as in lack
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
there was a troubling shortage of supplies for the troops overseas this year
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shortage
The production cuts have been adding to fears of a global shortage of the metal.
—
Garrett Downs,azhar Sukri, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
Smuggling — sometimes by rope, sometimes with the help of corrupt jail guards — has long been a problem at the troubled federal jail, which has been plagued by violence, horrific conditions and severe staffing shortages for years.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
As the state grapples with severe housing shortages, Newsom gave the coastal San Mateo County city, and 14 others, 30 days to respond to the notices before the state refers their cases to the attorney general for potential legal action.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
The war has threatened global supplies of oil and natural gas, brought fertilizer shortages and disrupted air travel.
—Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Garrett Downs,azhar Sukri, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
Smuggling — sometimes by rope, sometimes with the help of corrupt jail guards — has long been a problem at the troubled federal jail, which has been plagued by violence, horrific conditions and severe staffing shortages for years.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
As the state grapples with severe housing shortages, Newsom gave the coastal San Mateo County city, and 14 others, 30 days to respond to the notices before the state refers their cases to the attorney general for potential legal action.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
The war has threatened global supplies of oil and natural gas, brought fertilizer shortages and disrupted air travel.
—Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortage
Noun
-
As recently as 2022, research group IDinsight found unintended pregnancy was, after a lack of money for school fees, the leading cause of girls not returning to education.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In Miami-Dade, the lack of oversight has been acute, the Herald found.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Titone is also concerned about a new audit of OIT that identified serious deficiencies in the state's cybersecurity protocols.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
In fact, one study found 84% of postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteoporosis had a magnesium deficiency.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Chemicals such as arsenic and sulfur can leak into groundwater from deep wells, overpumping can cause water scarcity, and improper drilling can harm water quality.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The scarcity of hours caught her by the throat.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shortage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortage. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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