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
Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2025
The film’s overall low-key tenor downplays both moral judgment and conspicuous style, though neither are entirely lacking.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Others point a finger at the PA, which remains deeply unpopular among Palestinians and is seen by many as weak, corrupt and lacking legitimacy.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025
Bringing out the playmaker While Horn got paid a record-setting contract in March, the national buzz about his talent has been somewhat lacking.
—Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2025
The greatest challenge for Stone, then, was injecting personality into an 11,000-square-foot house that was initially quite lacking in it.
—Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 17 Sep. 2025
Where the official response to this tragedy was lacking, the Burning Man community stepped in to fill the gap.
—Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
That is not to say that his coverage abilities are in any way lacking, but the Jaguars might see more value in Hunter catching passes to start.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
It can be used to crudely express boredom, annoyance or to signal that something is self-indulgent or lacking purpose.
—Sofi Zeman
august 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
Art that truly centres girlhood, meanwhile, had too often been dismissed as sentimental or lacking intellectual rigor.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2025
The film’s overall low-key tenor downplays both moral judgment and conspicuous style, though neither are entirely lacking.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Others point a finger at the PA, which remains deeply unpopular among Palestinians and is seen by many as weak, corrupt and lacking legitimacy.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025
Bringing out the playmaker While Horn got paid a record-setting contract in March, the national buzz about his talent has been somewhat lacking.
—Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2025
The greatest challenge for Stone, then, was injecting personality into an 11,000-square-foot house that was initially quite lacking in it.
—Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 17 Sep. 2025
Where the official response to this tragedy was lacking, the Burning Man community stepped in to fill the gap.
—Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
That is not to say that his coverage abilities are in any way lacking, but the Jaguars might see more value in Hunter catching passes to start.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
It can be used to crudely express boredom, annoyance or to signal that something is self-indulgent or lacking purpose.
—Sofi Zeman
august 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacking
Adjective
-
However, protesters argue that current approaches remain insufficient given the urgency of the climate crisis.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Siebert had recently told senior Justice Department officials that his office found insufficient evidence to charge James, according to The New York Times.—
Ian Swanson,
The Hill,
21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
And by the time Bob finally reaches the border of that emptiness, the actor playing him no longer feels the least bit absent from himself.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Fernandez was absent from the meeting.—
Michelle Marchante
September 26,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Sequins, rhinestones, and that dazzling aqua-orange palette are practically begging to be worn, danced in, and yes, painted right onto our nails.—
Abby Dupes,
Allure,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Hours earlier, his team was begging us & the Adams campaign to join their publicity stunt lawsuit against @ABC7.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Details on the particulars of the city’s agreement with the two men were scarce on Monday night.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Instead of relying on scarce precious metals, Aepnus uses advanced electrode formulations that facilitate reactions at the electrode surface.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
One member of the British royal family who was noticeably missing, however, was his wife, Camilla.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Decker was already facing custodial interference charges after the girls were initially reported missing.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Guterres warned that current pledges remain inadequate.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Public health officials warn that the spread is facilitated by travel, medical tourism, and inadequate infection control practices.—
Ben Kelly,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Advertisement Nathalie Flores, Vice President of Carbon Markets and Strategic Accounts at StoneX Group, kicked off an audience Q&A session by asking about how companies should give back.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
-
This has created bottlenecks for social workers and police officers who often struggle to find spots for people voluntarily asking to get clean.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Jarren Duran lined a low single through the left side of the infielder, and Eaton raced home.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Long-term solutions may involve investments in affordable housing and community land trusts to provide sustainable options for low-income families.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacking. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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