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
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Recent Examples of lacks
Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Each provides amino acids that the other lacks, so eating them together gives you all the essential amino acids.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 27 Jan. 2026
Economic theory would suggest that the best place to make a major investment such as a STAR bond would be in a place that has low, or lacks, economic activity.
—Sofi Zeman
january 21, Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 2026
The 6-2, 2-00-pounder lacks experience but does boast ideal length and versatility and currently projects as a late-round selection or free agent.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 16 Dec. 2025
So Vegas has to hope that their forward depth is strong enough to balance out where their star power lacks, relative to other contenders.
—The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
This absence — of God, of love, of plain community spirit — is a metaphor for the whole parish, where everyone is defined by their own lacks and deficiencies, the weaknesses that cause Wicks to despise them and vow to bring down them all.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2025
But Davies’s film has a patience and lightness of touch that Scorsese’s lacks, as well as a note-perfect lead in Gillian Anderson.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
As of Wednesday, firearms dealers are required under state law to use scanners that pull the prospective purchaser’s name, date of birth and other details from the card’s magnetic strip, which the new design lacks — except if they are authorized otherwise.
—Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Each provides amino acids that the other lacks, so eating them together gives you all the essential amino acids.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 27 Jan. 2026
Economic theory would suggest that the best place to make a major investment such as a STAR bond would be in a place that has low, or lacks, economic activity.
—Sofi Zeman
january 21, Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 2026
The 6-2, 2-00-pounder lacks experience but does boast ideal length and versatility and currently projects as a late-round selection or free agent.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 16 Dec. 2025
So Vegas has to hope that their forward depth is strong enough to balance out where their star power lacks, relative to other contenders.
—The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
This absence — of God, of love, of plain community spirit — is a metaphor for the whole parish, where everyone is defined by their own lacks and deficiencies, the weaknesses that cause Wicks to despise them and vow to bring down them all.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2025
But Davies’s film has a patience and lightness of touch that Scorsese’s lacks, as well as a note-perfect lead in Gillian Anderson.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacks
Noun
-
Teacher morale is increasingly important as states continue to struggle with teacher shortages, especially in hard-to-fill jobs like special education, science, technology, math, engineering and bilingual education.—
Diana Lambert,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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According to Burton, the situation becomes even more complex when educators encounter resource shortages that affect students directly.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The government insists the case has nothing to do with a free press, saying the defendants used news reporting as a pretext for years to commit acts that harmed China and Hong Kong.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
New Yorkers react to plan Department of Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani insists reducing inspections will not compromise safety.—
Ali Bauman,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In games like Tuesday, when that deep postseason run seems realistic, UCLA pops the ball around on offense and communicates and hustles to overcome its deficiencies on defense.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
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The detention center operators would be required to correct any deficiencies identified by inspectors or face a civil penalty up to $25,000 a day for each violation.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Trunks, roots, and branches dot the sand, creating an ethereal landscape that begs for its photo to be taken.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
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When Hyacinth flounces off to check the hall, Eloise hot on her trail, Sophie begs for a moment of Violet’s time.—
Christina Grace Tucker,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Considering the extreme energy and ultrafast tempo the music requires, hardcore shows can be exhausting for all involved — and transformative.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
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Using biometrics as part of logins can speed up this process and improve security, but that requires an investment in technology implementation and training to use it.—
Don Aviv,
Time,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Dixie asks Buck, having previously ogled the shirtless firefighter during the Firefighter Games.—
Patrick Gomez,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Mar. 2026
-
In a video, Obama asks Virginians to support the voter referendum on the redrawn maps.—
MEG KINNARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Shrinking lake ice exacts its price Depending on how much greenhouse gases warm the planet in the coming years, the average lake could lose up to 10 to 28 days of ice cover by the end of the century, says Sapna Sharma, a global change biologist at York University in Canada.—
Berly McCoy,
NPR,
2 Mar. 2026
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Colonialization exacts a heavy toll.—
Taylor Crumpton,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Folks of all ages will appreciate the nightly Sirenna ritual, which involves a musical march from the lobby down to the sand, where adults are served a local favorite alcoholic chocolate drink, and kids’ eyes will pop when a mermaid appears through the plexiglass window of the infinity pool.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
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Our battery test involves cranking the screen's brightness to the maximum and streaming video over Wi-Fi until the battery gives out.—
Eric Zeman,
PC Magazine,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacks. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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