shortcoming
noun
short·com·ing
ˈshȯrt-ˌkə-miŋ 
ˌshȯrt-ˈkə-
: an imperfection or lack that detracts from the whole
also
: the quality or state of being flawed or lacking
Synonyms
Examples of shortcoming in a Sentence
Her lack of attention to detail is her biggest shortcoming.
The main shortcoming of this camera is that it uses up batteries quickly.
Recent Examples on the Web
In Utah, Salt Lake City and other municipalities are trying to make up for PacifiCorp’s shortcomings by purchasing clean energy directly.
—
Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
On Thursday, New York’s highest court overturned Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction in a landmark ruling that some may call a referendum of the shortcomings of the #MeToo movement.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Apr. 2024
But even those attributes, and Douglas’ interpretation of them, don’t quite prove inventive enough to compensate for its shortcomings.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Be a good listener and a helpful associate, but don’t take the blame for someone else’s shortcomings.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
Regardless of which team emerges victorious at the end of May, the two to fall short will be subject to the cruelest form of autopsy, a sustained and gleeful search for whatever shortcomings can be found.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
To make up for the world’s shortcomings, achieving just net zero carbon emissions or net zero environmental impact isn’t enough.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Professors in universities around the country have begun begrudgingly using AI detection software despite recognizing its known accuracy shortcomings.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 11 Apr. 2024
Sanders’ proposal echoes what patient-advocates have been calling for since the beginning of the pandemic, a demand that has only become more forceful with time (and the shortcomings of existing long Covid research).
—Isabella Cueto, STAT, 11 Apr. 2024
Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
On Thursday, New York’s highest court overturned Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction in a landmark ruling that some may call a referendum of the shortcomings of the #MeToo movement.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Apr. 2024
But even those attributes, and Douglas’ interpretation of them, don’t quite prove inventive enough to compensate for its shortcomings.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Be a good listener and a helpful associate, but don’t take the blame for someone else’s shortcomings.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
Regardless of which team emerges victorious at the end of May, the two to fall short will be subject to the cruelest form of autopsy, a sustained and gleeful search for whatever shortcomings can be found.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
To make up for the world’s shortcomings, achieving just net zero carbon emissions or net zero environmental impact isn’t enough.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Professors in universities around the country have begun begrudgingly using AI detection software despite recognizing its known accuracy shortcomings.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 11 Apr. 2024
Sanders’ proposal echoes what patient-advocates have been calling for since the beginning of the pandemic, a demand that has only become more forceful with time (and the shortcomings of existing long Covid research).
—Isabella Cueto, STAT, 11 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shortcoming.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near shortcoming
Cite this Entry
“Shortcoming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shortcoming. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shortcoming
noun
short·com·ing
ˈshȯrt-ˌkəm-iŋ
(ˈ)shȯrt-ˈkəm-
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