Synonyms of lack

lack 1 of 2

noun

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

• absence
• shortage
• dearth
• paucity
• deficiency
• scarcity
• inadequacy
• insufficiency
• loss
• want
• necessity
• omission
• deficit
• poverty
• deprivation
• failure
• famine
• need
• meagerness
• scarceness
• skimpiness
• scantiness
• inadequateness
• undersupply
• privation
• vacuum
• scantness
• void
• needfulness
• emptiness
• blankness
• vacuity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• presence
• abundance
• plenty
• wealth
• adequacy
• excess
• amplitude
• sufficiency
• surplus
• plenitude
• bounty
• flood
• quantity
• lot
• supply
• volume
• mass
• plentitude
• loads
• overabundance
• oversupply
• deal
• plentifulness
• deluge
• pile
• surfeit
• mountain
• stock
• superabundance
• heap
• stack
• fund
• plenteousness
• pot
• raft
• pool
• bushel
• reams
• wad
• peck
• stockpile
• gobs
• oodles
• much
• hoard
• scads
• cache
• stash

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

• shortage
• deficiency
• absence
• paucity
• scarcity
• deficit
• inadequacy
• insufficiency
• dearth
• drought
• poverty
• famine
• failure
• scarceness
• crunch
• scantiness
• lacuna
• inadequateness
• pinch
• omission
• undersupply
• want
• necessity
• meagerness
• need
• skimpiness
• privation
• poorness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abundance
• plenty
• adequacy
• wealth
• sufficiency
• amplitude
• opulence
• plenitude
• excess
• surplus
• overabundance
• surfeit
• copiousness
• oversupply
• bountifulness

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

• need
• absence
• needfulness
• shortage
• paucity
• deficiency
• scarcity
• inadequacy
• insufficiency
• want
• deficit
• dearth
• defect
• poverty
• requirement
• necessity
• minus
• deprivation
• meagerness
• requisite
• scarceness
• skimpiness
• essential
• demand
• scantiness
• privation
• famishment

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adequacy
• supply
• sufficiency
• stock
• excess
• fund
• enough
• plenty
• pool
• surplus
• fill
• overabundance
• stockpile
• surfeit
• oversupply
• hoard

lack

2 of 2

verb

as in to hurt (for)

Related Words

• hurt (for)
• beg
• ask
• insist
• cry (for)
• exact
• require
• need
• quest
• involve
• demand
• stipulate
• necessitate
• enjoin
• entail
• command
• want
• clamor (for)
• press
• challenge
• warrant
• claim
• take
• bear

Dissimilar Words

• have
• hold
• possess
• own

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of lack

Noun

And this is one of those things that flags my lack of comprehension of most things happening in my midst. — John Ramos, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

The neighborhood just a few miles north of uptown has long felt neglected by the city, some residents say, and the lack of a station would continue a history of inequity. — Dj Simmons, Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2026

Verb

Some people may have lost businesses and don't have the resources to bring them back, and communities may lack the infrastructure to recover. — Luis Giraldo, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Parties pushed into a process by others might go through the motions but are likely to lack the commitment required. — Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026