Synonyms of insufficient

insufficient

adjective

ˌin(t)-sə-ˈfi-shənt 

as in lacking

not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need

there's been an insufficient number of volunteers for the job, so I'll have to select someone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lacking
• inadequate
• scarce
• low
• deficient
• short
• wanting
• unacceptable
• shy
• unsatisfactory
• sparse
• substandard
• meager
• poor
• scanty
• scant
• skimpy
• minimum
• lean
• small
• mere
• spare
• light
• stingy
• slender
• slim
• bare
• skimp
• slight
• hand-to-mouth

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sufficient
• adequate
• enough
• ample
• abundant
• plentiful
• generous
• copious
• liberal
• bountiful
• enlarged
• plenteous
• bounteous
• satisfactory
• expanded
• supplemented
• large
• overflowing
• tolerable
• considerable
• substantial
• rich
• plenitudinous
• lavish
• sizable
• big
• super
• teeming
• hefty
• luxuriant
• abounding
• oversize
• jumbo
• largish
• king-size

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of insufficient

Food distribution was insufficient, and the nearest water spigots were almost half a mile away. — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

But technical factors seem insufficient to account for a shift of such magnitude in a $40 trillion market. — George Calhoun, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026

Those details alone are also generally insufficient for opening major financial accounts or taking out loans because financial institutions typically require additional identity verification. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026

The stoppage happened about 3½ hours after the start amid complaints of insufficient water for the runners. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026