The Meaning of Insecure: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of insecure? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word insecure, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!

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What does the word insecure mean?

According to Collins English Dictionary, Your Dictionary, and the American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, the word insecure is an adjective that means lacking confidence or not secure. This word can be used literally and figuratively. Insecure is three syllables – in-se-cure, and the pronunciation of insecure is ɪnsɪkjʊəʳ.

Many things can be insecure including an insecure ladder, insecure homeless populations and entire communities of housing-insecure and food-insecure residents, insecure transmission rates of the spread of COVID-19, insecure seniors, an insecure future of the whole world, an insecure foothold, relationship insecurity, an insecure shortage of military police on an air base, body image insecurity, social insecurity, a lack of assurance and mental stability as a sign of insecurity, insecure windows on a semi-derelict house that could be overcome by raiders intruders or a gang of burglaries, a Microsoft insecure personal computer, insecure personal finances in an economic recession, insecure storage systems, an insecure back door, an insecure accommodation, insecure western elites and more. 

Many different languages also contain words that mean insecure. You may notice that some of these words look and sound similar to each other. These are called cognates, which are often formed when two words have the same root or language of origin like Latin or Greek. This list of translations of insecure is provided by Word Sense

  •  Danish: usikker‎
  •  Polish: niezabezpieczony‎
  •  Maori: tītengi‎, pānekeneke‎
  •  Swedish: osäker‎
  •  Italian: insicuro‎ (masc.), malsicuro‎ (masc.)
  •  Catalan: insegur‎
  •  Turkish: emniyetsiz‎, güvensiz‎, tehlikede‎
  •  Spanish: inseguro‎
  •  Portuguese: inseguro‎
  •  German: nicht sicher
  •  Serbo-Croatian: nesiguran‎ (masc.)
  •  Russian: небезопа́сный‎, опа́сный‎, ненадёжный‎
  •  Finnish: epävarma‎, epäluotettava‎, turvaton‎
  •  Mandarin: 不安全的‎ (bù ānquán de)
  •  Greek: ανασφαλής‎ (masc.) (f)

How can the word insecure be used in a sentence?

The word insecure can be used in many different sentences in natural sounding English. Using words in a sentence is a great way to memorize their definition. You can also try to make flashcards or quizzes for yourself to test your knowledge of definitions. Learning new words is a great way to make yourself sound smarter and to improve your vocabulary. Try using this word of the day in a sentence today. Below are several examples of insecure.

Mental health professionals believe people can become insecure from social media, and that their confidence can come to hinge on the amount of likes, popularity, and virtual fortune they receive on Facebook and Twitter.

The athlete at Princeton University was insecure that he would not live up to the difficult challenge of the season. He was a big name from the Olympics and was fearful that he would not measure up.

There were racial overtones and Sergeant Paul Evans from the Skipton Police spoke to the black man with his hazard lights on in the warm weather on Saturday night. The serious talk was met with an insecure pose from the man, and the sergeant assured him he would bring him no herm.

What are synonyms and antonyms of insecure?

There are many different words that are equivalent to the word insecure. Synonyms are words and phrases that have the same or a similar definition as another word or phrase. Synonyms are a useful English language tool because they can help you to avoid repeating the same word over and over again while simultaneously expanding your vocabulary. This list of synonyms for the word insecure is provided by Power Thesaurus

