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
Written off by some as past his prime, the 29-year-old twice recovered from 2-0 deficits, against France’s Felix Lebrun in the semifinals and Harimoto in the first game of the finals, to earn the nickname the ‘King of the Comeback’.
—
Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Oklahoma City faced its first fourth-quarter deficits of the entire playoffs in Game 4 as the Lakers repeatedly refused to fold.
—CBS News, 12 May 2026
Stock Chart IconStock chart icon The Indian rupee remained under pressure, trading near an all-time low against the dollar, as higher energy costs are expected to significantly widen the country's trade and current account deficits.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 12 May 2026
City Manager Maraskeshia Smith vowed not to increase parking meter rates, a strategy the city relied upon in years past to balance previous deficits.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 12 May 2026
In Africa, higher energy and import costs are similarly straining budgets, widening deficits and driving up inflation.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
The article contends that the state faces structural deficits of $20 billion to $35 billion annually, making these promises fundamentally unsustainable without substantial spending cuts or unpopular tax increases.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
Because consumers would have a little more left over to spend of their paychecks, a five-month suspension would increase federal deficits by $12 billion, BPC reckoned.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 11 May 2026
As Chicago begins laying the groundwork for its next budget — amid warnings of deficits and difficult choices — the same familiar debate is taking shape.
—Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Oklahoma City faced its first fourth-quarter deficits of the entire playoffs in Game 4 as the Lakers repeatedly refused to fold.
—CBS News, 12 May 2026
Stock Chart IconStock chart icon The Indian rupee remained under pressure, trading near an all-time low against the dollar, as higher energy costs are expected to significantly widen the country's trade and current account deficits.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 12 May 2026
City Manager Maraskeshia Smith vowed not to increase parking meter rates, a strategy the city relied upon in years past to balance previous deficits.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 12 May 2026
In Africa, higher energy and import costs are similarly straining budgets, widening deficits and driving up inflation.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
The article contends that the state faces structural deficits of $20 billion to $35 billion annually, making these promises fundamentally unsustainable without substantial spending cuts or unpopular tax increases.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
Because consumers would have a little more left over to spend of their paychecks, a five-month suspension would increase federal deficits by $12 billion, BPC reckoned.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 11 May 2026
As Chicago begins laying the groundwork for its next budget — amid warnings of deficits and difficult choices — the same familiar debate is taking shape.
—Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deficits
Noun
-
The dress's origin is often attributed to lingerie designer Sylvia Pedlar, who developed the mini dress in 1942 in response to fabric shortages during World War II.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
-
Gas and diesel shortages have triggered more frequent power cuts in industrial zones.—
Julhas Alam,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Ford’s freedom or constraints, his prejudices or lacks, gauge his moment and ours.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Dipping into 2027 draft capital to make a fifth-round selection in a draft that Schneider has repeatedly said lacks depth is a surprising move.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While apps can sometimes be helpful for identifying very basic issues, many fail to accurately diagnose complex pest infestations and nutrient deficiencies.—
Jamie Siebrase,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
-
The launch was a response to the popularity of GLP-1 weight loss drugs, which can cause hair loss due to nutritional deficiencies.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deficits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deficits. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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