Synonyms of absence

absence

noun

ˈab-sən(t)s 

1

as in lack

a state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful

the absence of volunteers to be troop leaders is putting the scouting program in real jeopardy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lack
• need
• needfulness
• shortage
• deficiency
• paucity
• inadequacy
• scarcity
• insufficiency
• deficit
• defect
• requirement
• poverty
• necessity
• dearth
• want
• minus
• deprivation
• meagerness
• scantiness
• requisite
• privation
• scarceness
• essential
• demand
• skimpiness
• famishment

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adequacy
• supply
• sufficiency
• stock
• excess
• fund
• pool
• surplus
• enough
• plenty
• fill
• overabundance
• surfeit
• stockpile
• oversupply
• hoard

2

as in shortage

the fact or state of being absent

in the absence of ferry service to the island, the ecotourists had to charter a plane

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lack
• shortage
• dearth
• loss
• deficiency
• omission
• paucity
• scarcity
• inadequacy
• necessity
• insufficiency
• deprivation
• deficit
• failure
• poverty
• famine
• want
• meagerness
• scantiness
• inadequateness
• scarceness
• privation
• need
• vacuum
• skimpiness
• void
• undersupply
• scantness
• emptiness
• needfulness
• blankness
• vacuity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• presence
• abundance
• wealth
• amplitude
• plenty
• adequacy
• excess
• plenitude
• sufficiency
• surplus
• bounty
• flood
• quantity
• supply
• volume
• mass
• lot
• plentitude
• loads
• oversupply
• deluge
• deal
• mountain
• plentifulness
• pile
• stock
• overabundance
• plenteousness
• surfeit
• stack
• fund
• pot
• raft
• heap
• bushel
• superabundance
• pool
• reams
• peck
• wad
• stockpile
• cache
• much
• hoard
• stash
• gobs
• scads
• oodles

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of absence

Those include the absence of non-monetary contributions reported by Kobach’s campaign and the lack of a last-minute contribution report, which discloses donations during the last week before an election, filed by the campaign. — Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2026

One alternative is that disgruntled diplomacy among two nations (in the absence of a recession) will only make sports fans clutch their hockey entertainment (and maybe equipment) more closely. — Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2026

In the absence of a financial safety net, the allure of pursuing the fastest-growing options can be strong. — Shreyans Lodha, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Scientists are worried that in the absence of a major outbreak threatening the region, maintenance of the health systems has waned, leaving them unprepared for potential future epidemics. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026