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
Examples of suboptimal in a Sentence
yes, living on junk food generally means that you have a suboptimal diet
Recent Examples on the Web
Onana, for example, tends to make more exaggerated adjustments before shots — a style that has its benefits but can occasionally lead to mistimed reactions or suboptimal set positions.
—Mark Critchley, New York Times, 12 July 2025
The suboptimal, though not entirely surprising update was that other than perhaps taking his son, Knox, to the Home Run Derby, Bregman probably won’t participate in his third career All-Star Game next week.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 8 July 2025
But even then, a suboptimal sperm count doesn’t necessarily mean an inability to reproduce.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 3 July 2025
Even if every drug were free, we’d still be left with a system that spends inefficiently and delivers suboptimal results.
—Rita Numerof, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for suboptimal
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Mark Critchley, New York Times, 12 July 2025
The suboptimal, though not entirely surprising update was that other than perhaps taking his son, Knox, to the Home Run Derby, Bregman probably won’t participate in his third career All-Star Game next week.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 8 July 2025
But even then, a suboptimal sperm count doesn’t necessarily mean an inability to reproduce.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 3 July 2025
Even if every drug were free, we’d still be left with a system that spends inefficiently and delivers suboptimal results.
—Rita Numerof, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for suboptimal
Cite this Entry
“Suboptimal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suboptimal. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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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