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
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
But Bob is historically tardy and his research and prep work is historically always pretty lacking.
—Outside Online, 25 Feb. 2026
The millions of taxpayer dollars saved by eliminating this wasteful expenditure can be used toward academic achievement, which by all accounts is severely lacking.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
Vučević is also a good defensive rebounder, an area in which the Celtics are greatly lacking.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Someone who speaks too directly is described as intense or lacking polish.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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
But Bob is historically tardy and his research and prep work is historically always pretty lacking.
—Outside Online, 25 Feb. 2026
The millions of taxpayer dollars saved by eliminating this wasteful expenditure can be used toward academic achievement, which by all accounts is severely lacking.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
Vučević is also a good defensive rebounder, an area in which the Celtics are greatly lacking.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Someone who speaks too directly is described as intense or lacking polish.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacking
Adjective
-
After reviewing the case, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office and the Draper City Prosecutor have declined to file charges against Paul, citing insufficient evidence to prove allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The letter does state that there is insufficient information to determine any serious risk of certain types of thyroid cancer and other unexpected risks of long-term use in pediatric patients with obesity.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Cardoso and Williams were both absent from the first day of training camp while completing duties for their overseas teams.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
This entire conversation might have concluded two years ago if the voters whose support the Royals required hadn’t viewed the details as a combination of absent, confusing or shifting.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Blue Jays have been begging for a spark for the last six games, anything to reignite an offence and bring home a win.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
From the colorful pattern to the movement of her blouse, every inch of Hudson's outfit is begging to be worn during a breezy brunch outside with friends.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
European and Asian allies, cut out of decision-making before the war began, have been left competing with one another for scarce energy deliveries, with some turning to America's adversaries for supplies.—
Eyck Freymann,
Time,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Since this is a scarce resource, most NICUs reserve it for the smallest preterm newborns and cannot provide it throughout an infant’s entire hospital stay.—
Alexander Crider,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Who reported Athena Strand missing?—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
-
But the update was about another missing person, 82-year-old Nancy Radakovich, who had been reported missing earlier during the day.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
More than 30 states rejected the deal as inadequate and continued their litigation.—
Rafi Schwartz,
TheWeek,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The hospitals struggled over the years under the company with inadequate staffing and antiquated equipment.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Others are asking what more can be done to prevent gun violence from claiming young lives.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Instead of asking parents to constantly adjust settings, the platform builds age-appropriate experiences from the start.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Shop sets with short and sleeveless tops, shorts, and cropped pants, and even one with a duster, starting as low as $20.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2026
-
This was, in part, because my family didn’t have a lot of money, and updating electronics was a low priority.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacking. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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