What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
unsatisfactorily
Example
The project was completed unsatisfactorily and did not meet the client's expectations. [unsatisfactorily: adverb]
Example
The teacher graded the student's paper unsatisfactorily due to the lack of effort put into it. [unsatisfactorily: adverb]
deficiently
Example
The company's budget was deficiently planned, resulting in financial problems. [deficiently: adverb]
Example
The athlete performed deficiently during the competition due to a lack of training. [deficiently: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unsatisfactorily is more commonly used than deficiently in everyday language. Unsatisfactorily is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while deficiently is more specific and often used in technical or specialized contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between unsatisfactorily and deficiently?
Both unsatisfactorily and deficiently are formal words that are appropriate for use in academic or professional writing. However, unsatisfactorily may be slightly more formal and less commonly used in informal speech.
