as in weakness
a defect in character
a wife who never tires of listing her husband's perceived shortcomings
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Recent Examples of shortcoming
General manager Brian Cashman tepidly acknowledged the those shortcomings a few days later, but his actions spoke louder than words.
—
Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Public transport in the 1920s As a longtime Philadelphian who lived in Center City, Miriam Axelrod was familiar with the strengths and shortcomings of public transportation.
—Menika Dirkson, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
Baltimore’s special teams have been fine except for shoddy kick coverage and execution, but the unit certainly hasn’t been strong enough to make up for any of the team’s other shortcomings or been the difference in them winning a close game.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
In a 2019 post celebrating his third wedding anniversary with Miles, Minoso poked fun at his character’s romantic shortcomings.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortcoming
Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Public transport in the 1920s As a longtime Philadelphian who lived in Center City, Miriam Axelrod was familiar with the strengths and shortcomings of public transportation.
—Menika Dirkson, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
Baltimore’s special teams have been fine except for shoddy kick coverage and execution, but the unit certainly hasn’t been strong enough to make up for any of the team’s other shortcomings or been the difference in them winning a close game.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
In a 2019 post celebrating his third wedding anniversary with Miles, Minoso poked fun at his character’s romantic shortcomings.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortcoming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortcoming
Noun
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However, the effects on hiring may be blunted by persistent weakness in the labor market.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
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JPMorgan adds SharkNinja to the focus list JPM said investors should buy the weakness in the consumer products company.—
Michael Bloom,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The bank admitted fault in only 13 out of the 101 cases tracked by the organization, with the remaining 88 cases settled without admission of guilt.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
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The most commonly believed false narrative was that the reliance on renewables was at fault.—
Julia Simon,
NPR,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The brothers grew up in a household ruled by their mother’s preachings about the sins of lust and carnal desire, per the outlet, which also reports that their father was an alcoholic.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
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This also ensures the bacon drippings don’t go to waste, which is a serious Southern sin.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Sprinkle in Minerals Don't just toss in minerals at random, says Damrosch—only use when recommended by your soil test to correct deficiencies that have been identified.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Oct. 2025
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For that reason, the vast majority of companies now employ human reviews and stand-alone testing tools or services to address generative AI’s deficiencies.—
Philipp Eisenhauer,
Harvard Business Review,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Hamilton, convinced that salvaging his fiscal reputation required him to air his personal failings, published a lengthy tract, baring all.—
Jane Kamensky,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
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However, whatever his scholarly failings, Thorkelín had at least been responsible for two transcripts of the poem, and, as the manuscript itself had continued to deteriorate, chiefly by flaking of the brittle margins, these were a valuable record of the original.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shortcoming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortcoming. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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