insecure
/ɪnsəˈkjʊə(ɹ)/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Not secure.
Adjective
Examples
It was, as Carrados explained, entirely his own preposterous fault. Nothing but curiosity about the size of the room had impelled him to touch the walls, and the picture, having a weak cord or an insecure nail ... had it not brought something else down in its fall?
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Not comfortable or confident in oneself or in certain situations.
Adjective
Examples
He's a nice guy and all, but seems to be rather insecure around other people.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “insecure” mean?
Not secure.
Is “insecure” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.