suboptimal
adjective
sub·op·ti·mal
ˌsəb-ˈäp-tə-məl
variants
or sub-optimal
: less than optimal : not at the best possible level
suboptimal performance
suboptimal conditions/results/solutions
received suboptimal care
… such is life at the sharp end of evolution, where the pursuit of self-interest frequently leads to suboptimal outcomes for all concerned.—
The Economist
The EconomistTraining at sub-optimal levels fatigues you and wastes time you could have spent at the high levels you hope to achieve.—Rick Crawford
Rick Crawford
suboptimally
adverb
or sub-optimally
… countless companies perform suboptimally. They fail to capitalize on a unique competitive advantage.
—Erik Matson
Erik Matson
Synonyms
Examples of suboptimal in a Sentence
yes, living on junk food generally means that you have a suboptimal diet
Recent Examples on the Web
The cost includes a loss on impairment of inventory due to suboptimal THC levels.
Operating expenses for the quarter were $141,788, down from $667,497 in the previous year.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
The impact: The strategic shift is suboptimal for fans planning to attend the games in person given the travel and logistical hurdles.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 25 May 2024
In the 10 years since, though, teams have eliminated suboptimal long 2s and improved court spacing for drives to the rim.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Loss aversion is a powerful psychological bias that can lead us to make suboptimal decisions by prioritizing the avoidance of losses over the pursuit of gains.
—Bryce Hoffman, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for suboptimal 
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Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
The impact: The strategic shift is suboptimal for fans planning to attend the games in person given the travel and logistical hurdles.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 25 May 2024
In the 10 years since, though, teams have eliminated suboptimal long 2s and improved court spacing for drives to the rim.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Loss aversion is a powerful psychological bias that can lead us to make suboptimal decisions by prioritizing the avoidance of losses over the pursuit of gains.
—Bryce Hoffman, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for suboptimal
Dictionary Entries Near suboptimal
Cite this Entry
“Suboptimal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suboptimal. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
suboptimal
adjective
sub·op·ti·mal
ˌsəb-ˈäp-tə-məl
: less than optimal
a suboptimal diet
a suboptimal dose of a drug
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