submarginal
Just below threshold
Submarginal means below the margin—falling short of a minimum standard or threshold.
In economics, submarginal land or resources yield returns too low to justify their use: The drought made formerly productive acreage submarginal.
In biology, submarginal describes a position just inside an outer edge, as in the markings on a butterfly's wing.
Producing no financial gain
- barrenUnable to produce
- infertileUnable to produce offspring
- unproductiveFailing to achieve results
- depletedSeverely reduced or emptied
exhausted · worn-out · low-grade · uncultivable · scrubland · hardscrabble · fallow · degraded
Producing no financial gain
- nonviableIncapable of succeeding
- break-evenNo net gain
- loss-makingFailing to profit
- uneconomicalNot worth the cost
Having too little
- substandardBelow required quality
- insufficientBelow required quantity
- unsatisfactoryNot good enough
- suboptimalBelow the ideal standard
underperforming · lacking · wanting · shortfall · mediocre · imperfect · flawed · compromised
unprofitable
Producing no financial gain
- barrenUnable to produce
- infertileUnable to produce offspring
- unproductiveFailing to achieve results
depleted · exhausted · worn-out · low-grade · uncultivable · scrubland · hardscrabble · fallow · degraded · subsistence
unprofitable
Producing no financial gain
- nonviableIncapable of succeeding
- break-evenNo net gain
- loss-makingFailing to profit
deficient
Having too little
- substandardBelow required quality
- insufficientBelow required quantity
- unsatisfactoryNot good enough
suboptimal · underperforming · lacking · wanting · shortfall · mediocre · imperfect · flawed · compromised · unfit
borderline
Edge of acceptability
boundary · liminal · threshold · outer · secondary · subsidiary · ancillary · auxiliary · subordinate · accessory
ventral
Of the belly
submarginalprofitable
Producing financial benefit
lucrative · viable · economic · cost-effective · remunerative
submarginaloptimal
Most desirable outcome
superior · excellent · adequate · acceptable · satisfactory
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