insufficient

adjective

ˌin(t)-sə-ˈfi-shənt How to pronounce insufficient (audio)
Definition of insufficientnext
as in lacking
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need there's been an insufficient number of volunteers for the job, so I'll have to select someone

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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 insufficient Such integration could help humanoid robots operate more safely in industrial environments, homes, and medical assistance settings, particularly when vision alone is insufficient for detecting contact or navigating obstacles. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026 Foppoli denied the allegation, and California prosecutors declined to file criminal charges in 2024, citing insufficient evidence in cases that weren’t barred by the statute of limitations. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2026 The documentary contains, through her participation and performance, the accommodation that facts alone are insufficient and maybe impossible. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026 Other individuals may be working for a company but find the wages or benefits are insufficient. — Annie Nova, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for insufficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insufficient
  1. lacking
  2. inadequate
  3. scarce
  4. low
Adjective
  • Illinois already ranks among the states with the highest property taxes in the nation, yet substantive efforts to relieve this burden remain entirely lacking.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The Detroit Free Press and other Michigan- and national-based media organizations have said the claims are misleading or lacking context.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of lacking
Adjective
  • Some experts believe this is a good start, but many see it as wholly inadequate.
    — Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • California officials dispute the federal approach, saying the government did not provide the evidence or methodology needed to assess the list and gave the state an inadequate deadline.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of inadequate
Adjective
  • Dire situation in Oleshky Food and medical supplies have been scarce for months in Oleshky, which sits on the Dnipro River that separates Ukrainian forces from the city’s Russian occupiers.
    — ben Finley, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Huang said that the allocation of energy — which is scarce in the region — to companies like Nebius and Mistral is crucial for their growth.
    — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of scarce
Adjective
  • The wide availability of low-cost, powerful open models is one reason Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has warned that open models in particular pose a risk of widespread and potentially devastating cyber attacks.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • America's ability to compete internationally, which has become a central argument for expanding AI infrastructure, ranks much lower.
    — Will Johnson, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of low

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insufficiency
insufficient
insufficiently
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Cite this Entry

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

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