suboptimal

[ suhb-op-tuh-muh l ]

/ sʌbˈɒp tə məl /

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adjective

being below an optimal level or standard.

RELATED WORDS

substandard, minimal, trivial, piddling, insignificant, negligible, paltry, trifling

Nearby words

suboccipital nerve, suboccipitobregmatic diameter, subocean, suboceanic, subofficer, suboptimal, suborbital, suborder, subordinal, subordinary, subordinate

Also sub·op·ti·mum

[suhb-op-tuh-muh m] /sʌbˈɒp tə məm/.

Origin of suboptimal

First recorded in 1930–35; sub- + optimal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019