undersized

adjective

un·​der·​sized ˌən-dər-ˈsīzd How to pronounce undersized (audio)
variants or less commonly undersize
: of a size less than is common, proper, normal, or average
undersized trout

Examples of undersized in a Sentence

He is undersized for a basketball player. though a football all-star in high school, he was just a mediocre, undersized player at the college level
Recent Examples on the Web People increasingly moved to cities like New York, where housing was undersized and overstuffed, and American inventors responded with a wave of patent applications for folding, multifunctional furniture. Nicola Twilley, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2024 Minus some of the on-court theatrics, it’s been one of the best versions of a four-time NBA champion, playing as an undersized post who willingly defends and brings out the best in his teammates. Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 The relatively undersized Walker Buehler looked like a giant when standing next to Yamamoto the other day. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2024 Hall managed to score 31 points with an undersized Keller team utilizing different defensive looks to contain him. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Mar. 2024 Hall is considered undersized (6-2, 280) for the interior, but he’s proven capable of handling the responsibility due to elite strength and athletic ability. Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Feb. 2024 Wilson, undersized for the NFL but thought to be able to make up for it with his speed, is projected by many as a Day 2 pick and has only appeared to help that in Mobile. Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press, 31 Jan. 2024 The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year may be undersized (6-2, 295) for some teams, but Newton has been a disruptive force the last two seasons against the run and pass. Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2024 Despite being comparatively undersized, Glenelg controlled the glass on both ends of the floor early on. Jacob Steinberg, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'undersized.' 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

1706, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of undersized was in 1706

Dictionary Entries Near undersized

Cite this Entry

“Undersized.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undersized. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

undersized

adjective
un·​der·​sized ˌən-dər-ˈsīzd How to pronounce undersized (audio)
: smaller than is usual or standard
undersized fruit

More from Merriam-Webster on undersized

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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