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
And micronutrient needs don’t drop with appetite; GLP-1 users may be deficient in zinc, copper and magnesium according to Food Navigator’s Expo West coverage.
—
Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026
Clover naturally fixes nitrogen-deficient soil and improves soil fertility, which helps nearby plants.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
If muscles remain depleted and incompletely repaired, each practice starts with a deficient muscular system.
—William Jones, Ascend Agency, 13 Apr. 2026
But in 2026, that savings account has been woefully deficient.
—Imtiaz Rangwala, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deficient
Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026
Clover naturally fixes nitrogen-deficient soil and improves soil fertility, which helps nearby plants.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
If muscles remain depleted and incompletely repaired, each practice starts with a deficient muscular system.
—William Jones, Ascend Agency, 13 Apr. 2026
But in 2026, that savings account has been woefully deficient.
—Imtiaz Rangwala, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficient
Adjective
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The race unfolds as district confronts superintendent under FBI investigation, declining enrollment, potential strike and incomplete academic recovery from pandemic.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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Both are ad hoc and incomplete.—
Evan Johnson,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Those parties clinging to the outdated and socially unacceptable business model that relies on selling puppy mill puppies to unsuspecting consumers are no longer welcome in nine states and over 520 localities and some are looking for a new home.—
Annie Hornish,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
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Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri denounced the attack as tragic and unacceptable during a visit to the village on Monday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The detainees—from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Myanmar and eight other nations—were found in restricted compounds, some lacking passports or proper immigration documentation.—
Rodney Muhumuza,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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If your yard is a bit lacking in colorful birds, adding a feeder can help attract all sorts of them.—
Brittany VanDerBill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Perhaps the owner’s unexpected absence was an indication that the rumors about my imminent demise were wrong and that things were not so certain.—
Saïd Sayrafiezadeh,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
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After a week where everything that could have gone wrong did and the noise surrounding the club threatened to swallow the team whole, the Red Sox finally broke their four-game slide in grand fashion and got to enjoy a nice, drama-free win.—
Mac Cerullo,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Current funding levels are inadequate and prevent the critical expansion needed to close that child care gap.—
Pamela Campos,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
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The father of a Deer Path Middle School student said his sixth-grade son was attacked by other students earlier this month and is criticizing Lake Forest District 67’s initial response as inadequate.—
Daniel I. Dorfman,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Injuries to key players on the Amazin’s contributed to some poor numbers as well.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
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Although poor students are disproportionately likely to receive special education in New York City, well-off disabled kids are the ones most acutely driving up the budget.—
Marc Novicoff,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Experts say the overall patchwork of federal and state funding for call centers remains insufficient to meet the true level of need.—
Devi Shastri,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
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Granted, there was a lot to criticize in my writing, which was suffering from all sorts of problems, from structural incoherence to insufficient character development to—yes—didactic heavy-handedness that broke the reader’s immersion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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And getting all giddy over some lame light beer that has apple juice poured into to is just plain embarrassing.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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This idea that just sitting with your face buried in your phone when you’re supposed to be in a social setting—that’s lame, right?—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficient. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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