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Underachievement: meaning, definitions and examples

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underachievement

 

[ ˌʌndərəˈtʃiːvmənt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

education

Underachievement refers to a situation in which a person performs less well than expected or than their potential would suggest, especially in academic or professional settings. It can be caused by various factors such as lack of motivation, poor study habits, or learning disabilities.

Synonyms

below expectations, substandard performance, underperformance

Examples of usage

  • His underachievement in school was a result of his lack of interest in the subjects.
  • The school counselor identified a pattern of underachievement among several students.
Context #2 | Noun

psychology

In psychology, underachievement can also refer to a pattern of behavior in which an individual consistently fails to reach their full potential, often due to low self-esteem or fear of failure. It is important to address the underlying causes of underachievement to help the individual reach their goals.

Synonyms

below potential, low achievement, underperformance

Examples of usage

  • The therapist worked with the client to explore the root causes of his underachievement.
  • Her underachievement was linked to a fear of taking risks.

Translations

Translations of the word "underachievement" in other languages:

🇵🇹 baixo desempenho

🇮🇳 अल्प उपलब्धि

🇩🇪 Leistungsrückstand

🇮🇩 kinerja rendah

🇺🇦 низька успішність

🇵🇱 niskie osiągnięcia

🇯🇵 低い成果

🇫🇷 sous-performance

🇪🇸 bajo rendimiento

🇹🇷 başarısızlık

🇰🇷 낮은 성과

🇸🇦 ضعف الأداء

🇨🇿 nízký výkon

🇸🇰 nízky výkon

🇨🇳 表现不佳

🇸🇮 nizka uspešnost

🇮🇸 lélegur árangur

🇰🇿 төмен көрсеткіш

🇬🇪 დაბალი შედეგი

🇦🇿 aşağı performans

🇲🇽 bajo rendimiento

Word origin

The term 'underachievement' originated in the mid-20th century, combining 'under-' (indicating deficiency or inadequacy) and 'achievement' (the act of achieving or accomplishing something). It gained popularity in educational and psychological contexts to describe the phenomenon of individuals falling short of expected performance levels. Addressing underachievement has become an important focus in both academic and personal development settings.

See also: achievable, achieved, achievement, achievements, achiever, achieving, overachiever, overachieving, unachievable, unachieved, underachiever.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #33,604 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.