as in shortages
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
the lack of eligible candidates for the jury kept the trial from getting started
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Recent Examples of lacks
Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Each provides amino acids that the other lacks, so eating them together gives you all the essential amino acids.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 27 Jan. 2026
Economic theory would suggest that the best place to make a major investment such as a STAR bond would be in a place that has low, or lacks, economic activity.
—Sofi Zeman
january 21, Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 2026
The 6-2, 2-00-pounder lacks experience but does boast ideal length and versatility and currently projects as a late-round selection or free agent.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 16 Dec. 2025
So Vegas has to hope that their forward depth is strong enough to balance out where their star power lacks, relative to other contenders.
—The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
This absence — of God, of love, of plain community spirit — is a metaphor for the whole parish, where everyone is defined by their own lacks and deficiencies, the weaknesses that cause Wicks to despise them and vow to bring down them all.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2025
But Davies’s film has a patience and lightness of touch that Scorsese’s lacks, as well as a note-perfect lead in Gillian Anderson.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
As of Wednesday, firearms dealers are required under state law to use scanners that pull the prospective purchaser’s name, date of birth and other details from the card’s magnetic strip, which the new design lacks — except if they are authorized otherwise.
—Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Each provides amino acids that the other lacks, so eating them together gives you all the essential amino acids.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 27 Jan. 2026
Economic theory would suggest that the best place to make a major investment such as a STAR bond would be in a place that has low, or lacks, economic activity.
—Sofi Zeman
january 21, Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 2026
The 6-2, 2-00-pounder lacks experience but does boast ideal length and versatility and currently projects as a late-round selection or free agent.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 16 Dec. 2025
So Vegas has to hope that their forward depth is strong enough to balance out where their star power lacks, relative to other contenders.
—The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
This absence — of God, of love, of plain community spirit — is a metaphor for the whole parish, where everyone is defined by their own lacks and deficiencies, the weaknesses that cause Wicks to despise them and vow to bring down them all.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2025
But Davies’s film has a patience and lightness of touch that Scorsese’s lacks, as well as a note-perfect lead in Gillian Anderson.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacks
Noun
-
Analysts partially credit the stability to a mature domestic biofuels industry that allows the country to withstand geopolitical shocks with minimal risk of fuel shortages.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Aluminum prices hit a four‑year high as Iranian strikes on Middle Eastern producers stoke fears of supply shortages.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Curator argues for replacing—or at least displaying both—while The Boss, beholden to donors and a governing board, insists Old Art stays and New Art must go.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Ulbrich insists he was always convinced that those predictions were wrong.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At Pebble Creek at Lake Mary, 85 apartment units were condemned due to life-threatening deficiencies, and at the Rialto Apartments near Sand Lake Road, nearly 400 residents were evacuated due to structural instability.—
Keegan A. Berry,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Common causes for both include stress, hormonal changes, and nutritional deficiencies.—
Rebecca Strong,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
White denim absolutely begs for a smart partner underneath.—
Alex Sales,
Glamour,
27 Mar. 2026
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But when the group threatens Noor, Salim begs.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After all, walking requires no gym membership, expensive equipment or specialized training and is accessible to nearly everyone and can be done almost anywhere.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Navigating the country can take time and often requires long drives and a 4x4 vehicle, especially during the green season.—
Meghan Palmer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
July 23 – August 22 Leo, your spark asks to be seen.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The ballot question asks voters whether Virginia’s Constitution should be temporarily amended to allow the legislature to adopt a new mid-decade election map for upcoming races.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Shrinking lake ice exacts its price Depending on how much greenhouse gases warm the planet in the coming years, the average lake could lose up to 10 to 28 days of ice cover by the end of the century, says Sapna Sharma, a global change biologist at York University in Canada.—
Berly McCoy,
NPR,
2 Mar. 2026
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Colonialization exacts a heavy toll.—
Taylor Crumpton,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Founder of polling analysis site FiveThirtyEight, he is often cited by publications and media outlets for his current work, which involves publishing his own analysis via his Substack newsletter, Silver Bulletin.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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The 2022 class size law gave the city until the 2027-28 school year for all classrooms to comply with the costly mandate, which involves hiring of new teachers and adding physical space.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacks. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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