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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of absence
In Kulikov’s absence Thursday, Florida played with five defensemen for the final half of its game against Philadelphia.
—
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
Of course, the film is most notable for — spoiler — Roberts’s death at the end, and her palpable absence in the final scenes speaks to the brightness of her presence in the movie’s earlier parts.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
What started as a distraction from Manny’s absence soon blossomed into a deep bond as Michelle and Leo spent hours talking, listening to music, and getting to know each other.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Sophomore Graham Nixon did a nice job in the absence of Cooper Witten offensively.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for absence
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
Of course, the film is most notable for — spoiler — Roberts’s death at the end, and her palpable absence in the final scenes speaks to the brightness of her presence in the movie’s earlier parts.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
What started as a distraction from Manny’s absence soon blossomed into a deep bond as Michelle and Leo spent hours talking, listening to music, and getting to know each other.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Sophomore Graham Nixon did a nice job in the absence of Cooper Witten offensively.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for absence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for absence
Noun
-
Some customers complained about the lack of human support, prompting Klarna to rethink part of its AI-first hiring strategy.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
10 Oct. 2025
-
One commenter offers some perspective, agreeing that the brother-in-law’s hurt about the lack of invitation is understandable, but the issue of the date feels less significant.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Rising tensions around the world, particularly with China, have challenged America’s ability to secure all of those crucial needs.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The social media post didn't specify which trim was added to the Tennessee Highway Patrol's fleet, but every Mustang can produce enough giddyup to satisfy the needs of troopers.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Absence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/absence. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share