deficient

adjective

di-ˈfi-shənt How to pronounce deficient (audio)
Definition of deficientnext
1
as in incomplete
lacking some necessary part a diet deficient in calcium can lead to weak bones

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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

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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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deficient There is nonexistent depth, disastrous allocation of resources and a roster so deficient that the general manager who constructed it has already been dismissed. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026 The inspector found unclean conditions and deficient handwashing practices and sanitation methods, according to the spokesperson. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2026 According to Wilkins Bratcher, plants that are deficient in magnesium may show signs of yellowing in their lower, older leaves and have a general lack of vitality because magnesium is the central element of the chlorophyll molecule. — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 7 Sep. 2026 Yet researchers have found that nearly a third of adults in the United States are iron deficient. — Anahad O’Connor, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficient
  1. incomplete
  2. unacceptable
  3. lacking
  4. wrong
  5. inadequate
  6. poor
  7. insufficient
  8. lame
Adjective
  • Tools to identify a disrupted maternal and infant gut microbiome are already being developed, but screening without a protocol for what to do next is incomplete medicine.
    — Holly Baines, STAT, 14 Oct. 2026
  • From the Houthis’ perspective, their sovereignty consequently remained incomplete.
    — Laurent Bonnefoy, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of incomplete
Adjective
  • The idea of not spending evenings with my kid is, kids are, is completely unacceptable.
    — Michael Birnbaum The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
  • OpenAI took months to discover the incident and notify the Australian agencies affected — that’s unacceptable by my standard.
    — Rumman Chowdhury, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of unacceptable
Adjective
  • The Detroit Free Press and other Michigan- and national-based media organizations have said the claims are misleading or lacking context.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
  • But concrete evidence of Clark fans acting in a hateful manner — at least in real time — is severely lacking.
    — Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of lacking
Adjective
  • British police acknowledged applying for the warrants under the wrong statutory provision, the judge said while stipulating that the misconduct investigation against the king's brother could continue.
    — Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Doctors in Tennessee and Republican state senators called for the state to pause executions, because the chances of one going catastrophically wrong were so high.
    — Maya Foa, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of wrong
Adjective
  • Maryland may reduce a center’s rating when there are too many significant violations, particularly when children are put at risk or there’s inadequate supervision.
    — Justin Price, AJC.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The protests began in the Paris suburbs in September amid complaints about overcrowded classrooms, inadequate heating and cooling, aging buildings and teachers who were not replaced when absent.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of inadequate
Adjective
  • Europe is expected to have a particularly poor corn harvest and needs larger imports just as its demand for feed remains high.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Reese is known as a poor shooter, and is often mocked for missing easy shots in games.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • Many were injured, and there was insufficient food—including eight chocolate bars, some wine, two tins of mussels—to support survivors.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The stoppage happened about 3½ hours after the start amid complaints of insufficient water for the runners.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of insufficient
Adjective
  • Blumenthal hopes to see action on KOSA in the lame-duck session.
    — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Only to see them, after winning elections, get strong-armed by the party, then offer lame excuses as to why.
    — Colleen Kujawa, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of lame

Browse Nearby Words

deficiency
deficient
deficiently
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Cite this Entry

“Deficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficient. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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