Synonyms of deficiency

deficiency

noun

di-ˈfi-shən-sē 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shortage
• lack
• deficit
• insufficiency
• scarcity
• inadequacy
• absence
• drought
• paucity
• poverty
• famine
• lacuna
• failure
• dearth
• inadequateness
• undersupply
• scantiness
• crunch
• omission
• pinch
• scarceness
• necessity
• want
• meagerness
• privation
• skimpiness
• poorness
• need

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adequacy
• sufficiency
• abundance
• amplitude
• wealth
• plenty
• opulence
• plenitude
• surplus
• excess
• overabundance
• oversupply
• copiousness
• surfeit
• bountifulness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of deficiency

Because deer lack the third cone mechanism that gives humans greater discrimination among longer wavelengths, their color vision is somewhat comparable to red-green color vision deficiency in humans. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026

Johnson’s mayoral tenure has been marked by an inability to work with Springfield, a skill deficiency displayed by his staunch allies at the teachers union and the aligned board members on the CBOE. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Coupled with three other fines in the latter half of 2023 for smaller deficiencies, the home has paid $99,902 over the past three years. — Matan Josephy, Idaho Statesman, 31 Aug. 2026

And Hafley’s job is to game plan for the talent on his team, highlighting its strengths and masking its deficiencies, and develop the talent on it. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026