as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
the service at the restaurant was subpar, to say the least
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 subpar
An endless array of products doesn’t impress if the experience is subpar.
—
Lauren Parker, WWD, 15 Jan. 2025
Persistently monitoring employees suggests a deficit of confidence and independence in their roles, conveying that the employees’ performance is subpar and cultivating a sense of inadequacy.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
The veteran head coach was seen as the man to lead Sacramento forward for the foreseeable future but a subpar season last year started to put doubt into things around the league.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
Shorn of some of the 49ers’ key weapons in wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and running back Christian McCaffrey, and with Deebo Samuel having a subpar season, Purdy remains the likely 49ers’ quarterback of the future and is due a huge contract extension in the offseason.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for subpar
Lauren Parker, WWD, 15 Jan. 2025
Persistently monitoring employees suggests a deficit of confidence and independence in their roles, conveying that the employees’ performance is subpar and cultivating a sense of inadequacy.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
The veteran head coach was seen as the man to lead Sacramento forward for the foreseeable future but a subpar season last year started to put doubt into things around the league.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
Shorn of some of the 49ers’ key weapons in wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and running back Christian McCaffrey, and with Deebo Samuel having a subpar season, Purdy remains the likely 49ers’ quarterback of the future and is due a huge contract extension in the offseason.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for subpar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subpar
Adjective
-
Many of them will likely be seen in Kyiv as unacceptable.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN,
18 Feb. 2025
-
Without any supporting facts alleging, political impropriety, unacceptable public safety threats, national security concerns, and the potential failure of not executing federal immigration initiatives and policies, all of which will have an impact on Adams’ ability to govern NYC.—
Arnold Kriss,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Without education, students with disabilities face higher rates of poverty, unemployment, poor health, and social isolation.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
-
But shortly after its release, AT&T dropped the device’s price down to just $0.99 in what was an unmistakable sign of poor sales – and perhaps an indication that consumers didn’t want more Facebook on their phone other than in its app.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.—
Kevin Fisher-Paulson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 June 2021
-
My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.—
Tim Neville,
Outside Online,
23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
-
This reveals Wrexham have still been creating more than the opposition, suggesting there wasn’t a lot wrong and that an upturn in individual form, as happened at Mansfield with the back three, will bring the necessary results to stay in the promotion hunt.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
-
According to the Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted between February 12 and 18, 53 percent of Americans believed the economy was on the wrong track, up from 43 percent in the organizations' January 24 to 26 poll.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
However, irrational exuberance can leads stocks of good companies to be bad stocks.—
Hersh Shefrin,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Almost—the Cybertruck somehow manages to look worse in real life than in pictures; the confluence of angles where its various steel body panels fit together somehow serves to prove the exception to the rule that is the golden ratio.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Second, laser technology is deficient in energy, efficiency, and is too expensive.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Feb. 2025
-
Of course, soil can also be deficient in important nutrients.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
This is, on paper, a terrible idea for all involved.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
State of play: Cleveland is terrible at planting trees.—
Sam Allard,
Axios,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
There are so many horrible things happening in the world.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2025
-
Still, a light at the end of this very horrible long tunnel might be a bit more visible at this time.—
Greg Palkot,
Fox News,
15 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subpar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subpar. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share