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
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
These are all signs of a lacking musclespan, whereas not noticing any difficulties in everyday tasks suggests a stronger trajectory.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 11 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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
These are all signs of a lacking musclespan, whereas not noticing any difficulties in everyday tasks suggests a stronger trajectory.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacking
Adjective
-
Aaron thought about writing an op-ed or speaking at a rally, but such gestures struck him as painfully insufficient.—
Oriana van Praag,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Kratom poisonings are probably underestimated due to the reliance on self-reports and because of insufficient testing, the study researchers and other experts agreed.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In a new documentary, the band revealed that Jin is absent from the songwriting credits on the record because of prior tour obligations that kept him from the bulk of their writing sessions.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The committee, which has one vacant seat, failed to support a recommendation that the county approve the new lease on a 3-3 vote with two members absent, said Chair Cliff Kaiser.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
These questions linger as Ion goes about his day, looking for work, begging for change, and scarfing down a meal—moments that flash by in quick, propulsive blips.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The officer was able to keep distance between himself and Jones, while Jones’ sister could be heard screaming and begging police not to shoot him, according to the footage.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Companies competed for scarce workers with healthcare coverage when wages were frozen.—
Charles Edward Gehrke,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Details were scarce on when checks would arrive, and a political battle in Congress over funding the Department of Homeland Security continued in earnest Friday.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Fort Worth police are asking for the public’s help locating a missing 14-year-old boy, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The author or co-author of more than 40 books, Lee was finalizing a book on missing-persons investigations in his final days, the university's statement said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This disparity is driven by inadequate access to prenatal care, high hypertension rates and other social factors.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
-
El Cerrito’s existing library is unsafe and inadequate.—
Paul Fadelli,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Sacramento Police Department identified Hernandez as the suspect in the deadly stabbing and released his photo and description in December 2017, asking the public to help find him.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
25 Mar. 2026
-
After asking him to model courage, and to be the container of everyone’s hope—and after so many of Rozos’s peers loudly cheered him on—NYU denied Rozos their diploma.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Customers in Upper Chichester, Lower Chichester, Marcus Hook and Twin Oaks, might experience low to no water pressure as the main break affects the area.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
While the data show overall birth outcomes improving — declining rates of prematurity, low birth weight, and infant mortality — disparities are still prevalent, particularly for Black women.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacking. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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