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
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
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
-
China’s apparent surge in missile production comes as the US expends sophisticated defense systems in Ukraine and Israel, causing some ammunition shortages and sparking debate in Washington about how and where to deploy its high-end weapons.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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When staffing shortages occur, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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That's part of a peculiar mindset that insists people with low incomes should not only be poor, but miserable.—
NEAL RUBIN,
Freep.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Because he was raised by his stoic killer-king father, Dek insists to Thia that things like cooperation and sensitivity and grief are signs of weakness — even though the evidence of such weakness was precisely the reason why his own father wanted Dek killed.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Opponents raised concerns about the cost of new construction and long-term debt, arguing that renovations could have addressed the library’s deficiencies.—
Daniel Hunt,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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These nutrients reduce the risk of certain conditions present at birth, help fetal development, and prevent deficiencies that can affect the pregnant person.—
Nancy LeBrun,
Verywell Health,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Victor quickly apologizes for his past cruelty and begs the Creature for his forgiveness in the film’s final few moments.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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That begs the question of whether the Rockets need to upgrade at point guard, given their championship expectations.—
Ricardo Sandoval,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The offer is available for dine-in only, and requires a valid ID.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Black walnuts have an extremely hard shell that requires special tools or a heavy hammer to crack.—
Randy Moll,
Arkansas Online,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In an exclusive clip from their conversation below, which was shared with PEOPLE before the interview airs, Lara asks Hines how those close to her responded when Kennedy fully embraced MAGA.—
Greta Bjornson,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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According to court documents, the Marathon County Sheriff's Office notifies ICE of every person booked into the jail who was not born in the United States, and asks if the agency wants a detainer.—
Laura Schulte,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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However, mythmaking exacts costs on our understanding of the past.—
Isaac Butler,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
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One game for the division (and the division’s one playoff spot)… And Seattle exacts revenge for 2019.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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One promising route involves converting carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, which can then be transformed into fuels and chemicals using electricity from renewable sources.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
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Getting there involves a short cliffside hike—pause at the top for the postcard view of the Dois Irmãos peaks—before descending a rocky path.—
Carla Vianna,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacks. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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