insecurity
noun
in·se·cu·ri·ty
ˌin-si-ˈkyu̇r-ə-tē 
plural insecurities
: the quality or state of being insecure: such as
a
: a state or feeling of anxiety, fear, or self-doubt
troubled by (feelings of) insecurity
Deep down he knows his swagger is just insecurity masquerading as confidence.—
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly… the questions we don't dare ask reflect our deepest insecurities about relationships.—J. D. Heiman
J. D. HeimanThey rarely have a confidante with whom they can compare notes, share crushes, and discuss insecurities.—Kristen Golden
Kristen Golden
b
: lack of dependability or certainty
job insecurity
financial insecurity
the insecurity of their future
often, specifically
: lack of a reliable means of meeting one's basic needs
families who are experiencing housing insecurity
see also food insecurity
c
: lack of safety or protection
the insecurity of the investment
revealed the insecurities [=vulnerabilities] in their system
Examples of insecurity in a Sentence
the insecurity of the bookcase made it dangerous for a household with small children who like to climb
Recent Examples on the Web
With her portrayal as Sam on the first season of Your Friends & Neighbors, which co-stars Jon Hamm and Amanda Peet, Munn was able to tap into a clever mix of confidence and insecurity with this multi-layered character performance.
—Jeff Conway, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Her argument is that the poor suffer most from overwhelmed schools, gang violence and insecurity resulting from those migrants who do not work or integrate with Danish society.
—Matthew Tostevin, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025
The second annual Solstice Century Ride cycling event will be held Friday, June 20, to raise money for six area nonprofit charities providing mental health and housing insecurity programs, organizers said.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
But it was also grounded in his insecurity about being cast as the villain after the breakup.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for insecurity
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Jeff Conway, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Her argument is that the poor suffer most from overwhelmed schools, gang violence and insecurity resulting from those migrants who do not work or integrate with Danish society.
—Matthew Tostevin, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025
The second annual Solstice Century Ride cycling event will be held Friday, June 20, to raise money for six area nonprofit charities providing mental health and housing insecurity programs, organizers said.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
But it was also grounded in his insecurity about being cast as the villain after the breakup.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for insecurity
Cite this Entry
“Insecurity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insecurity. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
insecurity
noun
in·se·cu·ri·ty
-ˈkyu̇r-ət-ē
plural insecurities
: a feeling of apprehensiveness and uncertainty : lack of assurance or stability
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