as in weaknesses
a defect in character
a wife who never tires of listing her husband's perceived shortcomings
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Recent Examples of shortcomings
The Trojans have started unbeaten behind a well-rounded offense and solid defense that continues to deliver despite shortcomings in the secondary.
—
Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
Advertisement The contrast was on display in the session’s opening moments, when Annalena Baerbock, the General Assembly’s president, urged delegates not to give in to despair about the institution’s shortcomings.
—Nik Popli, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
The network isn’t without its shortcomings.
—Paul Rogers, Boston Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
Further still, Karty complicated their offensive shortcomings by striking knuckleball kickoffs that return specialists Tank Bigsby and John Metchie III could not handle.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
And even newer backup technologies face shortcomings; for instance, visual systems can fail because of cloud cover or when used over water.
—Paul Smith-Goodson, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Following yet another collapse on Tuesday night in which the Dodgers turned a 4-0 lead and no-hitter through five innings into a 9-6 loss, manager Dave Roberts was asked to dissect his bullpen's shortcomings.
—Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
And yes, the team’s shortcomings against tight ends and running backs in the receiving game is cause for concern, and that rests on the linebackers.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2025
Watching the ramifications of climate change play out in the real world has both validated the models and highlighted their shortcomings.
—Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
Advertisement The contrast was on display in the session’s opening moments, when Annalena Baerbock, the General Assembly’s president, urged delegates not to give in to despair about the institution’s shortcomings.
—Nik Popli, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
The network isn’t without its shortcomings.
—Paul Rogers, Boston Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
Further still, Karty complicated their offensive shortcomings by striking knuckleball kickoffs that return specialists Tank Bigsby and John Metchie III could not handle.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
And even newer backup technologies face shortcomings; for instance, visual systems can fail because of cloud cover or when used over water.
—Paul Smith-Goodson, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Following yet another collapse on Tuesday night in which the Dodgers turned a 4-0 lead and no-hitter through five innings into a 9-6 loss, manager Dave Roberts was asked to dissect his bullpen's shortcomings.
—Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
And yes, the team’s shortcomings against tight ends and running backs in the receiving game is cause for concern, and that rests on the linebackers.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2025
Watching the ramifications of climate change play out in the real world has both validated the models and highlighted their shortcomings.
—Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortcomings
Noun
-
Such questions don't necessarily portend the outcome of the case and may merely reflect justices testing the limits and weaknesses of arguments.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
27 Sep. 2025
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But previous presidents have resisted the temptation to exploit them, and the law has served as a powerful norm notwithstanding its weaknesses.—
Elizabeth Goitein,
Time,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Its perfectly circular shape, central peak, and ring of faults looked suspiciously like an impact crater.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Sep. 2025
-
The characters’ faults, however, lie not in their stars but in themselves.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
His father has vanished, their sins lie unatoned, the hope of reconciliation lost.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
25 Sep. 2025
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The butt of these jokes is Mike Waltz, the ambitious former congressman and national security adviser who was unceremoniously demoted to Turtle Bay in April for a series of sins that add up to not being MAGA enough.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shortcomings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortcomings. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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