DEFICIENCY Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

deficiency

noun

di-ˈfi-shən-sē

Definition of deficiency

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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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 deficiency Growing pains are expected with a new defensive coordinator, but with stats mirroring last season's defensive deficiencies, many eyes are on second-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer. — Briana Aldridge, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 The balloon had equipment deficiencies and had not been modified for free flight. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026 While it was designed to bring nationwide uniformity and stability to college athletics, its deficiencies are manifold. — Bruce Svare, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2026 If correcting a nutritional deficiency, fatigue may be improved as well. — Sara Hoffman, Verywell Health, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deficiency

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficiency

Noun

The bigger issue, Chesky argues, is a shortage of new construction.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Recently, anger at this collateral damage, heightened by the fish shortage, has evolved into a political movement.

— Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of shortage

Noun

The demonstrations first erupted last month in a high school in Creteil, southeast of Paris, over a lack of staff.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Management is guiding to flat EBITDA margins for the year, as lower-margin acquisitions and a fading FX tailwind offset productivity gains, so don't be worried about a lack of profitability growth in coming quarters.

— Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of lack

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deficiencies

deficiency

deficient

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“Deficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficiency. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of deficiency

noun

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