insecure
Americanadjective
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subject to fears, doubts, etc.; not self-confident or assured.
an insecure person.
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not confident or certain; uneasy; anxious.
He was insecure about the examination.
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not secure; exposed or liable to risk, loss, or danger.
an insecure stock portfolio.
- Synonyms:
- risky
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not firmly or reliably placed or fastened.
an insecure ladder.
adjective
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anxious or afraid; not confident or certain
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not adequately protected
an insecure fortress
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unstable or shaky
Usage
What does insecure mean? Insecure means subject to fears and doubt, as in Sally was such an insecure person that she didn’t believe she did anything well, even when she got A’s on her tests.Insecure can also mean anxious or uneasy, as in Tom was insecure about his chances for a promotion, worrying about it so much that he couldn’t sleep at night.Insecure can mean not secure, that is, exposed to danger or risk. A safe with a broken lock would be an insecure safe. Anyone could open the safe and take what was inside.Lastly, insecure can refer to something that is not firmly placed or fastened, as with a fire escape that is not completely fastened to a building.Example: The bankrobbers easily broke into the insecure vault and escaped with all of the money.
Related Words
See uncertain.
Other Word Forms
- insecurely adverb
- insecureness noun
- insecurity noun
Etymology
Origin of insecure
From the Medieval Latin word insēcūrus, dating back to 1640–50. See in- 3, secure
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She says her compulsive use of social media made her “feel very depressed” and that unrealistic images she saw on the platforms made her feel insecure about her appearance.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
But it was also from being insecure or feeling out of place or hated.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
A teenager insecure in their academics, social standing, or identity might see A.I. writing as a savior, a way to avoid unwanted labor and protect themselves against their perceived shortcomings.
From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026
The head of the Volunteers' House, Margit Vestbjerg, said some migrants, in particular Syrians, "feel increasingly insecure".
From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026
Is it my insecure imagination or does Saint Sarah’s mom have a look of disbelief on her face?
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
