1
as in incomplete
lacking some necessary part
a diet deficient in calcium can lead to weak bones
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
woefully deficient eyesight kept him out of military service
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lacking
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need
too deficient in common sense to be trusted to stay by himself
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deficient
The Mount Zion Road/Columbia Hollow bridge was part of the 2017 county bridge plan to replace 15 bridges deemed structurally deficient by the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
—
Arkansas Online, 9 Apr. 2025
The formula includes vitamin D, another nutrient that many are deficient in, which can boost immunity, support bone health and promote a healthy gut microbiome.
—Emily Burns, WWD, 7 Mar. 2025
While this option can work for people who are deficient in vitamin A, according to experts, vaccination is the only way to prevent measles, as vitamin A is not an alternative.
—Angelica Stabile, Fox News, 7 Mar. 2025
Trump has a crude diplomatic manner and deficient strategic foresight.
—Nicholas Mulder, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficient
Arkansas Online, 9 Apr. 2025
The formula includes vitamin D, another nutrient that many are deficient in, which can boost immunity, support bone health and promote a healthy gut microbiome.
—Emily Burns, WWD, 7 Mar. 2025
While this option can work for people who are deficient in vitamin A, according to experts, vaccination is the only way to prevent measles, as vitamin A is not an alternative.
—Angelica Stabile, Fox News, 7 Mar. 2025
Trump has a crude diplomatic manner and deficient strategic foresight.
—Nicholas Mulder, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficient
Adjective
-
Athena works late into the night back at her and Bobby’s home, which is under construction amid an incomplete renovation, trying to piece together what happened and avoiding calls from everyone.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
2 May 2025
-
Lower-quality data (outdated entries, incomplete records and so on) tends to hide in larger datasets and can produce unreliable insights.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
Cutting them to fund tax breaks for the wealthy is unacceptable.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Change fatigue can cause corporate leadership to become more willing to accept the unwelcome, and to normalize the unacceptable.—
Michael Peregrine,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Some would argue that picking a celebrity is the wrong way forward.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
5 May 2025
-
In the 20th century, however, things started to go wrong.—
Julia Buckley,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
Adjective
-
Additionally, company restructuring and layoffs is a concern for 25% of respondents, as is inadequate compensation and benefits.—
The Hill,
The Hill,
9 May 2025
-
The victims claim Prevost failed to open an investigation and sent inadequate information to Rome, while the diocese allowed the priest to continue delivering mass, SNAP claims.—
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
Consumer spending softened, increasing 1.8%, down from a 4% rise in the fourth quarter, but a decent performance in light of stock market turmoil and poor weather early in the quarter.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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Still, some of the behavioral risks resemble sports betting, including the potential for addiction, poor money management and loss chasing, unrealistic expectations of success, and inappropriate reactions to negative results.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
While there are examples of companies taking tangible steps to address water issues, action remains scattered and insufficient.—
Ken Katz,
Sourcing Journal,
5 May 2025
-
The union, which originally projected in late March that a strike might involve as many as 6,000 workers at 60 homes, has asked members over the last few weeks to empower union leaders to order a work stoppage — if leaders deem insufficient progress has occurred in negotiations.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.—
Kevin Fisher-Paulson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 June 2021
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My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.—
Tim Neville,
Outside Online,
23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
-
The Celtics never have a bad defender on the court.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
11 May 2025
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Too often over the last few years, the Red Sox have struggled to dispatch bad teams.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Hartford Courant,
11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficient. Accessed 14 May. 2025.
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