as in lacking
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need
there's been an insufficient number of volunteers for the job, so I'll have to select someone
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of insufficient
Available clinical trial and pharmacovigilance data remain insufficient to establish whether semaglutide increases the risk of birth defects, miscarriage or other adverse outcomes, meaning treatment decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis with a licensed healthcare professional.
—
Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
That means the Oversight probe, even as it is decried by Democrats for being insufficient, is perhaps the best shot Congress has of uncovering — and revealing — new information in the Epstein matter.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 8 Sep. 2025
On both points, Kennedy argued that the publicly available data was insufficient.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2025
These were nearly always approved, even though the agency wrote that finances were an insufficient explanation in a presentation on the permitting process.
—ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insufficient
Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
That means the Oversight probe, even as it is decried by Democrats for being insufficient, is perhaps the best shot Congress has of uncovering — and revealing — new information in the Epstein matter.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 8 Sep. 2025
On both points, Kennedy argued that the publicly available data was insufficient.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2025
These were nearly always approved, even though the agency wrote that finances were an insufficient explanation in a presentation on the permitting process.
—ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insufficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insufficient
Adjective
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That is not to say that his coverage abilities are in any way lacking, but the Jaguars might see more value in Hunter catching passes to start.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
It can be used to crudely express boredom, annoyance or to signal that something is self-indulgent or lacking purpose.—
Sofi Zeman
August 8,
Kansas City Star,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
What progress has been public has been from outside that investigation, like State Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s office issuing a report that found the MSP’s training is inadequate.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
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More than half of these women have left their jobs under the weight of these tasks, with two-thirds citing inadequate employer support.—
Liz Teran,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The position of elementary education among the least susceptible to poverty might be surprising, but elementary school teachers are scarce and in demand.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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The number of investigations is scarce not because of a lack of potential violations.—
Max Blau,
ProPublica,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The report said that water storage in Washington’s five reservoirs in the Yakima River Basin has dropped sharply, bringing levels, at times, to some of the lowest measured since record-keeping started in 1971.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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The ultra-low-cost model clearly isn't providing customer satisfaction, even if the fares look cheap.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Insufficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insufficient. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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