1
as in incomplete
lacking some necessary part
a diet deficient in calcium can lead to weak bones
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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Recent Examples of deficient
Nearly half of people with type 2 diabetes are deficient in important vitamins and minerals, according to a new meta-analysis.
—
Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 29 Jan. 2025
This high-concentration supplement, in particular, is ideal for anyone who is deficient in biotin for any number of reasons.
—Kristine Thomason, Vogue, 26 Jan. 2025
For instance, courage can lead to recklessness without temperance or result in cowardice when deficient.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
When vitamin B12 is deficient, RBCs are enlarged, described as macrocytic anemia.
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 11 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for deficient 
Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 29 Jan. 2025
This high-concentration supplement, in particular, is ideal for anyone who is deficient in biotin for any number of reasons.
—Kristine Thomason, Vogue, 26 Jan. 2025
For instance, courage can lead to recklessness without temperance or result in cowardice when deficient.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
When vitamin B12 is deficient, RBCs are enlarged, described as macrocytic anemia.
—Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 11 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for deficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficient
Adjective
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Still, data is incomplete and not routinely gathered – with only a third of suspects recording their ethnicity for the 2023 data.—
Nic Robertson,
CNN,
6 Feb. 2025
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Additionally, most of the sites that preserve delicate bird fossils from the Cretaceous yield specimens that are so incomplete that scientists can only get hints at their identity.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Without any supporting facts alleging, political impropriety, unacceptable public safety threats, national security concerns, and the potential failure of not executing federal immigration initiatives and policies, all of which will have an impact on Adams’ ability to govern NYC.—
Arnold Kriss,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2025
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Many of them will likely be seen in Kyiv as unacceptable.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Apparently some astrologer told Céline the wrong info.—
Erika W. Smith,
Vogue,
11 Feb. 2025
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But to not be able to talk and think about health without understanding the undercurrent of social factors impacting our health is wrong.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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According to the African Nova Scotian Prosperity and Well-Being Index, the Black community lives in inadequate or unaffordable housing at twice the rate of the population overall.—
Sara Miller Llana,
The Christian Science Monitor,
14 Feb. 2025
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Facing this foreseeable challenge, most politicians’ responses have been inadequate.—
Veronique De Rugy,
Orange County Register,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Without education, students with disabilities face higher rates of poverty, unemployment, poor health, and social isolation.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
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This initiative helped avert potential global famines and boosted incomes for poor farmers, particularly in Asia.—
A.J. Russo,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In essence, the memo contended that the plaintiffs' request to block the new enforcement policy is based on speculation of hypothetical future harm — and thus is insufficient grounds for issuing an injunction.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2025
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The bill was also an overcorrection of the Obama administration’s insufficient stimulus package in the wake of the global financial crisis in 2008, which contributed to the United States’ painfully slow recovery.—
Jason Furman,
Foreign Affairs,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.—
Kevin Fisher-Paulson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 June 2021
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My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.—
Tim Neville,
Outside Online,
23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
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The weather was bad enough that MassDOT dropped the speed limit on the pike and forbid tandem trucks from the road.—
Matthew Medsger,
Boston Herald,
17 Feb. 2025
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There have been worse trades than the one that sent Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, along with Max Christie and a future first-round draft pick.—
Louisa Thomas,
The New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near deficient
Cite this Entry
“Deficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficient. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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