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
Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026
What Hafley’s team lacks are proven, established names; productivity that can be relied on if healthy.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 7 June 2026
The Drive The turbo engine gives it the push the standard engine lacks, especially when merging, climbing grades or passing.
—Josh Max, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Ford’s freedom or constraints, his prejudices or lacks, gauge his moment and ours.
—Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026
Dipping into 2027 draft capital to make a fifth-round selection in a draft that Schneider has repeatedly said lacks depth is a surprising move.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Industrial composting sites—big, regionalized facilities that can churn out large volumes of organic waste—are designed to speed up the composting process using heat, moisture, and carbon control, things that a simple countertop compost container lacks.
—Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Apr. 2026
Cinch doesn't have many add-on options available, which means customization lacks.
—Caroline Ernst, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
The artist thought that paintings and drawings have a certain depth that photography on its own lacks.
—Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026
What Hafley’s team lacks are proven, established names; productivity that can be relied on if healthy.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 7 June 2026
The Drive The turbo engine gives it the push the standard engine lacks, especially when merging, climbing grades or passing.
—Josh Max, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Ford’s freedom or constraints, his prejudices or lacks, gauge his moment and ours.
—Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026
Dipping into 2027 draft capital to make a fifth-round selection in a draft that Schneider has repeatedly said lacks depth is a surprising move.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Industrial composting sites—big, regionalized facilities that can churn out large volumes of organic waste—are designed to speed up the composting process using heat, moisture, and carbon control, things that a simple countertop compost container lacks.
—Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Apr. 2026
Cinch doesn't have many add-on options available, which means customization lacks.
—Caroline Ernst, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacks
Noun
-
Owner David Garcia, who also runs La Camaronera, cited personal hardships, rising costs and labor shortages as factors in the closure.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
22 June 2026
-
Builders are also under their own pressure from higher material costs, persistent labor shortages, and slower sales.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
22 June 2026
Verb
-
Disillusionment aside, what’s the point of a Robin Hood who insists on standing for nothing?—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
However, Sanders insists that his legislation transfers a fair amount of wealth while critically ensuring that AI benefits humanity.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
The growing calls for accountability come as a local animal rescue founder has filed a lawsuit against the City of San Jose, alleging serious deficiencies in shelter operations.—
Maddie White,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
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Iron and vitamin D deficiencies can both cause fatigue, but iron deficiency tends to have a more direct and noticeable effect on energy, especially in women with heavy periods.—
Sara Hoffman,
Verywell Health,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The role required a physical and comedic register she had not previously been asked to sustain at this scale, which begs the question of whether playing someone this chaotic is sustainable for someone who describes herself, without hesitation, as directly opposite.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
The lush gardens, manicured but also a touch sauvage, have plenty of recliners, and a crystalline pool just begs for a quick dip.—
Caitlin Gunther,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
The county exempted the proposal from CEQA, which requires projects to undergo an extensive state environmental review before breaking ground.—
Katie King,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
-
But because Pennsylvania now requires absentee ballots to be received by Election Day, the date requirement no longer serves its intended purpose, Democrats argue.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
The Virgo moon asks you to focus on the small tasks.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
-
One approach asks experts to inspect the uncertainty once.—
Demetri Giannikopoulos,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Verb
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Ali then exacts his revenge, pumping several rounds into Alamo's chest as the antagonistic figure falls for good.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
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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
Verb
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The longer answer involves a team of researchers right down the road in Arlington who are about to play a real role in keeping it that way.—
Ciara McCarthy. Produced with AI assistance,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 June 2026
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Renting out parking lots, auditoriums and other school facilities often involves coming in on weekends and troubleshooting issues with vendors throughout the week, the North Side principal said.—
Mila Koumpilova,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacks. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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