1
as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
dealt with the school's insufficiency of art supplies by buying materials out of her own pocket
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
her alleged insufficiency for the job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of insufficiency
Many ideas that were rejected in the past receive new life upon a surprising new observation; many ideas that are accepted today will be overthrown when a key experimental result demonstrates its insufficiency.
—
Big Think, 10 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Certain people are at an elevated risk for developing vitamin D insufficiency all year long.
—Stacey Colino, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Trump has attributed bruising on his hands to his heavy intake of aspirin to thin his blood and swollen ankles to chronic venous insufficiency.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
The impacts of vitamin K insufficiency in the newborn period can be serious.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insufficiency
Big Think, 10 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Certain people are at an elevated risk for developing vitamin D insufficiency all year long.
—Stacey Colino, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Trump has attributed bruising on his hands to his heavy intake of aspirin to thin his blood and swollen ankles to chronic venous insufficiency.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
The impacts of vitamin K insufficiency in the newborn period can be serious.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insufficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insufficiency
Noun
-
The lack of pay has contributed to high call-out rates at airports across the country, including at Philadelphia International Airport, where staffing shortages have led to longer security lines.—
Eva Andersen,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The war has threatened global supplies of oil and natural gas, sparked fertilizer shortages and disrupted air travel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Its launch of ChatGPT-5 in August was a disaster, as the new model had a flatter, more terse personality, as well as an alarming inability to answer basic questions.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Carter’s inability to stay healthy is one of the major reasons why this outfield became so problematic in each of the past two years.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As recently as 2022, research group IDinsight found unintended pregnancy was, after a lack of money for school fees, the leading cause of girls not returning to education.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In Miami-Dade, the lack of oversight has been acute, the Herald found.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Titone is also concerned about a new audit of OIT that identified serious deficiencies in the state's cybersecurity protocols.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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In fact, one study found 84% of postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteoporosis had a magnesium deficiency.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insufficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insufficiency. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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