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Synonyms

low-quality

American  
[loh-kwol-i-tee] / ˈloʊˈkwɒl ɪ ti /

adjective

  1. substandard; of inferior quality: Repairs made with low-quality parts are cheaper, but they won’t last long.

    It’s hard to make a delicious dish when you start with low-quality ingredients.

    Repairs made with low-quality parts are cheaper, but they won’t last long.


Etymology

Origin of low-quality

First recorded in 1815–20; low 1 ( def. ) + quality ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Experts say fake polls are exceedingly rare but that these recent election results highlight the differences between high- and low-quality polls and how much easier it has become to conduct less rigorous polling.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 18, 2026

“We have been working on this domain of low-quality content for a long time.”

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 7, 2026

Other complaints include persistently low-quality food, isolation within the facility, and frequent transfers between Delaney Hall and other facilities, which serve to prevent organizing in the detention center.

From Salon Jul. 17, 2026

All of this has been hailed by Chinese media as a win for Made in China goods - a label that is commonly associated with more low-quality, often cheaply made products.

From BBC Jul. 16, 2026

Stanton weeded out unfit and incompetent officers; battled dishonest government contractors who sold the army low-quality uniforms, rotting equipment, and defective weapons; and endured an epidemic of officers who would not fight.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson

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