Synonyms of insecurenext
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For those still not in the know, the last installment saw Enola insecure about proving worthy of the Holmes name, struggling to figure out her own identity while Sherlock was preoccupied with a case of his own. Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026 That misalignment between constitutional law and cultural norms makes people feel insecure. Robert A. Ballingall, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 But as someone put it, a politics that fears joy is deeply insecure. Arminka Helic, Time, 30 June 2026 If only the show’s producers (Ego Nwodim and Caleb Hearon) weren’t so committed to accurately framing Rudd as the insecure sibling with a very big chip on his very big shoulder. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for insecure

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin insecurus, from Latin in- + securus secure

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of insecure was in 1646

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Insecure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insecure. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

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

: characterized by or causing emotional insecurity
an insecure childhood

Legal Definition

insecure

adjective
in·​se·​cure
: having a good faith belief that the prospect of receiving payment or performance from a party with whom one has contracted is impaired
insecurity noun

More from Merriam-Webster on insecure

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster