1
as in incomplete
lacking some necessary part
a diet deficient in calcium can lead to weak bones
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deficient
Two other times, it was cited for providing deficient emergency care in violation of other rules, according to federal regulators.
—
ProPublica, 22 Sep. 2025
The Fallout For Culture And Trust The consequences of empathy-deficient layoffs extend far beyond the immediate cost savings.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Of the veterinary diets, 66% were found to have lower total protein by design and were also deficient in one or more essential amino acids.
—New Atlas, 7 Sep. 2025
Although no publicly available evaluation has classified Stines as mentally deficient, a number of coworkers and friends interviewed by state police said Stines was acting strangely in the days leading up to the shooting of Mullins.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficient
ProPublica, 22 Sep. 2025
The Fallout For Culture And Trust The consequences of empathy-deficient layoffs extend far beyond the immediate cost savings.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Of the veterinary diets, 66% were found to have lower total protein by design and were also deficient in one or more essential amino acids.
—New Atlas, 7 Sep. 2025
Although no publicly available evaluation has classified Stines as mentally deficient, a number of coworkers and friends interviewed by state police said Stines was acting strangely in the days leading up to the shooting of Mullins.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficient
Adjective
-
While Dart was having his evaluation, backup quarterback Russell Wilson threw an incomplete pass on third down from the Philadelphia 42-yard line.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Processes were often slow, incomplete, or difficult to manage at scale.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This is an unacceptable physical and emotional power dynamic, even in a fantasy.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Anything less than the protection of creators and their rights is unacceptable.—
Erik Hayden,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
And every year is subject to the quality of the free-agent class, and 2021’s starting pitching market was especially lacking.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Art that truly centres girlhood, meanwhile, had too often been dismissed as sentimental or lacking intellectual rigor.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Surely, that will rub some the wrong way, but the Tide have now beaten three teams that haven’t lost to anyone else in Georgia, Vanderbilt and Missouri.—
Ralph D. Russo,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
-
The desire behind the making of the series was to right that wrong.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Critics say the state has been far too slow to build new housing, leading to high demand and inadequate supply.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Chaffin argued the documents cited by the administration to justify the call-up were inadequate.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
My adolescent cells floated away from poor me and traded places with his.—
Betty Gilpin,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Women disproportionately suffer chronic disease, on average spend 25% more time in poor health than men, and, on average, experience the final 12 to 14 years of their lives in frail health.—
Maria Shriver,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Mahomes and the Chiefs left just 37 seconds on the clock, insufficient time for the Lions to answer before halftime.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The judge said the evidence presented to the grand jury was insufficient to support the terrorism charge.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Cardinals have historically refrained from operating with a lame-duck manager.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
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Another main issue is that the power grind itself now being the endgame is no longer a good motivator to play, nor is the Tier system with 3s not much different than 4s or 5s, and all past weapons being somewhat lame now outside of that system entirely.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficient. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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