suboptimal
Americanadjective
Usage
What does suboptimal mean? Suboptimal means below the optimal (best possible) level or standard.The words optimal and optimum both describe an ideal or perfect level, degree, result, or similar thing. Suboptimal means something has fallen short of that level. It is often used in phrases like suboptimal performance and suboptimal conditions.Example: The patient’s heart is performing at a suboptimal level.
Etymology
Origin of suboptimal
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.
‘In the past, celebrity endorsements have often pushed people toward suboptimal financial products. MrBeast could be fine, but the emergence of finfluencers bears watching.’
From MarketWatch
“In the past, celebrity endorsements have often pushed people toward suboptimal financial products,” said Adam Rust, director of financial services at the Consumer Federation of America, an association of nonprofit consumer organizations.
From MarketWatch
Italy's second-biggest bank decided to make the move "because we felt that to continue to stall was a suboptimal situation for both," he told analysts on a call.
From Barron's
Palihapitiya on Wednesday blamed several factors for his difficulties at Social Capital — a divorce, partners who he said made the firm a “political snake pit,” and what he said were “suboptimal” portfolio decisions that didn’t match his investment style.
From MarketWatch
“In crisis moments, people tend to make suboptimal decisions,” said Shah.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
