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
Here are some basic facts about how Recall works on a PC since there's a lot of FUD circulating about this, and much of the information on the Internet is about the older, insecure version from last year:
Recall is per-user.
—
ArsTechnica, 21 Apr. 2025
Matty sees her striving and starting to get insecure, and part of the collateral damage has been Sarah.
—Jim Halterman, Variety, 18 Apr. 2025
The March survey also showed that people are growing increasingly insecure about their own job security: The mean perceived probability of losing one’s job in the next year rose to 15.7%, a 12-month high.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
Much of The Pitt's success comes courtesy of its ensemble, which includes a motley crew of seasoned residents, insecure medical students, brassy nurses, and unlikable administrators.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insecure
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ArsTechnica, 21 Apr. 2025
Matty sees her striving and starting to get insecure, and part of the collateral damage has been Sarah.
—Jim Halterman, Variety, 18 Apr. 2025
The March survey also showed that people are growing increasingly insecure about their own job security: The mean perceived probability of losing one’s job in the next year rose to 15.7%, a 12-month high.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
Much of The Pitt's success comes courtesy of its ensemble, which includes a motley crew of seasoned residents, insecure medical students, brassy nurses, and unlikable administrators.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 11 Apr. 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 27 Apr. 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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