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
The ruling followed a four-day evidentiary hearing in which McKinney’s attorneys argued that his legal representation during the 2022 proceedings was deficient and failed to fully investigate evidence tied to former Kansas City, Kansas police detective Golubski.
—
Ben Wheeler
may 7, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026
Is the plant potassium-deficient, and does the banana water provide enough potassium?
—Haniya Rae, Martha Stewart, 5 May 2026
Appropriately for a defense-deficient series, the Ducks capitalized on two transition sequences early in the third to take control.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
First, container growing gives you more control over the health and growth of your plants and is a great solution if your garden naturally has poorly draining or deficient soil.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deficient
Ben Wheeler
may 7, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026
Is the plant potassium-deficient, and does the banana water provide enough potassium?
—Haniya Rae, Martha Stewart, 5 May 2026
Appropriately for a defense-deficient series, the Ducks capitalized on two transition sequences early in the third to take control.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
First, container growing gives you more control over the health and growth of your plants and is a great solution if your garden naturally has poorly draining or deficient soil.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficient
Adjective
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Yet data on potential medication errors and adverse reactions to GLP-1 medications is incomplete, because many issues are never reported to federal officials.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
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Officials at the children’s hospital said many of the young patients experience anxiety during MRI procedures, which can lead to them moving around, and that means incomplete scans or repeat imaging.—
Mona Darwish,
Oc Register,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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What types of answers are unacceptable?—
Prasad Maderamitla,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
If a tool creates unacceptable risk, districts should not use it.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Maresca’s raw qualifications, however, are somewhat lacking.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
Not just any type of bus, but a marshrutka—a crowded, rumbling, claustrophobic Soviet holdover minibus, solidly built with steel girding and equally lacking in shock absorbers and seat padding.—
Irene Zabytko
May 7,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
In Georgia, a judge dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit because it had been filed in the wrong city, prompting the government to refile elsewhere.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 May 2026
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In its deconstruction of society and the prejudice that immigrants face, Fjord per critics could conceivably rub both liberals and conservatives the wrong way.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
23 May 2026
Adjective
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The public environment, uneven sidewalks, inadequate street lighting, limited places to rest, also contributes to fall risk at a population level that clinical interventions alone cannot address.—
Adaira Landry,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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The order also alleges Eastland allowed camp nurses to administer medications under inadequate standing orders between March and July 2025.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
At this point the Red Sox are in serious danger, and the only reason the club is even within striking distance of a playoff spot is because the rest of the American League has been so poor.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
27 May 2026
-
Putumayo is one of Colombia’s poorest and most troubled regions.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Some medical experts are concerned that virtual care may be insufficient for prescribing weight loss drugs.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
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Environmental stressors can include insufficient water, high temperatures, excessive moisture and/or nitrogen, severe pruning, or root damage.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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As lame as the fact that an Erewhon smoothie costs $19 is that so many of us need to be paid to be nice to each other.—
Swan Huntley,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2026
-
Santana tried to jump off the steps to clothesline Maclin but came up a bit lame.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficient. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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