insecure

in·se·cure

adjective \ˌin-si-ˈkyu̇r\

Definition of INSECURE

1

: not confident or sure : uncertain <feeling somewhat insecure of his reception>

2

: not adequately guarded or sustained : unsafe <an insecure investment>

3

: not firmly fastened or fixed : shaky <the hinge is loose and insecure>

4

a : not highly stable or well-adjusted <an insecure marriage>

b : deficient in assurance : beset by fear and anxiety <always felt insecure in a group of strangers>

— in·se·cure·ly adverb

— in·se·cure·ness noun

— in·se·cu·ri·ty \-ˈkyu̇r-ə-tē\ noun

Examples of INSECURE

1. I feel shy and insecure around strangers.
2. One of the building's rear doors was insecure.
3. The country's borders remain insecure.

Origin of INSECURE

Medieval Latin insecurus, from Latin in- + securus secure

First Known Use: 1649

Related to INSECURE

Synonyms

loose, lax, loosened, relaxed, slack, slackened, unsecured

Antonyms

taut, tense, tight

Related Words

detached, free, unattached, unbound, undone, unfastened, untied; baggy, blousy, saggy

Near Antonyms

constrained, restrained; attached, bound, fastened, tied; fast, firm, jammed, snug, stuck, wedged

Rhymes with INSECURE

amateur, aperture, armature, blackamoor, carrefour, carte du jour, coinsure, commissure, confiture, connoisseur, coverture, curvature, cynosure, embouchure, epicure, filature, forfeiture, garniture, geniture, green-manure, haute couture, immature, ligature, manicure, overture, paramour, pedicure, plat du jour, portraiture, prelature, premature, quadrature, reassure, Reaumur, reinsure, saboteur, sepulture, sequitur, signature, simon-pure, sinecure, soup du jour, tablature, temperature, to be sure, troubadour, white amur, Yom Kippur

in·se·cure

adjective \ˌin(t)-si-ˈkyu̇(ə)r\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of INSECURE

: characterized by or causing emotional insecurity <an insecure childhood>