Synonyms of deficit

deficit

noun

ˈde-fə-sət 

as in shortage

a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number

a growing deficit in the number of hours devoted to sleep

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shortage
• lack
• deficiency
• drought
• poverty
• scarcity
• famine
• insufficiency
• inadequacy
• absence
• paucity
• crunch
• lacuna
• undersupply
• failure
• inadequateness
• pinch
• dearth
• scantiness
• omission
• scarceness
• want
• necessity
• meagerness
• privation
• skimpiness
• need
• poorness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• amplitude
• adequacy
• wealth
• abundance
• sufficiency
• plenty
• opulence
• surplus
• plenitude
• excess
• oversupply
• overabundance
• surfeit
• copiousness
• bountifulness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of deficit

Even after pushing a deficit-stretching tax cuts bill, Republicans are still likely to argue that such a plan is too expensive. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 21 July 2026

The government is issuing boatloads of Treasurys to pay for our huge budget deficit and to refinance trillions of dollars in existing debt that is coming due. — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Belgium shocked Senegal, coming back from a 2-0 deficit, to secure its trip to the Round of 16. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026

The Grizzlies led by double figures in the fourth quarter, but Will Richard led a comeback that cut the deficit to 87-86 with two and a half minutes remaining. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 20 July 2026