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 Los Angeles Lakers have dedicated their offseason to addressing some of the glaring deficiencies that cut last season's playoff run short and locking down superstar Luka Doncic long term.
—
Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Now, a new study has found that omega-3 deficiency could put women at greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 9 Sep. 2025
The April compliance report noted numerous deficiencies in Krome’s hold rooms, including overcrowding and detainees kept past the 12-hour time limit.
—Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Various micronutrient deficiencies can also worsen outcomes.
—Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Now, a new study has found that omega-3 deficiency could put women at greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 9 Sep. 2025
The April compliance report noted numerous deficiencies in Krome’s hold rooms, including overcrowding and detainees kept past the 12-hour time limit.
—Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Various micronutrient deficiencies can also worsen outcomes.
—Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficiency
Noun
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The 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack shut down the largest refined products pipeline in the United States for several days, creating fuel shortages and demonstrating how OT disruptions cascade through the economy.—
Bob Ackerman,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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In a decade that some critics believe has a shortage of newness and invention, slop is one of the few frontiers that’s actively being pushed.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Trump’s encouragement of Walker was enough to spur him into the race, though Republicans as a whole were hesitant, given Walker’s lack of experience and standing as an unknown quantity among GOP voters.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Traditional data lakes can store raw data at scale but lack quality controls, while warehouses enforce structure but struggle with unstructured or fast changing data.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficiency. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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