insecure

adjective

in·​se·​cure ˌin-si-ˈkyu̇r How to pronounce insecure (audio)
1
a
: deficient in assurance : beset by fear and anxiety
always felt insecure in a group of strangers
b
: not highly stable or well-adjusted
an insecure marriage
2
: not confident or sure : uncertain
feeling somewhat insecure of his reception
3
: not adequately guarded or sustained : unsafe
an insecure investment
4
: not firmly fastened or fixed : shaky
the hinge is loose and insecure
5
: unable to reliably afford or access what is needed to meet one's basic needs
families that are housing insecure [=that are at risk of losing their housing]
see also food insecure
insecurely adverb
insecureness noun

Examples of insecure in a Sentence

I feel shy and insecure around strangers. One of the building's rear doors was insecure. The country's borders remain insecure.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But Stacey remained insecure about her sister’s late-night meetings with Florian. Abigail Adams, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025 In fact, more than 17 million — roughly one in three — adults aged 65 and older are economically insecure, with a median yearly income below $30,000. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 2 Mar. 2025 This nation state, my home, is built on a quagmire of lies sold to the young as truths; sold to the insecure as truths; sold by the avaricious, the power-hungry, the conceited, the overwhelmingly white and male. Christine Winter, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025 By the water’s edge, her insecure 25-year-old son, Konstantin (Kodi Smit-McPhee), is mounting a post-apocalyptic play in which his enduring love, ingenuous country girl Nina (Emma Corrin), can act. Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insecure

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin insecurus, from Latin in- + securus secure

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of insecure was in 1646

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Insecure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insecure. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

insecure

adjective
in·​se·​cure ˌin(t)-si-ˈkyu̇(ə)r How to pronounce insecure (audio)
1
: not confident or sure : uncertain
felt insecure about their response
2
: not well protected : not safe
insecure property
3
: not firmly fastened : loose
an insecure hinge
4
: lacking self-assurance
insecure people
insecurely adverb
insecurity noun

Medical Definition

insecure

adjective
in·​se·​cure ˌin(t)-si-ˈkyu̇(ə)r How to pronounce insecure (audio)
: characterized by or causing emotional insecurity
an insecure childhood

Legal Definition

insecure

adjective
in·​se·​cure
: having a good faith belief that the prospect of receiving payment or performance from a party with whom one has contracted is impaired
insecurity noun

More from Merriam-Webster on insecure

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