There has to be a way to say something is “not good enough” that’s quicker right? Correct! Actually, there are many different ways to say it quickly. Let’s take a look at them in some example sentences, with extra helpful information.

Synonyms for “Not Good Enough”

• Inadequate (adj.) - “Gavin’s singing is inadequate for the concert.” (formal)

• Disappointing (adj.) - “The cleaner’s work was really disappointing, there is dirt everywhere.” (neutral)

• Substandard (adj.) - “Hotels with shared bathrooms are substandard". (formal)

• Dissatisfactory (adj.) - “Simon’s presentation was dissatisfactory, we need someone else to present next time” (formal).

• Poor (adj.) - “I thought his piano playing was quite poor.” (natural)

• Second-rate - “The food at the wedding was second-rate, it was just pizza and chocolate bars.” (neutral)

• Shabby (adj.) - “I can’t go to work in these shabby clothes!” (informal)

• Sub-par* (adj.) - “I’m sub-par at driving, it would be safer to get a train.” (neutral)

Where Does Sub-Par Come From?

*Sub-par is a sporting term from golf. “Sub” is the Latin prefix (the bit at the front of a word) meaning ‘under’ or ‘less than’, and “Par” is the golfing word for the number of expected swings it takes a player to hit their golf ball into a hole. So sub-par means you aren’t as good at golf as people expected. Weird!