Deficient
mediumdih-FISH-unt
adjective
Definition
Not having enough of a specified quality or ingredient; inadequate
Examples
“The diet was deficient in essential vitamins.”
“The report was deficient in supporting evidence.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Deficient is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "inadequate" or "insufficient" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "abundant".
Related GRE Words
Master deficient and 800+ GRE words
Learn through stories, practice with real GRE questions, and never forget with spaced repetition.