insecure
adjective
in·se·cure
ˌin-si-ˈkyu̇r 
1
a
: deficient in assurance : beset by fear and anxiety
always felt insecure in a group of strangers
b
: not highly stable or well-adjusted
an insecure marriage
2
: not confident or sure : uncertain
feeling somewhat insecure of his reception
3
: not adequately guarded or sustained : unsafe
an insecure investment
4
: not firmly fastened or fixed : shaky
the hinge is loose and insecure
5
: unable to reliably afford or access what is needed to meet one's basic needs
families that are housing insecure [=that are at risk of losing their housing]
see also food insecure
insecurely
adverb
insecureness
noun
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Examples of insecure in a Sentence
I feel shy and insecure around strangers.
One of the building's rear doors was insecure.
The country's borders remain insecure.
Recent Examples on the Web
Compounded by the cuts to federal health insurance programs, which provide a value of $27,000 a year, these SNAP cuts will increase the average economically insecure household with children’s resource gap — the amount short of economic security — from more than $50,000 to an astounding $95,000.
—
Jennifer Jones Austin, New York Daily News, 29 July 2025
According to the survey, 62% of organizations knowingly ship insecure code.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
That creates an environment for other issues, like depression, anxiety, and/or insecure attachments, to breed.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 29 July 2025
Joe, who's deeply insecure about his relationship with Louise, is still bitter over the fact that Louise dated Ted before marrying Joe.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for insecure
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Jennifer Jones Austin, New York Daily News, 29 July 2025
According to the survey, 62% of organizations knowingly ship insecure code.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
That creates an environment for other issues, like depression, anxiety, and/or insecure attachments, to breed.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 29 July 2025
Joe, who's deeply insecure about his relationship with Louise, is still bitter over the fact that Louise dated Ted before marrying Joe.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for insecure
Cite this Entry
“Insecure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insecure. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
insecure
adjective
in·se·cure
ˌin(t)-si-ˈkyu̇(ə)r
1
: not confident or sure : uncertain
felt insecure about their response
2
: not well protected : not safe
insecure property
3
: not firmly fastened : loose
an insecure hinge
4
: lacking self-assurance
insecure people
insecurely
adverb
Medical Definition
insecure
adjective
in·se·cure
ˌin(t)-si-ˈkyu̇(ə)r
: characterized by or causing emotional insecurity
an insecure childhood
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