underdevelop
verb (used with object)
to develop (something) short of the required amount.
underdevelopment
-
a word derived from
underdevelop.
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.
As the nation’s oil wealth flowed offshore, the Iranian people were left to struggle with poverty, underdevelopment, and corrupt leadership.
From Barron's ● Mar. 5, 2026
"We are entering a phase where we don't even know if we are moving forward with global development or if we are sliding backward into total underdevelopment."
From BBC ● Feb. 18, 2026
In such an ongoing climate of isolation, anger and underdevelopment, there seem few safe and accessible ways for Americans to gather peacefully anymore.
From Salon ● Jun. 2, 2024
It was thought that this underdevelopment at birth encouraged greater brain plasticity, ultimately facilitating human intelligence.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 4, 2023
She was slender and athletic, without underdevelopment, and it was a delight to watch her move about a room, walk along a street, swing a golf club, or turn a "cartwheel."
From This Side of Paradise by F. Scott (Francis Scott) Fitzgerald
