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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Recent Examples of insufficient
Because of this, a lack of phenylalanine usually results from insufficient protein consumption rather than a specific deficiency.
—
Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 16 Mar. 2025
Sonos employees would go on to say that Sonos rushed the update with insufficient testing, resulting in Sonos device owners suddenly losing key features, like accessibility capabilities and the abilities to edit song queues and playlists and access local music libraries.
—Ars Technica, 12 Mar. 2025
But the Republican majority in the Senate is insufficient to pass this on their own under the chamber’s rules, leaving Democrats as the deciding factor between keeping the lights on or not.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 12 Mar. 2025
However, such anecdotal evidence was insufficient to confirm whether animals naturally engage in this behavior in emergency situations.
—Discover Magazine, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insufficient
Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 16 Mar. 2025
Sonos employees would go on to say that Sonos rushed the update with insufficient testing, resulting in Sonos device owners suddenly losing key features, like accessibility capabilities and the abilities to edit song queues and playlists and access local music libraries.
—Ars Technica, 12 Mar. 2025
But the Republican majority in the Senate is insufficient to pass this on their own under the chamber’s rules, leaving Democrats as the deciding factor between keeping the lights on or not.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 12 Mar. 2025
However, such anecdotal evidence was insufficient to confirm whether animals naturally engage in this behavior in emergency situations.
—Discover Magazine, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insufficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insufficient
Adjective
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Physically robust forces can have a dangerous Achilles Heel if their cyber defenses are inadequate, which could lead to the entire force being disabled at a stroke.—
David Hambling,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
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The programs aim to uncover the social and economic factors that contributed to someone ending up in the ER with a bullet wound: inadequate housing, job loss, or feeling unsafe in one’s neighborhood, for example.—
KFF Health News,
The Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Details of who makes up the DOGE staff have been scarce despite the intense media attention on the team's efforts.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
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As a rule, if rain is scarce, a crepe myrtle needs two to three gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter per week.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Despite multiple promising routines in the practice sessions, Lee’s low score of 11.800 was not enough to send the Olympic Champion to Azerbaijan.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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Jeans styles in the 16-piece collection span low and loose fits in gray and light blue washes, a mid-rise straight in dark indigo and a vintage wash high-rise straight cropped at the ankle.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Insufficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insufficient. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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