underachiever

noun

un·​der·​achiev·​er ˌən-dər-ə-ˈchē-vər How to pronounce underachiever (audio)
: one (such as a student) that fails to attain a predicted level of achievement or does not do as well as expected
underachieve intransitive verb
underachievement noun

Examples of underachiever in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Knight is 100 percent correct that the grapefruit is the underachiever of the citrus family. EW.com, 4 Mar. 2024 Will Dak Prescott – who threw a pick-six in the second quarter that Darnell Savage returned 64 yards – ever silence critics who label him as an underachiever in the playoffs? USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2024 That’s because the container shipping industry, cast as the Grinch that spoiled Christmas over the past two years with record-high freight rates and slow deliveries, is returning to its pre-pandemic place in the corporate world: perennial underachiever Charlie Brown. Brendan Murray, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2023 Chargers have long been considered the NFL’s version of the Clippers…wildly talented underachievers. Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2024 Some of the athletes are disgruntled and others are underachievers. Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2023 Shame is a familiar sentiment to Sarah, an underachiever who self-medicates with alcohol. Celia Wren, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2023 Meanwhile, things that reliably boost happiness and well-being—community, time in nature, movement, mindfulness, personal growth, and learning—are often seen as unserious pursuits for which only underachievers have time. Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 18 Sep. 2023 Our underachievers’ slow starts have been exacerbated by potential surprise teams, well, surprising. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 6 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underachiever.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of underachiever was in 1952

Dictionary Entries Near underachiever

Cite this Entry

“Underachiever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underachiever. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

underachiever

noun
un·​der·​achiev·​er ˌən-də-rə-ˈchē-vər How to pronounce underachiever (audio)
: one (as a student) that fails to do as well as expected

Medical Definition

underachiever

noun
un·​der·​achiev·​er ˌən-dər-ə-ˈchē-vər How to pronounce underachiever (audio)
: a person (as a student) who fails to attain a predicted level of achievement or does not do as well as expected
underachieve
-ˈchēv
intransitive verb
underachieved; underachieving
underachievement noun

More from Merriam-Webster on underachiever

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