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What is the opposite of "optimal"? I've taken to using "pessimal", but ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
robert_jones objected that this wasn't a word, and the rather elderly Shorter OED I had to hand at the time seemed to agree. Looking at OED online, though, it lists "pessimal" as a word, ("Chiefly Science" it notes) with usages from the 20th century, or pessimum (again, "Chiefly Science") which has slightly earlier usages. Is there a better word to use as the antonym of "optimal"? "Worst" doesn't quite cut the mustard.
robert_jones objected that this wasn't a word, and the rather elderly Shorter OED I had to hand at the time seemed to agree. Looking at OED online, though, it lists "pessimal" as a word, ("Chiefly Science" it notes) with usages from the 20th century, or pessimum (again, "Chiefly Science") which has slightly earlier usages. Is there a better word to use as the antonym of "optimal"? "Worst" doesn't quite cut the mustard.
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