as in shortages
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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Recent Examples of deficits
The north’s deficits are growing, albeit from a lower base, while the south’s are shrinking.
—
Semafor Events, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2025
The question has extra resonance at a time when local deficits and federal cuts are forcing leaders to make tough choices about which programs stay afloat.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Nov. 2025
Low enrollment and weak alumni giving has led to faculty salary freezes and budget deficits.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Facing budget deficits that would affect the county’s general fund and Santa Clara Valley Healthcare, which provides a healthcare safety net that includes four public hospitals and and 15 clinics, county supervisors unanimously voted in August to put Measure A on the ballot in November.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center estimates that the total amount of federal relief measures taken after the COVID-19 pandemic—much of which was Former President Biden’s policies— amounted to $5 trillion, resulting in deficits not seen outside of wartime.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
Syracuse never led in the first five overtimes, but came back from deficits ranging from two to six points in each one.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
The keto diet restored these deficits, particularly in female APOE4 mice, normalizing most metabolites to APOE3 levels.
—New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025
Five years ago, budget deficits soared worldwide because of the pandemic.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Semafor Events, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2025
The question has extra resonance at a time when local deficits and federal cuts are forcing leaders to make tough choices about which programs stay afloat.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Nov. 2025
Low enrollment and weak alumni giving has led to faculty salary freezes and budget deficits.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Facing budget deficits that would affect the county’s general fund and Santa Clara Valley Healthcare, which provides a healthcare safety net that includes four public hospitals and and 15 clinics, county supervisors unanimously voted in August to put Measure A on the ballot in November.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center estimates that the total amount of federal relief measures taken after the COVID-19 pandemic—much of which was Former President Biden’s policies— amounted to $5 trillion, resulting in deficits not seen outside of wartime.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
Syracuse never led in the first five overtimes, but came back from deficits ranging from two to six points in each one.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
The keto diet restored these deficits, particularly in female APOE4 mice, normalizing most metabolites to APOE3 levels.
—New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025
Five years ago, budget deficits soared worldwide because of the pandemic.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficits
Noun
-
China’s apparent surge in missile production comes as the US expends sophisticated defense systems in Ukraine and Israel, causing some ammunition shortages and sparking debate in Washington about how and where to deploy its high-end weapons.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
When staffing shortages occur, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
So Vegas has to hope that their forward depth is strong enough to balance out where their star power lacks, relative to other contenders.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
This absence — of God, of love, of plain community spirit — is a metaphor for the whole parish, where everyone is defined by their own lacks and deficiencies, the weaknesses that cause Wicks to despise them and vow to bring down them all.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Opponents raised concerns about the cost of new construction and long-term debt, arguing that renovations could have addressed the library’s deficiencies.—
Daniel Hunt,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
These nutrients reduce the risk of certain conditions present at birth, help fetal development, and prevent deficiencies that can affect the pregnant person.—
Nancy LeBrun,
Verywell Health,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deficits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficits. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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