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
At least 1,235 miles of the city’s sidewalks, or about 40%, are considered deficient.
—
Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
The action followed a series of federal inspections that found multiple problems, including unsafe and structurally deficient buildings.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
Will his shooting and floater game give enough offensive jolt to add some real spacing around a roster that, even with Kevin Durant, seems notably deficient in terms of spacing?
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Miami’s edge rushers also have been deficient against the run this season.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficient
Adjective
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Hurts was incomplete on a last-gasp fourth-and-11 attempt with 43 seconds left that ended their final drive.—
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The Chargers moved the ball to the two and went for it on fourth down, but Justin Herbert's pass hit the turf incomplete.—
Adjective
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To make large profits from parking fees to make up for his terrible management of tax dollars and his expensive real estate errors should be unacceptable.—
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In just 24 hours, the president unveiled three massive state interventions into different markets that might’ve once looked—and sounded—like unacceptable levels of socialist dirigisme for a Republican to champion.—
Adjective
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Nothing undermines success like a lack of stability, and of course, a lacking quarterback.—
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These are all signs of a lacking musclespan, whereas not noticing any difficulties in everyday tasks suggests a stronger trajectory.—
Adjective
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As analysis, that’s not wrong, but where’s the sting of it inside this bizarre bonbon of a musical?—
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Despite his brilliance and intellect, he was prevented from having a full life by being born on the wrong side of Israel’s separation fence.—
Adjective
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The National Transportation Safety Board in June said inadequate training and management oversight had been among the problems at the company, according to its investigation into what led to the door plug blowout in January 2024.—
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Right before the gunfire at Brown, the suspect stopped in a bathroom at the Barus & Holley building, where a man – later identified as John, per a police affidavit – noticed his clothes seemed inadequate for the cold weather.—
Adjective
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Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.—
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In recent games, KU’s communication has been pretty poor on defense and that’s led to players taking (and too often missing) wide-open 3-pointers.—
Adjective
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The decision followed a monthslong investigation by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office that concluded there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges.—
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Yet most national climate targets remain outdated and insufficient.—
Adjective
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His other go-to bogeyman, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, is now firmly in his lame-duck era as his term ends this spring.—
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Your ultra-lame social media posts (with awful production values) don’t cut it by a Colorado mile high.—
Cite this Entry
“Deficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficient. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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