Nonmaximal refers to something that is not the most or highest possible. Synonyms for this word include suboptimal, mediocre, inadequate, insufficient, substandard, below average, average, moderate, restrained, limited, and bounded. These words describe a range of qualities from just shy of maximizing potential, to completely falling short. For example, an athlete's nonmaximal performance could range from not beating a personal record, to an injury that hinders performance. Similarly, a product's nonmaximal quality could range from a minor defect, to a major malfunction. In any case, understanding synonyms for nonmaximal can help to more accurately and precisely describe situations.