insecure

adjective

in·​se·​cure ˌin-si-ˈkyu̇r How to pronounce insecure (audio)
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 Alexander Matveev, 37, told CNN that Russians feel insecure and worried that another attack could take place. Christian Edwards, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024 Many of the bits center on race and/or stereotypes, like the one about two enslaved men who are insecure when nobody wants to bid on them at an auction, or the iconic substitute teacher sketch, or the skit that asks an age-old question: Is this country song racist? Kevin Jacobsen and Hope Lasater, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2024 So…yeah, maybe Blackwell had a reason to be insecure, especially toward the end of their relationship. Sam Reed, Glamour, 19 Mar. 2024 Maria has been caught up in a dispute with some of the other contestants for weeks now that started when Sydney took issue with her response to Madina’s confession about feeling insecure about her age. Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024 Additionally, a study found that individuals with insecure attachment may devalue their negative emotions, leading to a dismissal of their own dissatisfaction with the relationship. Mark Travers, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 Ruby’s as arrogantly assured in her profession as Gordon is exhaustingly insecure. Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 Anxious Attachment Shackles Us To Our Relationships People with insecure attachment styles tend to crave emotional intimacy—they are heavily invested in their relationships and yearn to feel more secure. Mark Travers, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 Fans immediately suspected Chelsea was feeling insecure over Jimmy's relationship with other women in the pods, particularly Jessica, a single mom that also caught the tech sales executive's attention. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'insecure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near insecure

Cite this Entry

“Insecure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insecure. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

insecure

adjective
in·​se·​cure ˌin(t)-si-ˈkyu̇(ə)r How to pronounce insecure (audio)
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
insecurity noun

Medical Definition

insecure

adjective
in·​se·​cure ˌin(t)-si-ˈkyu̇(ə)r How to pronounce insecure (audio)
: 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

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