a shade underpowered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a shade underpowered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something, such as a vehicle or a device, that lacks sufficient power or performance, but not to a significant degree. Example: "While the new model has many great features, it feels a shade underpowered compared to its competitors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Hathaway and Franco just seem a shade underpowered.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Adam Blyde's Messenger of Death is a tad underpowered, but his interpretation also comes with an appealing inquisitiveness and youth.

The Guardian

Oyewole is fine as a dancer if underpowered as an actor.

The Guardian

The mezzo-soprano Nancy Maultsby was a vocally underpowered Erda.

The New York Times - Arts

Your pitch deck ends up feeling a bit underpowered, a bit awkward.

TechCrunch

Your eyelash is a shade.

The New Yorker

That may be a shade too simplistic.

The New York Times - Sports

They were just a shade above Clear".

The New Yorker

NADIA: Is "green" a shade of beige?

The New Yorker

She smiled, as if a shade embarrassed.

Independent

It was all a shade darker now.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context; while generally acceptable, more technical contexts might benefit from more precise quantitative measures instead of qualitative assessments like "a shade underpowered".

Common error

Avoid using "a shade underpowered" when the deficiency is significant; this phrase downplays the issue. If the lack of power is substantial, use stronger terms like "significantly underpowered" or "inadequate".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a shade underpowered" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It serves to qualify the degree to which something lacks power, indicating a slight deficiency. Ludwig AI confirms that is valid to use.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a shade underpowered" is a grammatically sound adjectival phrase used to describe something that is slightly lacking in power or performance. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of this phrase. It's most commonly found in news, science and Wiki sources, indicating it has a neutral to slightly informal register. When using this phrase, be mindful of overstating the deficiency and consider more precise quantitative measures for technical contexts. Related phrases include "slightly lacking in power" and "marginally insufficient".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly lacking in power

This alternative uses "lacking in power" instead of "underpowered" and "slightly" instead of "a shade" to convey a similar degree of deficiency.

somewhat deficient in power

This uses "deficient" instead of "underpowered", suggesting a lack, and "somewhat" instead of "a shade" for a slightly more formal tone.

a bit weak

This alternative replaces "underpowered" with the simpler term "weak", indicating a lack of strength or power, and "a bit" replace "a shade".

marginally insufficient

This alternative uses "marginally insufficient" for a more formal and precise expression of a slight lack.

just a little under strength

This uses "under strength" instead of "underpowered" to convey a deficit and "just a little" to define the extension.

barely adequate

This alternative suggests that something is only just meeting the required standard, implying a slight deficiency.

a touch under par

This idiomatic alternative uses "under par" to suggest something is below the expected standard, with "a touch" indicating the degree.

slightly below capacity

This alternative uses "below capacity" to indicate a deficit in power or ability, with "slightly" defining the degree.

a hint underperforming

This swaps "underpowered" with "underperforming", suggesting a failure to perform to its full potential, with "a hint" indicating a small degree.

minimally inadequate

This formal option uses "inadequate" to convey a lack of sufficiency and "minimally" to indicate the extent of inadequacy.

FAQs

How can I use "a shade underpowered" in a sentence?

You can use "a shade underpowered" to describe something that lacks a small amount of power or performance. For example, "The engine felt "a shade underpowered" when climbing hills."

What's a more formal way to say "a shade underpowered"?

More formal alternatives include "slightly deficient in power" or "marginally insufficient". These phrases convey a similar meaning with a more professional tone.

Is it correct to say "a shade overpowered"?

While technically understandable, "a shade overpowered" is less common. It is more appropriate to say something is "slightly overpowered" or "has more power than needed" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "a shade underpowered" and "completely underpowered"?

"A shade underpowered" suggests a minor deficiency, while "completely underpowered" indicates a severe lack of power. The former is a slight drawback, the latter a major flaw.