Brain Game: The Missing Cyclops

Tuesday Test Time is here once again. By removing one letter at a time and rearranging the others (as necessary) to form English words, reduce "DEFICIENT" to "I" (or, if you're one of those glass-half-full types, expand "I" to "DEFICIENT"). Good luck!

D E F I C I E N T _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I

Here is one SOLUTION.

ONE SOLUTION:

DEFICIENT (-I)
INFECTED (-F)
ENTICED (-N)
DECEIT (-E)
CITED (-C)
DIET (-D)
TIE (-E)
IT (-T)
I

NOTE: Several other solutions are possible; feel free to include yours by adding them to the comments below. Thanks!