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

Ernest Medina was acquitted of all charges related to the My Lai massacre after a military court found insufficient evidence to convict him. — Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 22 Sep. 2026

The grand jury that reviewed the evidence in Wells’ death found unanimously that therethat there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges in the case, according to the Jackson County Grand Jury Report. — Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 22 Sep. 2026

Despite the pump station and four drains on his street, Peterman said the city's stormwater management systems were insufficient. — Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 19 Sep. 2026

He was convicted and sentenced to prison, but Colombia’s Supreme Court overturned his conviction after finding the evidence was insufficient to sustain it. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026