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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lack
Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Prime Minister Mark Carney last week said Rousseau had shown a lack of judgment by releasing only an English-language video after the crash.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
For many Americans, transportation options such as taking the bus aren't feasible, given that many regions lack mass transit.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lack
Noun
But before that report could be finalized, it was dropped — not for lack of evidence, but for lack of resources.
—Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Prime Minister Mark Carney last week said Rousseau had shown a lack of judgment by releasing only an English-language video after the crash.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
The real story may lack the drama of a Hollywood adventure, but for the families and the dogs themselves, an ordinary walk home was always the happiest ending.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
For many Americans, transportation options such as taking the bus aren't feasible, given that many regions lack mass transit.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lack
Noun
-
For example, Vermont legislators have introduced legislation requiring that tech products used in school be registered and certified with the Secretary of State to prove limited data collection and the absence of addictive algorithms.—
Abby McCloskey,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
And haunting is about distance, the presence of an absence.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The lack of pay has contributed to high call-out rates at airports across the country, including at Philadelphia International Airport, where staffing shortages have led to longer security lines.—
Eva Andersen,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The war has threatened global supplies of oil and natural gas, sparked fertilizer shortages and disrupted air travel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Channel 24 answered a need identified by a city study on the local music economy back in 2023.—
Madisen Keavy,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The need in the north Overland Park operates one indoor pool, three outdoor pools and five water play areas to serve its population, according to the master plan draft.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This phase is designed to address deficiencies identified during initial operations, complete technical refinements, and implement maintenance or system adjustments before the platform transitions into a regular deployment cycle.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
-
At Pebble Creek at Lake Mary, 85 apartment units were condemned due to life-threatening deficiencies, and at the Rialto Apartments near Sand Lake Road, nearly 400 residents were evacuated due to structural instability.—
Keegan A. Berry,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Coors Field has made Hall of Famers feign injuries, rookies beg for mercy, and used Lorenzen for dental floss after the Phillies devoured, in order, his curve, slider, cutter, changeup and sinker.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The owner then revealed three bearded dragons with various injuries and begged her to take them.—
Julian Camejo,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ali, who wasn’t formally charged, called his family to say that he would be released on bail, and asked them to gather the funds and collect him from prison.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The Manteca Fire Department is taking action and trying to get ahead of this fire season by asking residents to reduce fire danger or face fines.—
Carmela Karcher,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Nowadays, the two positions blur together, but his father, Troy, and Harvard-Westlake coach David Rebibo insisted his aspirations were to be on the ball.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Shaban, an hour into his testimony, insisted again to Doucette that he was never charged with a crime.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Amid a drumbeat of disclosures that begin to exact consequences for some powerful people — particularly Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Britain's former Prince Andrew — Congress passed legislation to force the Justice Department to disclose its investigative files on Epstein.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The legislation Amid a drumbeat of disclosures that begin to exact consequences for some powerful people — particularly Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Britain’s former Prince Andrew — Congress passed legislation to force the Justice Department to disclose its investigative files on Epstein.—
Jennifer Peltz,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lack. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
