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

They're considered a keystone species, whose presence or absence can reshape a whole ecosystem. — John Ryan, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026

Donalds’s absence from Congress for certain votes concerns his challenger. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 16 Aug. 2026

Inter Miami has conceded 19 goals over the past seven games and looked especially vulnerable on Saturday in the absence of Brazilian center back Micael, who sprained his ankle in the previous game and is out indefinitely. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026

Time spent away from home for education is treated as a temporary absence, so living in a dorm or apartment ordinarily does not prevent a student from meeting the requirement to live with a parent for more than half the year. — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026