underdeveloped

adjective

Definition of underdevelopednext
as in undeveloped

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of underdeveloped The other infant had Amish microcephaly, a rare and severe genetic disorder that causes a small head and underdeveloped brain and leaves children with little chance of surviving beyond a couple of months, Moss said. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2026 The underdeveloped character proved to be the perfect canvas for the early Cartoon Network writers to impose their sensibilities onto. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026 She had been born with a condition called Amish lethal microcephaly that causes an unusually small head and underdeveloped brain. — CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026 Across state and federal lands, accommodations designated for Black Americans were routinely and nakedly inferior, relegated to remote, underdeveloped parcels or mosquito-prone swamplands. — Kimmie Gordon, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for underdeveloped
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underdeveloped
  1. undeveloped
  2. backward
Adjective
  • Mana creates value for a future developer by putting together large assemblages and leaving them largely undeveloped, Karp said.
    — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
  • At that time the suspect approached a fence area of the school from an undeveloped area, crossed the street, threw his weapon over the fence, then climbed the fence onto the school property, Krantz said.
    — Irene Byon, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of undeveloped
Adjective
  • BodyEnergy introduced a new version of its motorless flat treadmill with Ab-drive, featuring a front abdominal roller that enables natural backward stride propulsion to biomechanically mimic running outdoors.
    — TIME Staff, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis called the Week 4 loss a backward step.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of backward

Browse Nearby Words

undercutting
underdeveloped
underdiagnose
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Underdeveloped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underdeveloped. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All