1
as in incomplete
lacking some necessary part
a diet deficient in calcium can lead to weak bones
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
woefully deficient eyesight kept him out of military service
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lacking
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need
too deficient in common sense to be trusted to stay by himself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deficient
According to clinical literature, the human body lacks the functional gene (GULO) to synthesize ascorbic acid endogenously, meaning our vitamin C pool can be fully depleted within as little as one to three months on a deficient diet.
—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Many residents spoke during public comment to complain about the county’s traffic and deficient infrastructure, issues that Abruzzo said only will worsen without property taxes.
—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
Caltrans has also deemed six city vehicular bridges structurally deficient, but city officials stress that doesn’t mean those bridges are in danger of collapsing or need emergency repairs.
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David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 June 2026
That’s what health experts now advise, because statistics reveal the sorry fact that 95% of people are deficient in this essential dietary food.
—
Margaux Anbouba,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for deficient
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Many residents spoke during public comment to complain about the county’s traffic and deficient infrastructure, issues that Abruzzo said only will worsen without property taxes.
—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
Caltrans has also deemed six city vehicular bridges structurally deficient, but city officials stress that doesn’t mean those bridges are in danger of collapsing or need emergency repairs.
—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 June 2026
That’s what health experts now advise, because statistics reveal the sorry fact that 95% of people are deficient in this essential dietary food.
—
Margaux Anbouba,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for deficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficient
Adjective
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Many nonprofits carry years of fragmented or incomplete records, a challenge that compounds when AI tools are layered on top of them.
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The report found some shelter programs cost significantly more to operate than others, but due to incomplete and inconsistent data, auditors were unable to determine whether higher spending translated into better outcomes.
Adjective
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If scar tissue is too severe, if prior surgeries have left the blood supply compromised, or if a patient's goals aren't achievable without unacceptable risk, proceeding could cause irreversible damage.
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Yes, Stokes’ late night out, in the context of what went on before, was unacceptable.
Adjective
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An honest review would tell you the coordination was a little lacking in this particular bit of maritime cosplay.
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While sports governing bodies such as FIFA and the International Olympic Committee have come to recognize that press freedom is an essential part of their commitments to uphold human rights, results are vastly lacking.
Adjective
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Tom Kim dropped two shots at the wrong time and shot 72.
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Every traveler has a trip that went spectacularly wrong.
Adjective
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But Dr Hon Pak, Samsung’s Senior Vice President and Head of the Digital Health Team, feels that model is increasingly inadequate for a world grappling with ageing populations, rising healthcare costs and an epidemic of chronic disease.
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Newsom in March publicly warned 15 California cities about their inadequate housing plans.
Adjective
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Rebecca Lowe joins Dan Patrick to discuss some of the top storylines around the World Cup, including Cristiano Ronaldo's poor play to start, the United States' potential and more.
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Will the gap between rural and urban America – and the gap between rich and poor America – decline or grow?
Adjective
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However, in some areas, there are complaints that there is still insufficient personnel to accelerate the search.
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More recent reviews conclude that while reishi demonstrates promising anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, there is currently insufficient high-quality clinical evidence to confirm its effectiveness for treating seasonal allergies or other allergic conditions in humans.
Adjective
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On paper, some of the six, all of whom are far-right conservatives, have enviable educational backgrounds, but the record has proven that each one is openly political and willing to rubber-stamp nearly all of DeSantis’ lame and unconstitutional policies.
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In November 2008 an errant air strike, conducted under auspices of a lame-duck Bush administration, killed 37 civilians who were at a wedding party in Wech Baghtu, Afghanistan.
Cite this Entry
“Deficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficient. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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