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
Many ideas that were rejected in the past receive new life upon a surprising new observation; many ideas that are accepted today will be overthrown when a key experimental result demonstrates its insufficiency.
—
Big Think, 10 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Certain people are at an elevated risk for developing vitamin D insufficiency all year long.
—Stacey Colino, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Trump has attributed bruising on his hands to his heavy intake of aspirin to thin his blood and swollen ankles to chronic venous insufficiency.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
The impacts of vitamin K insufficiency in the newborn period can be serious.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insufficiency
Big Think, 10 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Certain people are at an elevated risk for developing vitamin D insufficiency all year long.
—Stacey Colino, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Trump has attributed bruising on his hands to his heavy intake of aspirin to thin his blood and swollen ankles to chronic venous insufficiency.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
The impacts of vitamin K insufficiency in the newborn period can be serious.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insufficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insufficiency
Noun
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Fuel shortages have forced authorities to impose rolling electricity outages across the country and limit some public services.—
Jarrett Renshaw,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
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The same sources also say the brand hasn't made significant profit from the phone, as costs remained high and kept rising amid the global memory shortage.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Punch was the best big man on the floor with 24 points and 10 rebounds, but Edmonds’ inability to make an impact with just five points played a big role in TCU falling.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Mar. 2026
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Rozman has been teaching chess for years, and in his experience, chess obliterates a kid’s inability to cope with defeat.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The lack of snow has water providers across the state enacting drought restrictions or preparing to do so.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
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While Havana is signaling a willingness to allow foreign investment, many in the community remain skeptical, citing decades of political control and lack of economic transparency.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But, then again, this has been a season largely defined by how queens’ deficiencies can become strengths.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
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Getting backed down by Dončić was only one piece of an embarrassing bloodbath for the Bulls that highlighted every facet of this team’s defensive deficiencies.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insufficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insufficiency. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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