highly deficient

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly deficient" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is significantly lacking or inadequate in quality, quantity, or effectiveness. Example: "The report was deemed highly deficient in its analysis, failing to address key issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Occasionally, students whose performance on the exam, while passing overall, is highly deficient in one area or another may be given a Conditional Pass.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

I don't like to jam, because I am highly deficient in my scales, but I am able to pick within arpeggios well enough to develop a melody through the selfish nonsense that characterizes most impromptu guitar work.

The New Yorker

The reactivity of methane on pure- and doped (Gd, Pr -ceria catalysts has been investigated under highly deficient steam conditions (CH4/H2O = 10) at 750 °C.

Catalysis Today

China watchers have a tendency to overstate the sophistication of Beijing's foreign policy and ambitions, but the truth is that China's foreign policy is highly deficient.

The New York Times

Yet despite the health potential of vitamin D, as many as half of all adults and children are said to have less than optimum levels and as many as 10 percent of children are highly deficient, according to a 2008 report in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The New York Times

The suggestion that on average Asians are highly deficient in personal characteristics relative to others, especially blacks and Latinos but also even whites, is seemingly indefensible on any objective grounds.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Its role in luminescent materials is due to its highly electron deficient nature specially when it is in the centre along the mainstay of extended π-conjugated systems.

Chemistry Central Journal

The third outlier Ndt80 is a very important meiotic regulator and its deletion is highly sporulation deficient (Prespo/Spore ratio = 4.33).

BMC Systems Biology

Paradoxically, the rivers and streams inhabited by loricariids [ 32] as well as the detritus and biofilm that most loricariids consume [ 10] tend to be highly P deficient.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

28 With the exception of the M184V mutation, which is highly replicatively deficient, all groups of transmitted mutations persisted beyond at least three years in the majority of patients.

British Medical Journal

The self-reduction is enhanced when annealing is carried out in inert atmosphere in comparison with that in air, producing highly oxygen-deficient anatase.

Catalysis Today

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "highly deficient", ensure the context clearly specifies what is lacking. For instance, instead of saying "the data is highly deficient", specify "the data is highly deficient in recent statistics".

Common error

Avoid using "highly deficient" without specifying the area of deficiency. Be precise about what is lacking to maintain clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly deficient" functions as a qualifying adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating a significant degree of inadequacy or lack. Ludwig AI provides several examples demonstrating its usage in varied contexts, from scientific studies to general assessments.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

28%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "highly deficient" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to denote a significant lack or inadequacy. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently in scientific, news, and academic contexts, signaling its utility across diverse fields. When using this phrase, it's important to specify what exactly is lacking to maintain clarity. Alternatives like "severely lacking" or "greatly inadequate" can provide similar emphasis. While versatile, ensuring precision in its application will enhance the impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

severely lacking

Emphasizes the intensity of the deficiency.

greatly inadequate

Highlights the insufficiency in meeting requirements or expectations.

significantly insufficient

Focuses on the notable degree of inadequacy.

markedly limited

Indicates a distinct constraint or restriction.

acutely wanting

Suggests a sharp and pressing need that is not being met.

seriously impaired

Implies a significant reduction in functionality or quality.

woefully inadequate

Conveys a sense of deep disappointment due to the inadequacy.

critically low

Focuses on the severity of the deficiency, especially in terms of quantity.

extremely poor

Emphasizes the very low quality or standard.

substantially compromised

Highlights that the deficiency has significantly affected something's integrity or performance.

FAQs

How can I use "highly deficient" in a sentence?

You can use "highly deficient" to describe something that significantly lacks a particular quality or quantity. For example: "The report was found to be highly deficient in its analysis of market trends".

What are some alternatives to "highly deficient"?

Alternatives include "severely lacking", "greatly inadequate", or "significantly insufficient", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "highly deficient"?

Yes, "highly deficient" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe a significant lack or inadequacy.

What's the difference between "deficient" and "highly deficient"?

"Deficient" indicates a lack, while "highly deficient" emphasizes the severity or extent of that lack. The addition of "highly" intensifies the deficiency.