insecure
adjective
in·se·cure
ˌin-si-ˈkyu̇r 
1
a
: deficient in assurance : beset by fear and anxiety
always felt insecure in a group of strangers
b
: not highly stable or well-adjusted
an insecure marriage
2
: not confident or sure : uncertain
feeling somewhat insecure of his reception
3
: not adequately guarded or sustained : unsafe
an insecure investment
4
: not firmly fastened or fixed : shaky
the hinge is loose and insecure
5
: unable to reliably afford or access what is needed to meet one's basic needs
families that are housing insecure [=that are at risk of losing their housing]
see also food insecure
insecurely
adverb
insecureness
noun
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Synonyms
Examples of insecure in a Sentence
I feel shy and insecure around strangers.
One of the building's rear doors was insecure.
The country's borders remain insecure.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bill was happily insecure, increasingly self-aware, yet sure there was always so much more to learn and understand.
—
David A. Ross, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2025
The health system has been working to reach communities beyond its four walls, particularly those who struggle with non-medical drivers of health including lack of stable food supply, poor transportation and unsafe or insecure housing.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
Instead, Gracey paints a fabulously entertaining and touching picture of an insecure, complicated man hauling himself from a quicksand of grasping fans, greedy impresarios, unresolved addictions and father-son dysfunction.
—Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2024
My expectation for a lead developer is to understand and preempt what leads to something being insecure within, for example, an algorithm or other script or code.
—Edouard Viot, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for insecure 
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David A. Ross, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2025
The health system has been working to reach communities beyond its four walls, particularly those who struggle with non-medical drivers of health including lack of stable food supply, poor transportation and unsafe or insecure housing.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
Instead, Gracey paints a fabulously entertaining and touching picture of an insecure, complicated man hauling himself from a quicksand of grasping fans, greedy impresarios, unresolved addictions and father-son dysfunction.
—Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2024
My expectation for a lead developer is to understand and preempt what leads to something being insecure within, for example, an algorithm or other script or code.
—Edouard Viot, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for insecure
Dictionary Entries Near insecure
Cite this Entry
“Insecure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insecure. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
insecure
adjective
in·se·cure
ˌin(t)-si-ˈkyu̇(ə)r
1
: not confident or sure : uncertain
felt insecure about their response
2
: not well protected : not safe
insecure property
3
: not firmly fastened : loose
an insecure hinge
4
: lacking self-assurance
insecure people
insecurely
adverb
Medical Definition
insecure
adjective
in·se·cure
ˌin(t)-si-ˈkyu̇(ə)r
: characterized by or causing emotional insecurity
an insecure childhood
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