subpar
adjective
sub·par ˈsəb-ˌpär 
variants or less commonly sub-par
chiefly US
: below par: such as
a
: below a usual or normal level or standard
subpar attendance
a subpar performance
Why would a major football school fire a successful coach following a single subpar season?
Jerry Kirshenbaum
Jerry KirshenbaumBecause of phylloxera, vineyards have been inconsistent and yielding subpar grapes. James Laube
James Laube b
golf : having a score lower than par
His 19 birdies and two eagles gave him more subpar holes than anyone … David Barrett
David Barrett… Augusta National never played easier. … Saturday's 30 subpar rounds broke a third-round tournament record … John Garrity
John Garrity
Did you know?
Since sub- means "below", almost anything that fails to measure up to a traditional standard may be called subpar. So you may hear of subpar ratings for a TV show, subpar care at a nursing home, subpar attendance at a concert, or subpar work by a contractor. If you played a subpar round of golf, though, you needed more strokes than you should have.
Synonyms
- bad
- bastard
- bush
- bush-league
- crummy
- crumby
- deficient
- dissatisfactory
- ill
- inferior
- lame
- lousy
- off
- paltry
- poor
- punk
- sour
- suboptimal
- substandard
- unacceptable
- unsatisfactory
- wack [slang]
- wanting
- wretched
- wrong
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
First Known Use
1922, in the meaning defined above
subpar
adjective
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard the service at the restaurant was subpar, to say the least Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- unacceptable
- poor
- lame
- wrong
- bad
- deficient
- substandard
- terrible
- awful
- flawed
- horrible
- disastrous
- crummy
- unsatisfactory
- pathetic
- suboptimal
- inferior
- wretched
- lousy
- brutal
- dreadful
- lacking
- inadequate
- below par
- off
- sour
- ill
- paltry
- dissatisfactory
- defective
- bastard
- abysmal
- wanting
- from hunger
- bush
- mediocre
- crumby
- insufficient
- bush-league
- wack
- atrocious
- short
- useless
- rotten
- punk
- under par
- miserable
- worthless
- gross
- shoddy
- deplorable
- crappy
- lesser
- horrendous
- execrable
- faulty
- sucky
- egregious
- damnable
- stinky
- vile
- detestable
- abominable
- common
- unspeakable
- meager
- cheesy
- gnarly
- junky
- odious
- flagrant
- skimpy
- bitchin'
- scanty
- reprehensible
- trashy
- rubbishy
- shabby
- valueless
- bum
- coarse
- second-rate
- low-rent
- low-grade
- sleazy
- miserly
- cut-rate
- stingy
- skimp
- villainous
- mean
- fake
- scurrilous
- sham
- counterfeit
- spare
- phony
- meagre
- niggardly
- miscreant
- phoney
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- adequate
- standard
- satisfactory
- acceptable
- decent
- passable
- okay
- fine
- tolerable
- excellent
- respectable
- superior
- great
- better
- classic
- superb
- perfect
- stellar
- classical
- exceptional
- superlative
- wonderful
- terrific
- prime
- mediocre
- sufficient
- splendid
- premium
- top
- special
- divine
- marvelous
- average
- exceptional
- fabulous
- sensational
- choice
- heavenly
- noble
- par excellence
- sterling
- marvellous
- mean
- slick
- neat
- unsurpassed
- minimal
- banner
- grand
- nifty
- swell
- fancy
- dandy
- capital
- boss
- all right
- middling
- borderline
- keen
- suitable
- top-notch
- unexceptional
- fair
- OK
- worthy
- supernal
- useful
- first-rate
- first-class
- groovy
- crackerjack
- so-so
- high-test
- bang-up
- tip-top
- jim-dandy
- high-grade
- A1
- satisfying
- gratifying
