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
State hides certain info on labs The 2020 testing law created the Arizona Medical Marijuana Testing Advisory Council to oversee the testing industry and report the number of deficiencies found in the labs' work to the Legislature.
—
Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025
Most of these patients work with a medical provider or dietitian to identify and eliminate food sources that contain gluten and to get recommendations on how to make up for nutritional deficiencies.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 19 July 2025
If watering isn’t the issue, test the soil for nutrient deficiencies and pH level.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 July 2025
This 2020 essay provides a deep dive into literacy deficiencies, fear, psychological reasoning, disproportionate weighting of information on the Internet, and other factors that perpetuate them.
—Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025
Most of these patients work with a medical provider or dietitian to identify and eliminate food sources that contain gluten and to get recommendations on how to make up for nutritional deficiencies.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 19 July 2025
If watering isn’t the issue, test the soil for nutrient deficiencies and pH level.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 July 2025
This 2020 essay provides a deep dive into literacy deficiencies, fear, psychological reasoning, disproportionate weighting of information on the Internet, and other factors that perpetuate them.
—Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficiency
Noun
-
Virtua's workforce development director works to identify roles with high turnover or shortages.—
Alexis Kayser,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 July 2025
-
The reasons for the rapid decline in these industries include the shortage of younger generations that are willing to take over the labor-intensive family businesses and the increasing market competition against non-traditional food products.—
Akiko Katayama,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
Both actors, who have been previously married to other celebrities, have indicated a lack of interest in dating.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
24 July 2025
-
Whether due to inadequate service, lack of knowledge and experience, or scheduling conflicts, transitioning to a planner who aligns better with your needs can provide the personalized and sophisticated support necessary for achieving your financial goals.—
Cicely Jones,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficiency. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.
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