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

Word Icons

Synonyms of insecure

• loose
• loosened
• unsecured
• slack
• detached
• relaxed
• lax

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

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under pressure over an earlier attack in the Caribbean — a strike that some US lawmakers allege may have been a war crime — as well as his use of insecure communications channels. —semafor.com, 8 Dec. 2025

But the bunny with the hero complex and her emotionally insecure fox pal find allies, such as chatty podcasting beaver Nibbles Maplestick (Fortune Feimster) and helpful lizard Jesús (Danny Trejo). —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 8 Dec. 2025

Sydney Sweeney is also back as chronically insecure bombshell Cassie, while Hunter Schafer will return as Jules, a transgender woman and Rue’s on-and-off girlfriend. —Jami Ganz, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025

Intense competition, insecure career paths, and performance metrics that reward output over well-being. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Dec. 2025

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

• food insecure

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

insecurity

-ˈkyu̇r-ət-ē 

noun

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