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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of insufficiency
This insufficiency could partly explain the differences in life expectancies.
—
Kristen Rogers, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025
But there’s a catch: Roughly 50% of the population suffers from vitamin D insufficiency.
—Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2025
France: Enhancing diets There’s perhaps no better sign of the incomplete progress made on nutrition than the resurgence of diseases of nutritional insufficiency that should be easy to eradicate.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
In addition to systemic barriers that Black mothers already face, cervical insufficiency is quite difficult to diagnose.
—Essence, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insufficiency
Kristen Rogers, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025
But there’s a catch: Roughly 50% of the population suffers from vitamin D insufficiency.
—Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2025
France: Enhancing diets There’s perhaps no better sign of the incomplete progress made on nutrition than the resurgence of diseases of nutritional insufficiency that should be easy to eradicate.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
In addition to systemic barriers that Black mothers already face, cervical insufficiency is quite difficult to diagnose.
—Essence, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insufficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insufficiency
Noun
-
In their open letter this spring, former weather service directors warned that severe staffing shortages at local weather service offices could lead to less accurate and detailed forecasts this summer.—
Rebecca Hersher,
NPR,
19 May 2025
-
At least five controllers took 45 days of trauma leave after the incident, leading to a staffing shortage that canceled and delayed more than a thousand flights.—
Pete Muntean,
CNN Money,
19 May 2025
Noun
-
Plenty of art is a metaphor for our inability to connect with one another.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
25 May 2025
-
Their bites attack the nervous system, possibly leading to seizures, the inability to walk or the inability to breathe due to respiratory paralysis or extreme swelling in the throat, Willey warned.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 May 2025
Noun
-
After two days exploring Barcelona, Spain, Napton was surprised at the lack of political discourse.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
-
Morehouse graduates applaud the honor Part of the tragedy of Hubert’s lynching was a lack of awareness surrounding his story among Morehouse graduates until only recently, several alumni said.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
25 May 2025
Noun
-
Ultimately, the expedition’s failure likely came down to a combination of factors, including dietary deficiencies, hubris and simple bad luck.—
Meilan Solly,
Smithsonian Magazine,
19 May 2025
-
The absence of the 10 men, who also utilized facility deficiencies that officials have long complained about in their escape, went unnoticed for hours.—
Jack Brook,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Insufficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insufficiency. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share