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
In fact, 18% of postmenopausal women are deficient in vitamin B12, a 2025 study published in the Indian Menopause Society’s Journal of Mid-Life Health found.
—
Caroline Tien, SELF, 27 Mar. 2026
When stars such as Bruce Willis sought to escape the glamour-deficient confines of network television, Norris was already looking in the other direction.
—Chris Klimek, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Being defensively deficient against the second-best offense in the nation wasn’t a recipe for success.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
At least nine judges in West Texas and New Mexico have found the prosecutions legally deficient.
—Agnel Philip, ProPublica, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deficient
Caroline Tien, SELF, 27 Mar. 2026
When stars such as Bruce Willis sought to escape the glamour-deficient confines of network television, Norris was already looking in the other direction.
—Chris Klimek, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Being defensively deficient against the second-best offense in the nation wasn’t a recipe for success.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
At least nine judges in West Texas and New Mexico have found the prosecutions legally deficient.
—Agnel Philip, ProPublica, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficient
Adjective
-
The totals are incomplete because agencies like the FBI have found ways to access the data without reporting the searches publicly, said Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Missing lab work, an incomplete prior authorization or a documentation error can often be corrected and then resubmitted.—
Jay Sparks,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Clearly, those are unacceptable results.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Trump, back in Washington, told the New York Post that even the deal Vance brought was unacceptable.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But the upper frequencies are still slightly lacking.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Loro Parque, a zoo on the island of Tenerife, offers a clean and safe environment, expert care and proper mental and social stimulation that Wikie and Keijo are desperately lacking.—
Valerie Greene,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Now 43-38, Charlotte has lost ground this week with difficult losses to Boston and Detroit that followed the same blueprint, as the Hornets fell off a cliff in the fourth quarter at the wrong time.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Apr. 2026
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Overfertilizing Fertilizing too much or at the wrong time could potentially damage plant roots, leading to leaf damage and eventual drop.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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More than 30 states rejected the deal as inadequate and continued their litigation.—
Rafi Schwartz,
TheWeek,
16 Apr. 2026
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The hospitals struggled over the years under the company with inadequate staffing and antiquated equipment.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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These closures reflect various factors, including poor investment returns, a lack of government support for refinery upgrades and higher carbon and energy costs.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
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After McCandless and her council colleagues approved the sweeping tax breaks, King consistently spoke on how its planning process exemplified poor communication from the city, saying that current leaders should have advocated for a better deal for Independence.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
After reviewing the case, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office and the Draper City Prosecutor have declined to file charges against Paul, citing insufficient evidence to prove allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
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The letter does state that there is insufficient information to determine any serious risk of certain types of thyroid cancer and other unexpected risks of long-term use in pediatric patients with obesity.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Unlike most lame-duck governors, California’s Gavin Newsom seems ascendant.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
15 Apr. 2026
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There wasn’t much the voters could do with a menu so lame.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficient. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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