Synonyms

underachiever

American

[uhn-der-uh-chee-ver] / ˌʌn dər əˈtʃi vər /

noun

a student who performs less well in school than would be expected on the basis of abilities indicated by intelligence and aptitude tests, etc.
a person or thing that performs below expectations.

Etymology

Origin of underachiever

1945–50; under- + achiever ( def. )

Vocabulary lists containing underachiever

Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: under-

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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.

Newcastle, who will be playing Champions League football for the second time in three years next season, couldn't exactly be classed as an underdog - but they have most certainly been an underachiever.

From BBC • May 27, 2025

A committed underachiever, Remi was going blind in her left eye but too slowly to warrant anybody’s concern.

From Slate • Jan. 27, 2024

Coasting counterculture reached its true boom days in the 1990s, which were dotted with underachiever fare like “Slacker,” “Clerks,” “The Big Lebowski” and “Wayne’s World.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 27, 2022

The Tar Heels, a No. 8 seed by résumé only, continued their late-season transformation from underachiever to powerhouse.

From Washington Post • Mar. 27, 2022

Bart Simpson, the underachiever, "mediocre and proud of it," is a model for everyone who is told that what really counts is to feel good, period.

From The Civilization of Illiteracy by Nadin, Mihai

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023