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

The deficit, which will now be added to the growing national debt, was 12 percent higher than the year before, with Republicans--who used to be deficit scolds--controlling the executive and legislative branches. — Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026

Grambling State has ended Jackson State’s unbeaten run, while Mississippi Valley State keeps escaping deficits that look like dead ends. — Wilton Jackson, AJC.com, 12 Oct. 2026

The score put Cincinnati up 28-10 heading into the fourth quarter, giving the Dolphins a three score deficit. — Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026

Dunbar got on the scoreboard later in the third quarter when wide receiver Detrick James caught a 20-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 49-6. — Shiloh Robinson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2026