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

Our clients have made it clear that a uniform approach is insufficient.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Simply calling for “better content moderation” or “more transparency” is insufficient.

Read more on Salon

While Friday was originally set as the opening date of the Heavenly and Northstar ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe area, officials said mild weather and stubbornly insufficient flurries have delayed those plans.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The company’s credit risk exploded in October, driven by concerns about its ability to finance its capex needs in the face of insufficient cash flow generation.

Read more on Barron's

Nvidia’s strong earnings and outlook were insufficient to prevent a tech sector selloff, indicating overheated positioning and expectations.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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