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
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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
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 27 Oct. 2025
And the flick, based on Hoover’s bestselling novel, lays it on thick alongside a lacking narrative and cringey dialogue.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
With a severly lacking ability to go for big plays on both offense and defense, former NFL quarterback Chris Simms belives the Bills will not be able to compete in the AFC in 2025.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Even well into the 1930s, America’s defense machinery was woefully lacking, especially in the critical transport of material and personnel.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2025
And every year is subject to the quality of the free-agent class, and 2021’s starting pitching market was especially lacking.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
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
Adjective
But Wild coach John Hynes noted in training camp that Jiricek’s decision making in the heat of the battle in the defensive zone is sometimes lacking.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 27 Oct. 2025
And the flick, based on Hoover’s bestselling novel, lays it on thick alongside a lacking narrative and cringey dialogue.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
With a severly lacking ability to go for big plays on both offense and defense, former NFL quarterback Chris Simms belives the Bills will not be able to compete in the AFC in 2025.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Even well into the 1930s, America’s defense machinery was woefully lacking, especially in the critical transport of material and personnel.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2025
And every year is subject to the quality of the free-agent class, and 2021’s starting pitching market was especially lacking.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacking
Adjective
-
There was insufficient hot water at the hand sink and three-compartment sink, and the inspector found mouse and rat droppings in the kitchen and pantry.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Oct. 2025
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Prosecutors who recently left the job cited high workload due to low staffing levels, insufficient pay and a lack of experienced staff to train and mentor colleagues as reasons for leaving, said county officials, citing exit interview responses.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This creates an unchecked culture of humiliation, and makes the social media world for Gen Z a place where accountability is absent and cruelty is rewarded.—
Eli Thompson,
Rolling Stone,
25 Oct. 2025
-
In the video released by police the man is absent from the camera frame for much of the chase and he is not seen turning toward the officer or raising his gun.—
Violet Ikonomova,
Freep.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After making its first appearance at the 2024 Live Más Live event, the dessert quickly built a cult-like reputation online, with fans sharing mockups, memes and petitions begging for a real release.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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Yep, the 115 is the go-to when the faucet’s turned on and the trees are begging for tracks.—
Kimberly Beekman,
Outside,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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As housing remains scarce, pricey, and out of reach, the share of first-time home buyers has hit an all-time low.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Cost of living is raging, high-paying job opportunities are scarce, and layoffs are on the rise.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
With the sprain, Flacco faces the reality of potentially missing Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears.—
Cameron Belcher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Dozens were killed in Haiti and Jamaica, while many more remain missing.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Furthermore, recent years have exposed significant professional failures—from the flawed coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic to inadequate reporting on President Biden’s cognitive health.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The notion that the catastrophe stems from inadequate defense spending collapses the moment the interceptors fail.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
However, as the show continues to capture audiences with a dramatization of one of the most notorious true crime cases in modern American history, the man responsible for the killings is asking viewers to consider watching with a skeptical mind.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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Martinez joined Supervisor Jim Desmond in asking the board to make state funding for Proposition 36 a legislative priority.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The organization’s Green Heart Project, which studies the impact of better air quality on heart disease through urban greening, has found that increasing the number of trees and shrubs in an area can create lower levels of a blood marker associated with inflammation.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Oct. 2025
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Here is Carreras profiting from that exact ploy while playing for Benfica against Barcelona in the Champions League last season, sneaking forward on the far side before receiving the switch and hammering a low cross into striker Vangelis Pavlidis to score.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacking. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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