Deficient
Deficient adjective - Not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need.
Usage example: too deficient in common sense to be trusted to stay by himself
Scarce is a synonym for deficient in lacking topic. In some cases you can use "Scarce" instead an adjective "Deficient", when it comes to topics like imperfect, big, inadequate, insufficient. popular alternative
Scarce
Scarce adjective - Less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable.
Usage example: food was a bit scarce last winter
Deficient is a synonym for scarce in insufficient topic. You can use "Deficient" instead an adjective "Scarce", if it concerns topics such as in short supply, property, big, inadequate. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Cite this Source
Scarce and Deficient. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/deficient/scarce
Deficient & Scarce. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/deficient/scarce>.
Scarce or Deficient. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/deficient/scarce.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "deficient" and "scarce" have occurred on timeline