as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
a teacher who rejects substandard work without hesitation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of substandard
It is estimated that 162,000 families in Los Angeles, including 50,000 veterans, are living in tents, garages, vehicles and other substandard accommodations, according to a 2021 report by UCLA’s Luskin Center for History and Policy.
—
Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
The most recent league event was a 2019 preseason exhibition between the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers in Winnipeg, played on an 80-yard field over safety concerns with IG Field’s substandard artificial turf.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 9 July 2025
Yet, as Gleison Bremer recovers from his serious injury, Kelly is far from the only substandard defender in black and white.
—Adam Digby, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
Underlying the blackouts are three systemic problems: years of inadequate investment, substandard fuel, and deferred maintenance.
—IEEE Spectrum, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for substandard
Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
The most recent league event was a 2019 preseason exhibition between the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers in Winnipeg, played on an 80-yard field over safety concerns with IG Field’s substandard artificial turf.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 9 July 2025
Yet, as Gleison Bremer recovers from his serious injury, Kelly is far from the only substandard defender in black and white.
—Adam Digby, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
Underlying the blackouts are three systemic problems: years of inadequate investment, substandard fuel, and deferred maintenance.
—IEEE Spectrum, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for substandard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substandard
Adjective
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In his short stint in Scranton, that number has come down a hair, but still resides at an unacceptable 29.4%.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
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Republicans were more evenly split, with 38% calling it unacceptable and 32% labeling it as acceptable.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Spurred by climate change, Canadian wildfires have increasingly exacerbated poor air quality across Milwaukee and southern Wisconsin.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
24 July 2025
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Other critical factors that led to several brands exiting Japan, like Ford in 2016, were insufficient product lineups, and a poor dealer network.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.—
Kevin Fisher-Paulson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 June 2021
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My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.—
Tim Neville,
Outside Online,
23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
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For instance, Putignano says there’s nothing wrong with expecting a teen to clean their room, just as your parents expected of you.—
Beth Ann Mayer,
Parents,
15 July 2025
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But new research shows that the intuitive assumption that the water is mostly newly melted snow or fresh rain is dead wrong.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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According to a Science Direct article, Western diets are deficient in fiber and essential micronutrients, contributing to gut imbalances, chronic inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
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Something like 95 percent of people are deficient in fiber.—
Hali Bey Ramdene,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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The alternative — keeping him around, highly paid and not played — would have been worse.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
22 July 2025
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Earlier this month, employees at the Environmental Protection Agency, filed their own letter, with even worse results; 140 of them were placed on administrative leave.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Not because those traits are flawed, but because they’re pointed in the wrong direction.—
Nell Derick Debevoise,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
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Critics says the study RFK Jr. cited as evidence is flawed.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Substandard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substandard. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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