underachiever Definition
a person who performs less well than expected or than their abilities indicate, especially in academic work.
Using underachiever: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "underachiever" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Despite his high IQ, he was an underachiever in school.
Example
She was labeled an underachiever because of her poor grades.
Example
The coach was disappointed with the team's performance and called them underachievers.
underachiever Synonyms and Antonyms
Antonyms for underachiever
- overachiever
- high achiever
- go-getter
Phrases with underachiever
a person who consistently performs below their potential
Example
He was a chronic underachiever in school, never living up to his parents' expectations.
a person who has recognized their tendency to underachieve and is working to improve their performance
Example
As a recovering underachiever, she now sets realistic goals and works hard to achieve them.
a psychological condition where a person consistently performs below their potential due to low self-esteem or fear of failure
Example
Her therapist diagnosed her with underachiever syndrome and recommended counseling to address her self-esteem issues.
Summary: underachiever in Brief
An 'underachiever' [ˌʌndərəˈtʃiːvə(r)] is a person who performs below their expected or potential level, particularly in academic work. It is often used to describe someone with poor grades despite having high intelligence. Examples include 'Despite his high IQ, he was an underachiever in school.' and 'The coach was disappointed with the team's performance and called them underachievers.' Phrases like 'chronic underachiever' and 'recovering underachiever' describe people who consistently underperform or are working to improve their performance.