  •  unsecured
  •  introverted
  •  nervous
  •  worried
  •  frail
  •  tremorous
  •  wonky
  •  unclear
  •  timid
  •  defenseless
  •  hesitant
  •  infirm
  •  flimsy
  •  chancy
  •  uptight
  •  uncomfortable
  •  unassertive
  •  touch-and-go
  •  insecurity
  •  impugnable
  •  jumpy
  •  dickey
  •  weak
  •  defenceless
  •  unstable
  •  unreliable
  •  delicate
  •  retiring
  •  jittery
  •  afraid
  •  unsteady
  •  high-risk
  •  hazardous
  •  ashake
  •  unprotected
  •  fluctuant
  •  vacillating
  •  endangered
  •  hairy
  •  doubtful
  •  uncertain
  •  rocky
  •  tense
  •  unshielded
  •  exposed
  •  unassured
  •  diffident
  •  at risk
  •  troubled
  •  treacherous
  •  unfirm
  •  dicey
  •  wavering
  •  inhibited
  •  loose
  •  tentative
  •  edgy
  •  shy
  •  dangerous
  •  fearful
  •  timorous
  •  hanging by thread
  •  unconfident
  •  precarious
  •  self-conscious
  •  aquake
  •  wobbly
  •  mousy
  •  slippery
  •  shaky
  •  risky
  •  cowardly
  •  unsure
  •  open to attack
  •  fraught with danger
  •  unsafe
  •  undefended
  •  perilous
  •  unpredictable
  •  rootless
  •  tottering
  •  unsound
  •  awkward
  •  on thin ice
  •  vulnerable
  •  dubious
  •  unsettled
  •  rickety
  •  fragile
  •  all aquiver
  •  iffy
  •  anxious
  •  unquiet
  •  self-doubting
  •  uneasy
  •  apprehensive
  •  tottery
  •  unguarded
  •  parlous
  •  jealous

There are also a number of words that mean the opposite of the word insecure. These opposite words are known as antonyms, which are words and phrases that have the opposite definitions as another word or phrase. Antonyms are also a useful tool to expand a person’s vocabulary. This list of antonyms for the word insecure is also provided by Power Thesaurus

  •  airs and graces
  •  word for word
  •  persistent
  •  strong
  •  cohesive
  •  brave
  •  proud
  •  collected
  •  firm
  •  copper-bottomed
  •  poised
  •  orgulous
  •  inflexible
  •  confident of
  •  obsessed
  •  fixated
  •  safe and sound
  •  resolved
  •  fanatical
  •  ensured
  •  loud
  •  protected
  •  assertive
  •  fast
  •  jammed
  •  unstoppable
  •  relentless
  •  boastful
  •  conceited
  •  as proud as lucifer
  •  nose in the air
  •  stuck
  •  sustained
  •  self reliant
  •  certain
  •  decided
  •  inexorable
  •  indefatigable
  •  confident
  •  unafraid
  •  proud as lucifer
  •  brave as a lion
  •  lusty
  •  secure
  •  obsessive
  •  positive
  •  coast is clear
  •  on an even keel
  •  out
  •  sophisticated
  •  calm
  •  sitting pretty
  •  lockable
  •  choong
  •  sure as eggs is eggs
  •  self-assured
  •  immutable
  •  self-confident
  •  staunch
  •  safe
  •  based
  •  demanding attention
  •  invincible
  •  defendable
  •  sedate
  •  acquire
  •  resolute
  •  foolproof
  •  risk-averse
  •  risk averse
  •  indomitable
  •  shit-scared
  •  self-reliant
  •  guarded
  •  hyperfocused
  •  steadfast
  •  kick-ass
  •  determined
  •  braggadocious
  •  heavily guarded
  •  incontestable
  •  sure
  •  arrogant
  •  safe as houses
  •  ride or die
  •  steady
  •  set
  •  armed to the teeth
  •  definite
  •  stable
  •  imperishable
  •  as safe as houses
  •  cool
  •  untroubled
  •  pedantic
  •  fixed
  •  invulnerable
  •  resilient
  •  assured
  •  sound

Overall, the word insecure means not secure or lacking confidence. This word can be used literally and figuratively. 

Sources:

  1. Insecure | Word Sense
  2. Insecure synonyms – 996 Words and Phrases for Insecure | Power Thesaurus 
  3. Insecure antonyms – 363 Opposites of Insecure | Power Thesaurus 
  4.  ​Insecure definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary