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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deficiency
Craving pickles may mean that you are dehydrated or have a sodium deficiency.
—
Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 12 Aug. 2025
However, cutting out dairy can increase your risk for a calcium deficiency.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 12 Aug. 2025
The state countered each deficiency cited by Ocean City, arguing it was allowed to rely on previous alternative analyses conducted by the U.S. Department of the Interior, that its vessel emissions estimates were sound, and that the permit underwent ample public comment.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 8 Aug. 2025
In late September 2020, a Mass General endocrinologist called with the test results: Ben had a leptin deficiency.
—Wendy Grossman Kantor, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 12 Aug. 2025
However, cutting out dairy can increase your risk for a calcium deficiency.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 12 Aug. 2025
The state countered each deficiency cited by Ocean City, arguing it was allowed to rely on previous alternative analyses conducted by the U.S. Department of the Interior, that its vessel emissions estimates were sound, and that the permit underwent ample public comment.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 8 Aug. 2025
In late September 2020, a Mass General endocrinologist called with the test results: Ben had a leptin deficiency.
—Wendy Grossman Kantor, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficiency
Noun
-
There is a solution already before Congress: the End Kidney Deaths Act (H.R. 2687), a bipartisan bill that could finally end the kidney shortage.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Aug. 2025
-
Left unaddressed, this could deepen the motherhood penalty and contribute to workforce shortages of women.—
Christine Michel Carter,
Forbes.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Another driver of instability is the lack of details about the trade agreements that have so far been reached.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
17 Aug. 2025
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The lack of postal addresses and official mapping further contributed to their disappearance from public records.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficiency. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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