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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of insufficient
The pandemic-era Child Care Counts program was replaced by the Bridge Payments program, which providers say offers insufficient funding.
—
Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 3 Nov. 2025
In two key ways, aggression against Venezuela or any other Latin American country now – rationalized by Washington as a response to insufficient law enforcement against drug-running – would be dangerously unprecedented.
—Alan McPherson, The Conversation, 2 Nov. 2025
When the court tried to mail Jones a copy of the default judgment, the notice was returned due to an insufficient address.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 1 Nov. 2025
There was insufficient hot water at the hand sink and three-compartment sink, and the inspector found mouse and rat droppings in the kitchen and pantry.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insufficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insufficient
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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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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The capacity for attention on books is so scarce, more so every year.—
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And the buildout is putting stress on local water resources that communities worry will cause shortages, with 160 new facilities located in areas with scarce supply, according to Bloomberg.—
Adjective
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The president argued that inflation was already low enough to start cutting rates.—
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There’s something motivating about having this low, electronic drumbeat pushing you along, trying to go faster and faster and faster.—
Cite this Entry
“Insufficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insufficient. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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