as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
a growing deficit in the number of hours devoted to sleep
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deficit
The district reduced its deficit this year and expects to shrink it further in each of the next few years.
—
Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
The learning deficits are hard to measure, because testing protocols have changed in the past three years.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 19 Oct. 2025
Five years ago, budget deficits soared worldwide because of the pandemic.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Soon after the coach said that, the second half began with Tua Tagovailoa’s pass bouncing off De’Von Achane’s fingertips, intercepted and returned 34 yards for a touchdown and a 24-6 Dolphins deficit.
—Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficit
Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
The learning deficits are hard to measure, because testing protocols have changed in the past three years.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 19 Oct. 2025
Five years ago, budget deficits soared worldwide because of the pandemic.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Soon after the coach said that, the second half began with Tua Tagovailoa’s pass bouncing off De’Von Achane’s fingertips, intercepted and returned 34 yards for a touchdown and a 24-6 Dolphins deficit.
—Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deficit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficit
Noun
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But as Kimmel shared with Danson, 77, things weren't easy in the beginning due to a shortage of star power.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
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However, the number of foreign residents has risen sharply in recent years, reaching a record 3 percent of the population in 2024, as Tokyo cautiously loosened visa requirements for workers in key industries facing labor shortages amid a declining birth rate and aging workforce.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But the mob’s relative lack of visibility does not mean it’s gone away.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
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Barcelona used a mix of zonal and man-marking but struggled when teams exploited their comparalative lack of height and physicality by using players in motion.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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However, specific groups may be particularly vulnerable to deficiency, and the consequences can be significant.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
23 Oct. 2025
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That has allowed the Dodgers to hide their deficiencies in the bullpen – and ask less of their offense.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deficit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficit. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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