as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
there is a deficiency of fresh food in the diet of many of the working poor
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Recent Examples of deficiency
The report admonishes the Alameda County foster care system for ongoing structural deficiencies, including understaffing and poor record-keeping, while also noting that the agency’s plan to address service gaps may still not be enough to bring it up to standard.
—
Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 24 Sep. 2025
Applying more fertilizer isn’t the answer to plants’ nitrogen deficiencies, said Christina Hazard, an environmental microbiologist at the French National Center for Scientific Research.
—Katherine Bourzac, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
The excess vices are mainly linked to deficiencies in other character areas.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Various micronutrient deficiencies can also worsen outcomes.
—Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 24 Sep. 2025
Applying more fertilizer isn’t the answer to plants’ nitrogen deficiencies, said Christina Hazard, an environmental microbiologist at the French National Center for Scientific Research.
—Katherine Bourzac, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
The excess vices are mainly linked to deficiencies in other character areas.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Various micronutrient deficiencies can also worsen outcomes.
—Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficiency
Noun
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The federal government officially began a partial shutdown with no last-minute drama or shortage of finger-pointing from Democrats and Republicans, each of whom was content to blame the other for the impasse.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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The outbreak was forcing a shortage of eggs as well, leading some grocers to restrict how many dozens of eggs consumers could buy per visit.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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As the clock ticks, the lack of urgency in the nation's capital to keep the government's lights on stands in stark contrast to the consequences a shutdown may have for many Americans.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
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Stoner says that reductions in STI services at the state and local levels, as well as social and economic conditions such as poverty and lack of health insurance, have likely contributed to rising rates of syphilis, which in turn led to increasing rates of congenital syphilis.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficiency. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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