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 lack of sunlight leads to vitamin D deficiency, which affects bones, muscles and even mood.
—
Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
The new research focused on an NOA mouse model specifically designed to mimic human genetic deficiencies causing meiotic arrest — a stage where sperm production stalls.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2025
Globally, for children 5 to 14, iron deficiency was the leading risk, followed by others related to unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene and malnutrition.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
But Seattle pressured Trevor Lawrence (behind the Jaguars’ previously stout offensive line) 22 times, per TruMedia’s early statistics, and coached around their deficiencies on the back end.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
The new research focused on an NOA mouse model specifically designed to mimic human genetic deficiencies causing meiotic arrest — a stage where sperm production stalls.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2025
Globally, for children 5 to 14, iron deficiency was the leading risk, followed by others related to unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene and malnutrition.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
But Seattle pressured Trevor Lawrence (behind the Jaguars’ previously stout offensive line) 22 times, per TruMedia’s early statistics, and coached around their deficiencies on the back end.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficiency
Noun
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Recovering and processing that gas, instead of wasting it, could ease Iraq's chronic power shortages.—
Emma Graham,
CNBC,
15 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,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Other issues brought up at the meeting included ongoing construction, public safety and a lack of sufficient workforce housing.—
Mars King,
Twin Cities,
17 Oct. 2025
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D’Alleva Valas said the biggest barrier for women, though, isn’t a lack of knowledge.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficiency. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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