insecure
adjective
in·se·cure
ˌin-si-ˈkyu̇r 
1
a
: deficient in assurance : beset by fear and anxiety
always felt insecure in a group of strangers
b
: not highly stable or well-adjusted
an insecure marriage
2
: not confident or sure : uncertain
feeling somewhat insecure of his reception
3
: not adequately guarded or sustained : unsafe
an insecure investment
4
: not firmly fastened or fixed : shaky
the hinge is loose and insecure
5
: unable to reliably afford or access what is needed to meet one's basic needs
families that are housing insecure [=that are at risk of losing their housing]
see also food insecure
insecurely
adverb
insecureness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of insecure in a Sentence
I feel shy and insecure around strangers.
One of the building's rear doors was insecure.
The country's borders remain insecure.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jameson was given two tickets, including one for driving with an insecure load, Anderson said.
—
Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2023
Don�t let insecure dialogues mess with your success.
—USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2023
Crucially, building safe, sustainable, climate-proof housing will help to prevent the housing insecure from becoming homeless.
—Arya Rao and Shira Hornstein, STAT, 29 Aug. 2023
Identification is often necessary to receive public benefits, apply for jobs and receive medical care, making access to IDs critical for people who are housing insecure, experts said.
—Helen Rummel, The Arizona Republic, 8 Aug. 2023
But in a notable shift, those leaders also say the volume of jobs created on his watch may not be enough to win worker loyalties if those jobs are low-paid, dangerous and insecure.
—Jonathan Weisman, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2023
Reese, whose approval the insecure Ron desperately seeks, has a hidden agenda as well, eventually ensnaring the foursome in a series of wacky misadventures involving drug dealers and $5 million of their money that he’s stolen.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Aug. 2023
Ransomware gangs have particularly made use of RDPs for attacks, says Mark Stockley, a security expert at Malwarebytes who has researched insecure RDPs.
—WIRED, 9 Aug. 2023
That’s an existing AI that’s still questionable, and the movie makers had enough thought to make a character insecure about it.
—Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 28 July 2023
See More
Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2023
Don�t let insecure dialogues mess with your success.
—USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2023
Crucially, building safe, sustainable, climate-proof housing will help to prevent the housing insecure from becoming homeless.
—Arya Rao and Shira Hornstein, STAT, 29 Aug. 2023
Identification is often necessary to receive public benefits, apply for jobs and receive medical care, making access to IDs critical for people who are housing insecure, experts said.
—Helen Rummel, The Arizona Republic, 8 Aug. 2023
But in a notable shift, those leaders also say the volume of jobs created on his watch may not be enough to win worker loyalties if those jobs are low-paid, dangerous and insecure.
—Jonathan Weisman, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2023
Reese, whose approval the insecure Ron desperately seeks, has a hidden agenda as well, eventually ensnaring the foursome in a series of wacky misadventures involving drug dealers and $5 million of their money that he’s stolen.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Aug. 2023
Ransomware gangs have particularly made use of RDPs for attacks, says Mark Stockley, a security expert at Malwarebytes who has researched insecure RDPs.
—WIRED, 9 Aug. 2023
That’s an existing AI that’s still questionable, and the movie makers had enough thought to make a character insecure about it.
—Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 28 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'insecure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin insecurus, from Latin in- + securus secure
First Known Use
1646, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Phrases Containing insecure
Dictionary Entries Near insecure
Cite this Entry
“Insecure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insecure. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
insecure
adjective
in·se·cure
ˌin(t)-si-ˈkyu̇(ə)r
1
: not confident or sure : uncertain
felt insecure about their response
2
: not well protected : not safe
insecure property
3
: not firmly fastened : loose
an insecure hinge
4
: lacking self-assurance
insecure people
insecurely
adverb
Medical Definition
insecure
adjective
in·se·cure
ˌin(t)-si-ˈkyu̇(ə)r
: characterized by or causing emotional insecurity
an insecure childhood
Legal Definition
insecure
adjective
in·se·cure
: having a good faith belief that the prospect of receiving payment or performance from a party with whom one has contracted is impaired
insecurity
noun
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