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

More debt creates more interest payments, and the interest payments can mean larger deficits. — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026

Parents who view their autistic children through a deficit lens may be more likely to pursue ineffective and dangerous pseudoscientific treatments. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 18 Aug. 2026

The global bond market sell-off in part reflects investors’ longstanding concerns about unchecked government spending and rising deficits. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026

Based on projects currently planned, the world could face a supply deficit of approximately 25% by 2035. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026