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I was typing an essay and wrote unchallenged to mean that the subject didn't feel challenged, but then I realized that unchallenged means "undisputed" and the definition that I thought isn't really attributed to the word. So, my question is, is there one adjective that means "not challenged enough?" Thank you :)

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    I occasionally come across "underchallenged", but this is not a word that is in wide-spread use or recorded in standard dictionaries.
    – njuffa
    Commented Nov 22, 2018 at 20:03
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    Underutilized might work, depending on the exact meaning you have in mind.
    – Jason Bassford
    Commented Nov 22, 2018 at 20:05
  • @JasonBassford, that's a good alternative, but it doesn't fit the connotation and makes the subject sound more like a tool than an employee. It's essentially supposed to say "I feel like an (adj) employee"
    – Melanie
    Commented Nov 22, 2018 at 21:37
  • @njuffa, Yeah, it doesn't sound right when I try to put in "underchallenged"
    – Melanie
    Commented Nov 22, 2018 at 21:37
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    You need to provide more objective criteria. For instance, I don't feel that calling myself underutilized means that I'm referring to myself more as a tool than an employee. I've heard the term used for people many times.
    – Jason Bassford
    Commented Nov 23, 2018 at 3:34

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The term I have heard and used myself is: Underemployed.

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  • Underemployed is often used to mean that a person has a job, but it doesn't meet their financial needs. So the person isn't unemployed, but isn't fully employed. It's different from a person whose work doesn't meet their needs for fulfillment or stimulation or significance.
    – jejorda2
    Commented Jul 8, 2019 at 20:46
  • @jejorda2 I've more often heard underemployed used to mean that a person is qualified for a more challenging or higher-paying job, but has taken a less demanding (or rewarding) job. Example: having a law degree, but running a hot dog stand.
    – Davo
    Commented Jul 9, 2019 at 12:32
  • Collins indicates that my definition is American and yours is British: collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/underemployed
    – jejorda2
    Commented Jul 9, 2019 at 14:18

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