insufficient

[in-suh-fish-uhnt]

adjective

1. not sufficient; lacking in what is necessary or required.

   an insufficient answer.

   Synonyms: deficient, scanty, inadequate

2. deficient in force, quality, or amount; inadequate.

   insufficient protection.

insufficient

/ ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt /

adjective

1. not sufficient; inadequate or deficient

Other Word Forms

• insufficiently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of insufficient¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin insufficient-, stem of insufficiēns; equivalent to in- ³ + sufficient

Example Sentences

Leftist parties leaving the meeting shot down the effort as insufficient and accused Macron of looking to continue policies that have toppled prior governments.

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That could increase the chances and magnitude of a freight upcycle, but those changes could take time as “insufficient enforcement resources across a mobile and highly-fragmented industry” won’t make it immediate, the analysts say.

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The indictments of James and Comey came after the US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Erik Siebert, stepped down after reportedly telling Justice Department leaders there was insufficient evidence to charge them.

Read more on Barron's

You make the investment based on insufficient data because you got a feeling in your gut.

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Yet after hurricanes, floods, wildfires and medical emergencies, policyholders sometimes find that the protection they are paying for is insufficient to cover their costs.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• deficient 
• faulty 
• inadequate 
• incomplete 
• meager 
• poor 
• scant 
• scarce 
• unsatisfactory