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

Even a few Republican loyalists have recoiled at the extravagant pageantry, seemingly designed to flatter Xi and awe a domestic audience, although the absence of TV cameras at the Rose Garden ceremony undermined that low-ambition objective. — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 26 Sep. 2026

In opening statements, the prosecution said recovering the gun was not necessary to getting a conviction, but the defense said its absence showed the prosecution’s case was weak. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026

Republicans have hammered Sherrill for weeks on the investigation into Caldwell, who serves as acting governor in her absence. — Mike Catalini, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026

Shelford addressed the deckhand’s absence during the episode as his crew grappled with a series of setbacks. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026