adjective
  • /sʌbˈɑptɪməl/
translation icon : subóptimo
  • The team's performance was suboptimal, leading to a disappointing outcome in the competition.
  • suboptimal performance
  • suboptimal level
  • suboptimal outcomes

Fine, your knife grip is suboptimal, but that's for another time.

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Examples

  • The quality of spirometry has been highlighted as being of suboptimal standard in some areas of primary care.

    Academic text (2011)
  • And then over time, as a result, choices are suboptimal because too much risk is taken.

  • But you might get a suboptimal design, right?

  • And sometimes the suboptimal answer in the long term is the right one.

  • This makes you human, but suboptimal as a soldier.

  • Admittedly, some of the early results were suboptimal.

  • Consequently, access to and the adoption of vision rehabilitation services has, to date, been suboptimal.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Each of you did the thing that was rational, but the coordinated effect of your actions gave you a wildly suboptimal result.

  • Vanhove 7 found that suboptimal fertilization can reduce yield by one third.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Care in AKI is often suboptimal, and many opportunities for AKI prevention are missed.

    Academic text (2016)

Synonyms

limited
vssuboptimal
162 2.0

Not very good at a skill or task

focuses on being less than the best rather than low resources
mediocre
vssuboptimal
109 4.8

Only average in quality and not very good

is about being less than the best, not just average
inferior
vssuboptimal
63 3.7

Not as good in quality as something else

is about being below the ideal or most effective standard
second-rate
vssuboptimal
23 4.4

Not as good as the best, often cheap or simple

focuses on being below the ideal rather than mere status
so-so
vssuboptimal
21 3.0

Neither good nor bad

specifies being below the ideal rather than just middling
mid
vssuboptimal
  • Slang
20 8.1

Average and not very impressive

is a neutral concept about not reaching the optimal standard
subpar
vssuboptimal
15 4.5

Not as good as people expect

is specifically about not reaching the best possible standard
underwhelming
vssuboptimal
12 4.4

Less impressive or exciting than you expect

means generally below the ideal performance, not specifically disappointment
low-grade
vssuboptimal
11 4.4

Not very good and worth less than similar things

emphasizes falling short of the ideal level or effectiveness
unimpressive
vssuboptimal
9 3.9

Not very good or likely to attract attention

concerns falling short of the ideal, not only lack of impact
middling
vssuboptimal
1 4.6

Having average quality, neither very good nor very bad

points to a shortfall from the best, not only average
fair to middling
vssuboptimal
  • Archaic
1 6.9

Medium quality, neither very good nor very bad

stresses being below the ideal or most effective level
subaverage
vssuboptimal
4.9

Lower than the normal level in quality or performance

means below the ideal or most effective, not only below average
poorish
vssuboptimal
  • Informal
4.6

Not very good in quality or condition

expresses being less than the best possible, not only somewhat poor

Antonyms

62 5.7

Best or most suitable for a particular situation

How Good

perfect
1.0
optimal
62 5.7
suboptimal
4 5.6
mediocre
109 4.8
poor
838 1.0

Surface Forms

suboptimal positive
suboptimally comparative
suboptimalest superlative

Morphology

suboptimal = optimal (transparent) = sub + optimal

Standard prefixation: 'sub-' meaning 'under' or 'less than' added to 'optimal' yields the clear meaning 'less than optimal'.

Etymology

Suboptimal combines the part sub- meaning 'below' and optimal meaning 'best'. So suboptimal means 'below the best', which is why we use it for something that works but is not as good as the ideal.