1
as in absence
the fact or state of being absent
the lack of news about the fate of the soldiers was frustrating
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
the lack of eligible candidates for the jury kept the trial from getting started
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in need
a state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful
the lack of fresh water at the campsite definitely would be a problem
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lack
Max Gao, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
Ed Sheeran debuted his new look on Instagram on April 28, showing off his new hairstyle, or lack thereof.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Matt Richardson, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Sometimes referred to as obesogenic environments, neighborhoods with less access to fresh produce and grocery stores, or that lack sidewalks and green space, are risk factors for obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lack
Noun
Even though the action happened, there’s just a lack of accountability.
—Max Gao, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
Ed Sheeran debuted his new look on Instagram on April 28, showing off his new hairstyle, or lack thereof.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
The days after are also important as borrowers gain a new understanding of market conditions and lender responses to the Fed's moves, or lack thereof.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Sometimes referred to as obesogenic environments, neighborhoods with less access to fresh produce and grocery stores, or that lack sidewalks and green space, are risk factors for obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lack
Noun
-
San Antonio won Game 3 on the road in Wembanyama’s absence, came back from a 19-point deficit in Game 4 and cruised in Game 5.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
2 May 2026
-
Budget-conscious and leisure travelers would likely feel Spirit’s absence the most, especially in places where the airline has a big footprint such as Las Vegas and the Florida cities of Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.—
Aamer Madhani,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Right now, there’s no shortage of competition.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The shortage is particularly acute in the Philippines, which has declared a national state of energy emergency and risks running out of fuel.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Not peckish, not in need of a little boost—hungry, immediately and completely, hunger as urgent as any alarm clock.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
-
August 23 – September 22 Something at home needs adjusting before everything else works smoothly today.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Common vitamin D deficiency symptoms include fatigue, muscle weakness, bone pain, frequent illness and low mood.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Correcting a deficiency is one of the lowest-effort, highest-return moves in everyday health optimization — and the research behind it keeps getting more compelling.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The deck space is bliss for morning coffee moments, and the firepit is begging for s’mores.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
1 May 2026
-
But, more than any of her daring work in lesser movies, the question begs, for what?—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The team asked people to memorize locations on a graph while smelling the scent of rose.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
-
At one point, Iran asked to move its games to Mexico, but that request was rejected.—
Anne M. Peterson,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Instead, a top Justice Department official insisted the ruling wasn't binding, and the administration continued denying detainees around the country a chance for release.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 May 2026
-
Instead, a top Justice Department official insisted the ruling wasn’t binding, and the administration continued denying detainees around the country a chance for release.—
Sudhin Thanawala,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Orlando defeated Washington 1-0 to claim the 2024 NWSL Championship, while the Spirit exacted revenge with a penalty shootout victory in the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
-
The showgirl's 'rant bridges' Two key ingredients in Swift's songwriting are exacting wordplay and emotional payoff.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lack. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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