insufficient
adjective
in·suf·fi·cient
ˌin(t)-sə-ˈfi-shənt 
: not sufficient : inadequate
insufficient funds
especially
: lacking adequate power, capacity, or competence
insufficient bandwidth
insufficiently
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of insufficient in a Sentence
The case was thrown out because of insufficient evidence.
there's been an insufficient number of volunteers for the job, so I'll have to select someone
Recent Examples on the Web
Things To Consider To date, there’s insufficient evidence to support regular supplementation for those who get enough through food.
—
Sarah Anzlovar, Ms, Verywell Health, 19 Apr. 2024
Among the concerns spelled out are a lack of disaster preparation, insufficient rescue personnel and gear, and communication breakdowns.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
The independent report made for NHS England, which was led by Dr. Hilary Cass, a consultant pediatrician and former President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said that there was insufficient long-term evidence of what happens to youth who are prescribed puberty blockers.
—Mallory Moench, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024
The Pentagon warned that Ukraine would have insufficient ammunition left to fight off Russian advances at the front; in Ukrainian cities, Russian missiles barraged civilian targets and took out energy infrastructure because Kyiv no longer had adequate air defenses.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2024
Despite the recent increase in drilling prices by President Biden, this measure alone is insufficient to significantly reduce drilling in crucial areas.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
But commissioners, at their meeting Wednesday in Long Beach, said that amount may be insufficient.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2024
South Vietnam’s Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) was armed and trained by the United States, but proved to be insufficient when American forces withdrew two years before the war’s on-paper end.
—Nick Hilden, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2024
The results on the ground are woefully insufficient and unacceptable.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024
Sarah Anzlovar, Ms, Verywell Health, 19 Apr. 2024
Among the concerns spelled out are a lack of disaster preparation, insufficient rescue personnel and gear, and communication breakdowns.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
The independent report made for NHS England, which was led by Dr. Hilary Cass, a consultant pediatrician and former President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said that there was insufficient long-term evidence of what happens to youth who are prescribed puberty blockers.
—Mallory Moench, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024
The Pentagon warned that Ukraine would have insufficient ammunition left to fight off Russian advances at the front; in Ukrainian cities, Russian missiles barraged civilian targets and took out energy infrastructure because Kyiv no longer had adequate air defenses.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2024
Despite the recent increase in drilling prices by President Biden, this measure alone is insufficient to significantly reduce drilling in crucial areas.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
But commissioners, at their meeting Wednesday in Long Beach, said that amount may be insufficient.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2024
South Vietnam’s Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) was armed and trained by the United States, but proved to be insufficient when American forces withdrew two years before the war’s on-paper end.
—Nick Hilden, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2024
The results on the ground are woefully insufficient and unacceptable.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'insufficient.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near insufficient
Cite this Entry
“Insufficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insufficient. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
insufficient
adjective
in·suf·fi·cient
ˌin(t)-sə-ˈfish-ənt
: not sufficient : inadequate
insufficiently
adverb
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