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
Britt Eastland said Camp Mystic would correct those deficiencies soon and has made several other safety changes.
—
Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
Micronutrients and gut support (vitamin D, iron, B vitamins, probiotics) help prevent deficiencies, protect bone health, and maintain a balanced gut microbiome.
—Sara Hoffman, Verywell Health, 28 Apr. 2026
Certainly, this 3-1 hole extends beyond Duren’s deficiencies.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The Texas health department outlined the issues in an emergency plan deficiency letter in response to the camp’s application for a license to reopen.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
Micronutrients and gut support (vitamin D, iron, B vitamins, probiotics) help prevent deficiencies, protect bone health, and maintain a balanced gut microbiome.
—Sara Hoffman, Verywell Health, 28 Apr. 2026
Certainly, this 3-1 hole extends beyond Duren’s deficiencies.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The Texas health department outlined the issues in an emergency plan deficiency letter in response to the camp’s application for a license to reopen.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficiency
Noun
-
Right now, there’s no shortage of competition.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The shortage is particularly acute in the Philippines, which has declared a national state of energy emergency and risks running out of fuel.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Goldman Sachs estimated that Qatar could see its GDP plunge by 14%, citing its lack of alternative export channels to the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
This Fire sign is, after all, notorious for its lack of a filter… and the 24-year-old singer just so happens to have her sun, Venus and Pluto here.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficiency. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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