as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
there is a deficiency of fresh food in the diet of many of the working poor
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Recent Examples of deficiency
Eggshells Can Prevent Calcium Deficiencies Tomatoes can suffer from blossom end rot, which is caused by a calcium deficiency in the soil.
—
Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
The war also revealed deficiencies in Russia’s conventional ground and air forces.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
An inspector also noted physical deficiencies like equipment in need of repair.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026
Indigenous peoples have something to say to all of these matters, or deficiencies of our moment.
—Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
The war also revealed deficiencies in Russia’s conventional ground and air forces.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
An inspector also noted physical deficiencies like equipment in need of repair.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026
Indigenous peoples have something to say to all of these matters, or deficiencies of our moment.
—Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficiency
Noun
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That means there will be no shortage of motivation in these final weeks, and their key players should continue to play every minute despite their run to the semi-finals of the Europa League.—
Abdul Rehman,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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That’s just one example of what more than three decades of chronic school funding shortages under Colorado’s decades-old spending cap has led to.—
Kevin Vick,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Goldman Sachs estimated that Qatar could see its GDP plunge by 14%, citing its lack of alternative export channels to the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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This Fire sign is, after all, notorious for its lack of a filter… and the 24-year-old singer just so happens to have her sun, Venus and Pluto here.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficiency. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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