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
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
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
-
Climate scientists have been calling attention to the snowpack shortages in nearly every region of the West this year.—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Her goal is primary care, one of the specialties facing the most severe shortages nationwide.—
Nancy Badertscher,
AJC.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Braves leadership, meanwhile, insists the rotation is good enough to contend.—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Byrne and Slim’s score insists that not even death can stop the beat of this democratic spirit.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Why are women more susceptible to vitamin D deficiencies?—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
20 Feb. 2026
-
In a study, Microsoft scientists sought to overcome those deficiencies by using femtosecond lasers, which fire high-power laser pulses just quadrillionths of a second long.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The film begs us to make the leap to relevance, to say that this creature’s trial is the trial of being alive today.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Still, the rapid adoption of Burrito League begs the challenge—what the hell is so appealing about running around and around and around the same restaurant for days on end?—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Demonstrating that government can take care of the basics while accomplishing big things, which requires following through on our commitment to invest in critical needs like water, connectivity, and healthcare.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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The agency requires its divisions, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, to train officers in de-escalation techniques and to use force only after a verbal warning, if possible, and a chance to comply.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The measure also asks voters to approve the creation of an oversight group that would monitor where the money goes.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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Some asks, like requiring immigration officers to wear body cameras, appear to enjoy bipartisan support.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Colonialization exacts a heavy toll.—
Taylor Crumpton,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
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But the Seahawks and their passionate fans will take it; this title represents Seattle's second Super Bowl triumph and exacts a measure of revenge for the heart-wrenching, last-second defeat in Super Bowl 49.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Because laser ablation involves millions of possible parameter combinations, the researchers turned to machine learning.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
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The latest mystery involves a teen runaway from a Catholic school — and Franka Potente dressed like a ninja.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacks. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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