1
as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
dealt with the school's insufficiency of art supplies by buying materials out of her own pocket
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
her alleged insufficiency for the job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of insufficiency
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, which prevents your pancreas from producing enough of the enzymes needed to digest carbs, proteins, and fats.
—
Caroline Tien, SELF, 11 Mar. 2026
The Arizona Republic cites records obtained from the El Paso PD that purportedly include allegations of insubordination, insufficiency, tardiness, and numerous disciplinary reviews related to accusations of excessive force, dereliction of duty, and off-duty gambling.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Trump has previously drawn scrutiny for falling asleep during meetings, appearing with bruised hands often covered in makeup, revelations of unspecified medical imaging and a diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, which can cause swelling in the legs and ankles.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
That’s double the 2019 level when insufficiencies first soared due to Trump’s first-term tariffs under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act.
—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insufficiency
Caroline Tien, SELF, 11 Mar. 2026
The Arizona Republic cites records obtained from the El Paso PD that purportedly include allegations of insubordination, insufficiency, tardiness, and numerous disciplinary reviews related to accusations of excessive force, dereliction of duty, and off-duty gambling.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Trump has previously drawn scrutiny for falling asleep during meetings, appearing with bruised hands often covered in makeup, revelations of unspecified medical imaging and a diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, which can cause swelling in the legs and ankles.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
That’s double the 2019 level when insufficiencies first soared due to Trump’s first-term tariffs under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act.
—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insufficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insufficiency
Noun
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American officials also said Beijing would address rare earth shortages, although this was not mentioned in the corresponding statement from China.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
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There is no shortage of choices, from fast-growing bushes for a privacy hedge, evergreen shrubs that provide year-round color in your yard, or flowering shrubs with gorgeous blooms in the spring or summer.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
Noun
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Unsurprisingly, Tigers athletic director Verge Ausberry had his new head coach's back while trashing former coach Brian Kelly and his inability to relate to boosters or fans during his time in Baton Rouge.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
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Andrews’s essay comes to the defense of former Harvard President Larry Summers, who resigned under pressure in 2006 after arguing that women might be underrepresented in the hard sciences because of their innate lack of interest in those fields and their inability to perform at the highest levels.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Noun
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The guard admitted he was surprised by the lack of questions about his medical status but voiced confidence that the issue would not continue into his NBA career.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
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The defense has detailed the lack of physical evidence — no DNA or blood was found on Murdaugh or any of his clothes, even though the killings were at close range with powerful weapons that were never found.—
Jeffrey Collins,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Noun
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For most people eating a typical diet, sodium deficiency is very rare.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
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This season, however, due to a number of factors including changing personnel, injuries, underperformance from key players and tactical deficiencies, Liverpool have become a soft touch and easy to play against.—
Colin Millar,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insufficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insufficiency. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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