lacks 1 of 2

noun

plural of lack
as in shortages
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number the lack of eligible candidates for the jury kept the trial from getting started

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lacks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of lack
as in insists

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lacks
Noun
This is true of the remake as well, but LaBute’s changes to Cage’s character, and his addition of a personal connection to the island, add a chilling dimension the original lacks. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2026 Mixing wand finish is oxidizing for mixing lacks replacement with stainless steel material. — Nwa Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026 While Verse and Alex Wright will man the edges and Denzel Ward remains an elite anchor in the secondary, the front seven lacks proven game-disrupting star power, leaving the defense reliant on scheme and discipline to hold up. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2026 Long used in commercial kitchens for sinks and countertops, steel sinks contain chromium that provides corrosion-resistance and nickel that adds the brightness pure steel lacks. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 19 July 2026 The Anaheim Ducks, at least, had a lot of pace and tempo to help make up for what Carlson’s skating lacks at this point in his career. — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 2 July 2026 Nothing beats a big package or a pipe to compensate for decorations, makeup, and other lacks. — Joyce Mansour, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 Each provides amino acids that the other lacks, so eating them together gives you all the essential amino acids. — Merve Ceylan, Health, 22 June 2026 The artist thought that paintings and drawings have a certain depth that photography on its own lacks. — Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacks
  1. shortages
  2. insists
  3. deficiencies
  4. begs
  5. requires
  6. asks
  7. exacts
  8. involves
Noun
  • They were frustrated with teacher shortages and poor conditions at schools, including overcrowded classrooms and dilapidated buildings.
    — James Cirrone , Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The movement, which began over staffing shortages at one high school, has grown to include students and workers demanding better schools, higher wages and pensions.
    — Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of shortages
Verb
  • The star rocker then insists the lake name change was a diversion from a faltering presidency.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Even after those polls were released, Fazio still insists that the race is tight.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of insists
Noun
  • An independent committee found that the Housing Bureau's independent checking unit, the Buildings Department, the Fire Services Department and the Labor Department had deficiencies in their supervision work, Lee said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The coaster’s most recent inspection, on March 16, reported no violations, deficiencies, citations or red tags, according to King.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of deficiencies
Verb
  • Lifelike Cat With a face full of fur and electric-green-colored contacts, this cat costume begs to be seen.
    — Michella Oré, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2026
  • When Sita begs Rama to follow a demon disguised as a beautiful golden deer, Rama draws a magical protective circle around the princess and instructs her to stay within the circle’s borders.
    — Sohini Sarah Pillai, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of begs
Verb
  • No law requires debt collectors to request arrest warrants when defendants fail to appear in court.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The system requires the driver’s hands be on the wheel and, while not perfect at remaining centered in the lane, does enough to take the fatigue off of constantly battling a truck’s tendency to drift at speed.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of requires
Verb
  • The chief executive asks sharper questions, and everyone in the room tends to follow.
    — Kai-Fu Lee, Time, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The operator asks whether the shooter is firing and Giamanco says yes.
    — Martha Bellisle, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of asks
Verb
  • The determination to do so sometimes exacts a great price, as Gettysburg attests.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Onshoring hasn’t taken off as a runaway trend even as the current political administration exacts punishing duties on offshore production markets far and wide.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of exacts
Verb
  • Chelation therapy involves the administration of administering specialized chemical agents that attach to the lead molecules in the bird’s blood and form a compound that is expelled, mostly via urine.
    — Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The process for obtaining revocable consent currently involves filing a petition with the Department of Transportation, which then must hold a public hearing.
    — Digital Producer, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of involves

Browse Nearby Words

lackluster
lacks
laconic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacks. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of quondam

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All