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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of absence
Consumer sentiment continued to decline this month, reaching a fresh record low in the absence of a deal to end the conflict.
—
Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
The golden calf famously enraged Moses, showing that the Israelites had turned away from God and were unfaithful in Moses’s absence.
—Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 9 May 2026
In the absence of fridges, fermenting, sun-drying, and preserving in salt were the only ways to keep food from spoiling.
—Boutheina Ben Salem, Vogue, 8 May 2026
The absence of a crosswalk, together with insufficient lighting and the intersection's predictable pedestrian hazards, creates grounds for wrongful death lawsuits.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for absence
Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
The golden calf famously enraged Moses, showing that the Israelites had turned away from God and were unfaithful in Moses’s absence.
—Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 9 May 2026
In the absence of fridges, fermenting, sun-drying, and preserving in salt were the only ways to keep food from spoiling.
—Boutheina Ben Salem, Vogue, 8 May 2026
The absence of a crosswalk, together with insufficient lighting and the intersection's predictable pedestrian hazards, creates grounds for wrongful death lawsuits.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for absence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for absence
Noun
-
The guard admitted he was surprised by the lack of questions about his medical status but voiced confidence that the issue would not continue into his NBA career.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
-
The defense has detailed the lack of physical evidence — no DNA or blood was found on Murdaugh or any of his clothes, even though the killings were at close range with powerful weapons that were never found.—
Jeffrey Collins,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Often, everyone is trying their best but finding that there are simply too many competing and seemingly conflicting needs.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2026
-
Later, the Moon squares the Sun and could expose tension between private needs and outside expectations.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Absence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/absence. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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