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
The study identified areas where fees are potentially deficient, the report states.
—
Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
So far, results are most promising for people with abnormally high blood pressure who are deficient in the mineral, said Jocelyn Edwards, Pharm.
—Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 12 May 2026
All babies are born deficient in vitamin K, which is vital to blood clotting, and cannot form what are called clotting factors, or substances in the body that help stop bleeding naturally.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 8 May 2026
The ruling followed a four-day evidentiary hearing in which McKinney’s attorneys argued that his legal representation during the 2022 proceedings was deficient and failed to fully investigate evidence tied to former Kansas City, Kansas police detective Golubski.
—Ben Wheeler
may 7, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for deficient
Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
So far, results are most promising for people with abnormally high blood pressure who are deficient in the mineral, said Jocelyn Edwards, Pharm.
—Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 12 May 2026
All babies are born deficient in vitamin K, which is vital to blood clotting, and cannot form what are called clotting factors, or substances in the body that help stop bleeding naturally.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 8 May 2026
The ruling followed a four-day evidentiary hearing in which McKinney’s attorneys argued that his legal representation during the 2022 proceedings was deficient and failed to fully investigate evidence tied to former Kansas City, Kansas police detective Golubski.
—Ben Wheeler
may 7, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for deficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficient
Adjective
-
City staff members have conducted an initial review of the project and determined the application is incomplete.—
Jim Drummond,
Oc Register,
4 June 2026
-
Of the 3,411 set for disenrollment, 2,491 provided incomplete paperwork and documentation, 916 failed verification at site visits and four failed a background study, DHS said.—
Anthony Bettin,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Advertisement If something comes back at unacceptable levels, filtering is the next step—and the right filter depends on what's in your water.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
3 June 2026
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Concern, because the violence and chaos in Hyde Park and elsewhere over the Memorial Day weekend are dangerous and unacceptable.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Maresca’s raw qualifications, however, are somewhat lacking.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
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Not just any type of bus, but a marshrutka—a crowded, rumbling, claustrophobic Soviet holdover minibus, solidly built with steel girding and equally lacking in shock absorbers and seat padding.—
Irene Zabytko
May 7,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Black and white, right and wrong, cut and dried.—
Erika Ettin,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
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The Angels brought a one-run lead into the seventh inning, and then just about everything went wrong in a seven-run inning that sent them to an 8-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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After eighteen months of crisis that saw historic urban fires, harassment by federal immigration authorities, and the generalized anxiety that attends a place where rents are high and services low, public transit inadequate and gas prices insane, the city’s vitality is flagging.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
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In another case, a federal lawsuit filed in April 2026 in Texas also targeted an energy drink company over allegations that inadequate warning labels contributed to a teenager’s October 2025 death, raising broader questions about marketing and caffeine safety in products aimed at younger consumers.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Common travel regrets stem from preventable issues like poor planning, budget problems, and choosing the wrong companions.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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O’Farrell’s inclination for narratives propelled by brutal coincidence and fatally poor timing tenders a Hardy-esque vision of the world, one that emphasizes the rigid, often cruel limits of an individual’s jurisdiction over the course of their life.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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Some medical experts are concerned that virtual care may be insufficient for prescribing weight loss drugs.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
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Environmental stressors can include insufficient water, high temperatures, excessive moisture and/or nitrogen, severe pruning, or root damage.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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As lame as the fact that an Erewhon smoothie costs $19 is that so many of us need to be paid to be nice to each other.—
Swan Huntley,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2026
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Santana tried to jump off the steps to clothesline Maclin but came up a bit lame.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficient. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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