deficient

adjective

di-ˈfi-shənt How to pronounce deficient (audio)
Definition of deficientnext
1
as in incomplete
lacking some necessary part a diet deficient in calcium can lead to weak bones

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard woefully deficient eyesight kept him out of military service

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lacking
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need too deficient in common sense to be trusted to stay by himself

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deficient Many people are deficient in vitamin D due to limited sunlight exposure and few natural food sources. — Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 12 Aug. 2026 So far, results are most promising for people with abnormally high blood pressure who are deficient in the mineral, Edwards told HEALTH. — Stephanie Anderson Witmer, HEALTH, 11 Aug. 2026 Everybody is low, so the deficiency becomes normalized—‘normal’ is deficient. — Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 2026 Despite the copious downpour that led to flooding across many parts of the country in the past few weeks, India still faces the prospect of a deficient monsoon this year. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficient
  1. incomplete
  2. unacceptable
  3. lacking
  4. wrong
  5. inadequate
  6. poor
  7. insufficient
  8. lame
Adjective
  • Others in his circle, like Nabil Anani, his close friend, went to Hebron and returned with a car full of leather whose tanning was incomplete.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The experts could not evaluate six more deaths because coroner records were incomplete or unavailable.
    — Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of incomplete
Adjective
  • Carney has called that demand unacceptable and a question of Canadian sovereignty.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Custard said, for the public, all this adds up to unacceptable risk.
    — Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of unacceptable
Adjective
  • Where to Stay Ely hosts a handful of hotels and motels within town limits, but true luxury accommodations are somewhat lacking.
    — Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Which is to say quality constraints on what Paramount could conceivably dump into theaters are totally lacking.
    — Chris Lee, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of lacking
Adjective
  • Remember, taking the wrong benefit at the wrong time is always smaller and forever.
    — Thomas Hager, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Therefore, therapy should do more than help people identify what’s wrong with their relationships.
    — David H. Rosmarin, Time, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of wrong
Adjective
  • Yields dipped and then rebounded in the wake of the Treasury buyback move, a signal that bond investors believed Bessent's moves were inadequate.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Flat outsole sneakers lack the arch support that keeps the foot from rolling in and provide inadequate shock absorption.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of inadequate
Adjective
  • Dozens of companies have withdrawn over the past decades due to poor profits, an uncertain business outlook and concerns about harm to their reputations from making arms, especially lethal weapons.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Along the way, the audience can expect tons of humiliation, terrible second prizes, and the guarantee that Robertson will turn at least one poor soul's wrong turn into several minutes of unhinged public destruction.
    — Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • Liman dismissed Baldoni’s lawsuit, finding that his claims against Lively, Reynolds and others were legally insufficient.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • And 29 percent of respondents said insufficient total stock is their biggest inventory concern.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of insufficient
Adjective
  • But between now, November and the lame-duck period, there’s still time to pass legislation before election results shake things up.
    — Washington Post Opinions, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Payton seemed awfully pleased with himself for his lame dad joke.
    — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of lame

Browse Nearby Words

deficiency
deficient
deficiently
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Cite this Entry

“Deficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficient. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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