insecure
insecure Lexical Profile
insecure Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Lacking self-confidence or assurance; plagued by self-doubt and anxiety about one's abilities, appearance, or relationships.
"Even the most accomplished artists occasionally feel insecure about presenting their new work to the public."
Not firm, stable, or dependable; subject to sudden change, loss, or failure.
"Many seasonal workers face an insecure financial future during the winter months."
Not adequately protected, fastened, or guarded against danger, theft, or unauthorized access.
"The hikers avoided the old suspension bridge because its rotting wooden planks looked insecure."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Insecure' is standardly used to describe emotional self-doubt or a general state of instability and vulnerability, whereas 'unsecure' (or 'unsecured') is preferred for physical locks, financial loans without collateral, or unencrypted digital connections.
• Rhymes for insecure
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-17th century from Medieval Latin insecurus, formed from the privative prefix in- ('not') and securus ('free from care, safe').