The crossword solutions for the term POOR START are MAL and DYS. MAL is an acronym for 'maladaptive behavior, ' which is a type of behavior that is not conducive to a person's well-being or success. DYS is an acronym for 'dysfunction, ' which is a state of impaired functioning in a person, group, or system. Together, these two terms can be used to describe a situation where a person or group has begun something with a lack of success or effectiveness.