1
as in insufficient
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need
we felt the afternoon television offerings were somewhat lacking in entertainment value
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in absent
not present or in evidence
for the moment anyway, wood for the fireplace is lacking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lacking
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
On the other hand, the playoffs showed how lacking Atlanta is in some areas.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 1 May 2026
The detainees—from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Myanmar and eight other nations—were found in restricted compounds, some lacking passports or proper immigration documentation.
—Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
If your yard is a bit lacking in colorful birds, adding a feeder can help attract all sorts of them.
—Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Apr. 2026
But the upper frequencies are still slightly lacking.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
Loro Parque, a zoo on the island of Tenerife, offers a clean and safe environment, expert care and proper mental and social stimulation that Wikie and Keijo are desperately lacking.
—Valerie Greene, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
Financial vulnerability in Cook County has declined modestly since 2022, with fewer households reporting having less than a week of savings and fewer lacking confidence in reaching long-term goals.
—Jennifer Tescher, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
And don’t give me the lacking pass protection nonsense.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
With Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco and Ronny Mauricio all injured, the options are somewhat lacking.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
On the other hand, the playoffs showed how lacking Atlanta is in some areas.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 1 May 2026
The detainees—from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Myanmar and eight other nations—were found in restricted compounds, some lacking passports or proper immigration documentation.
—Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
If your yard is a bit lacking in colorful birds, adding a feeder can help attract all sorts of them.
—Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Apr. 2026
But the upper frequencies are still slightly lacking.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
Loro Parque, a zoo on the island of Tenerife, offers a clean and safe environment, expert care and proper mental and social stimulation that Wikie and Keijo are desperately lacking.
—Valerie Greene, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
Financial vulnerability in Cook County has declined modestly since 2022, with fewer households reporting having less than a week of savings and fewer lacking confidence in reaching long-term goals.
—Jennifer Tescher, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
And don’t give me the lacking pass protection nonsense.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacking
Adjective
-
The absence of a crosswalk, together with insufficient lighting and the intersection's predictable pedestrian hazards, creates grounds for wrongful death lawsuits.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
In this instance, the judges found the administration’s argument for the tariffs insufficient.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
The most concerning scenario is a slow-moving catastrophe that never fully enters public consciousness due to largely absent data.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
Ayton, a key part of the Lakers’ first-round series win, has been largely absent in the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Ring camera footage obtained by the outlet shows a woman frantically knocking on a neighbor's door and begging for help moments after the child was struck.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
-
There were cheers and kids begging for high-fives from him.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Her time with him looked scarce.—
Sydney Lupkin,
NPR,
10 May 2026
-
Because in a market like Orange County, where land is scarce and regulation is tight, the highest and best use is not always the newest building or the most polished project.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Busloads of volunteers, horses and ground-penetrating radar were called in for a search after Smart went missing.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
The missing middle ordinance has not yet driven development up, Soos said.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Local advocates say needless removals and inadequate watering are threatening decades of neighborhood cooling and environmental health benefits.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
His grounds for appeal included that Nauru’s medical services were inadequate to treat his severe asthma.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
This is the kind of invention that is going to become increasingly important in an economy that is asking more of the physical world.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
6 May 2026
-
There’s something deeply American about the constant push between frustration and hope, between asking what the hell is going on and still believing there's something worth fighting for.—
Time,
Time,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Cloudflare projected revenue of $664 million to $665 million for the second quarter, which was lower than the $666 million Wall Street anticipated.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
That is why trust in public health is at an all-time low.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacking. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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