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
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
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
Verb
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacking
Adjective
-
Mahomes and the Chiefs left just 37 seconds on the clock, insufficient time for the Lions to answer before halftime.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The judge said the evidence presented to the grand jury was insufficient to support the terrorism charge.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Department of Public Instruction routinely gathers and publishes data on other potential signs of student harm, such as how often students are chronically absent, experience homelessness or feel unsafe at school — but not the frequency of educator misconduct.—
Danielle DuClos,
jsonline.com,
17 Oct. 2025
-
However, The Rock has been absent from WWE for quite some time since that surprising moment.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Ever since Long and Tate starred in Theodore Witcher’s debut, Love Jones, fans of the cult classic have been begging for a sequel.—
Mya Abraham,
VIBE.com,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Third-year pro Kayshon Boutte is in the midst of a career year, veteran Stefon Diggs is having a bounce-back campaign, and most importantly, no one is publicly begging for more targets despite a quarterback who likes to spread the ball around.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Steinbach said powered land has become its own investable asset class, because power rights themselves are scarce and valuable.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The Vision Iconic appears to be a design study first and foremost, and as such, the mechanical details are scarce.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s the missing chink in the armor right now.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Jeremy Moore was identified by WZTV as a longtime employee at the facility who is now missing.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Infrastructure gaps, such as missing water lines or inadequate manholes, are other challenges that the group has collaborated with the Unified Government on.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The report comes after the Coast Guard concluded in August that a combination of factors including inadequate design, improper maintenance and a toxic workplace culture at OceanGate all contributed to the disaster.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That foggy conclusion leaves the reader in the position of the speaker herself, asking questions about her own capacity to sympathize against her tendency to wonder.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
-
In February, Greenberg's family settled lawsuits with the City of Philadelphia and others, asking them to reevaluate Ellen's manner of death.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The 29-time PGA Tour winner has carded three rounds in the 60s, but hasn't been able to go low enough to be among the contenders.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
-
The pair keep a relatively low profile but have collaborated on productions including Wickline’s theater project, Dukes Forever, which Hornbuckle directed.—
Alyssa Davis,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacking. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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