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
-
Many started profiting from GLP-1 drugs during widespread shortages.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Anticipating global shortages, both Russia and China have already instituted export bans of certain fertilizers to help ensure ample domestic supplies.—
E.J. Antoni,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Warring nations also reach ceasefires when a powerful third country insists the two parties stop fighting due to risks to world peace and regional stability.—
Donald Heflin,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Pannek insists that helping teammates play their best to the best of their abilities is what matters now.—
Theodore Tollefson,
Twin Cities,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His athletic deficiencies show up in pass protection.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Health inspectors also noted deficiencies such as lack of handwashing, unacceptable sanitizer usage, and accumulation of food residue on non-food equipment.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Back at the main building, Restaurant Kinsley draws both guests and locals with a seasonal New American menu featuring oysters, rigatoni, and a flourless brownie that begs for repeat orders.—
Jordi Lippe-McGraw,
Robb Report,
9 Apr. 2026
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This begs the question as to how Woodland, who qualified for The Masters by winning in Houston, will be able to manage his PTSD this week during one of golf’s elite events.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There are many different types of crabgrass (Digitaria spp), but getting rid of them requires the same approach, says Waltz.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
-
This requires careful monitoring of key parameters such as sugar and acidity from veraison through to harvest.—
Maureen Mackey , Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Luna asks what the customer is purchasing and creates a corresponding transaction on a nearby iPad equipped with a card payment system.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
11 Apr. 2026
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Tickets are not required to pick daffodils at Shickasheen, but the farm asks that visitors bring their own scissors or pruners.—
Catherine Messier,
The Providence Journal,
11 Apr. 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
-
Colonialization exacts a heavy toll.—
Taylor Crumpton,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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His heroism, as described in the book, involves matters that reach deep into the history of New York’s cinematic craft unions.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Part of that transformation, Hernández said, involves controlling the narrative.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacks. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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