as in shortages
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deficiencies
At Pebble Creek at Lake Mary, 85 apartment units were condemned due to life-threatening deficiencies, and at the Rialto Apartments near Sand Lake Road, nearly 400 residents were evacuated due to structural instability.
—
Keegan A. Berry, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Common causes for both include stress, hormonal changes, and nutritional deficiencies.
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
The number of deficiencies at the camp is highly unusual.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
The preliminary audit, performed by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, outlined 175 deficiencies in the interim report.
—Brooke Muckerman, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 1 Apr. 2026
They are associated with a number of toxicities, deficiencies, and other plant-restricting conditions and have high levels of aluminum and iron.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2026
There's also been ongoing debates about the Lakers' chances of winning the championship, even with Luka playing so well, and LeBRon also in the lineup, due to defensive deficiencies.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Deprived of the Sun, Australians acquire afflictions more commonly associated with northern Scandinavia, like vitamin D deficiencies and seasonal affective disorder, only all year-round.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Most organizations try to fix deficiencies or incrementally raise satisfaction levels.
—Marcus Buckingham, Harvard Business Review, 26 Mar. 2026
Keegan A. Berry, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Common causes for both include stress, hormonal changes, and nutritional deficiencies.
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
The number of deficiencies at the camp is highly unusual.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
The preliminary audit, performed by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, outlined 175 deficiencies in the interim report.
—Brooke Muckerman, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 1 Apr. 2026
They are associated with a number of toxicities, deficiencies, and other plant-restricting conditions and have high levels of aluminum and iron.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2026
There's also been ongoing debates about the Lakers' chances of winning the championship, even with Luka playing so well, and LeBRon also in the lineup, due to defensive deficiencies.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Deprived of the Sun, Australians acquire afflictions more commonly associated with northern Scandinavia, like vitamin D deficiencies and seasonal affective disorder, only all year-round.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Most organizations try to fix deficiencies or incrementally raise satisfaction levels.
—Marcus Buckingham, Harvard Business Review, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficiencies
Noun
-
Analysts partially credit the stability to a mature domestic biofuels industry that allows the country to withstand geopolitical shocks with minimal risk of fuel shortages.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Aluminum prices hit a four‑year high as Iranian strikes on Middle Eastern producers stoke fears of supply shortages.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As of Wednesday, firearms dealers are required under state law to use scanners that pull the prospective purchaser’s name, date of birth and other details from the card’s magnetic strip, which the new design lacks — except if they are authorized otherwise.—
Madison Smalstig,
Sacbee.com,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Each provides amino acids that the other lacks, so eating them together gives you all the essential amino acids.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Any nook and cranny across the building becomes a storage space — the number of issues with the current space at this point is a scroll of inadequacies, many city employees said.—
Elliot Mann,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
-
United’s second-half changes saw several of the squad’s technical inadequacies bubble back to the surface.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deficiencies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficiencies. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
