Meaning & use

insecurity

noun·Academic

A lack of confidence or certainty, especially about oneself, one's abilities, or one's relationships.

See it in a sentence

His constant need for reassurance revealed a deep insecurity about his own talent.

Financial insecurity made it hard for the family to plan more than a week ahead.

A note on using this word

Insecurity can describe an emotional state or, more broadly, a lack of safety or stability, as in 'job insecurity'.

Words with a similar meaning

self-doubtuncertainty

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

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