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
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
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
Noun
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacks
Noun
-
The Democratic Alliance — the ANC’s main opponent in November polls despite its role as a ruling partner in the national government — is likely to benefit from the water shortages.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
1 June 2026
-
The consequence of the effect on fertilizer is higher food costs—and perhaps even food shortages.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Lind insists her parents did not help the casting effort, as the couple had misgivings about their kids following them in the business.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
And then there’s the prim and unfriendly Stagg, who doesn’t play well with others, who insists on having the office to himself, and who refuses to let the affable Krick be a part of his reports to Ike and the rest of the generals.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Also, legislation to diagnose and treat deficiencies in math is moving in the Capitol.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
-
One of his therapists had eventually explained to us that Charley used his ridiculous memory to compensate for his phonetic deficiencies.—
Chris Jones,
The Atlantic,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Its location off of a quiet courtyard feels ultra private, and the idyllic Bois de Boulogne begs its visitors to slow down.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Architectural Digest,
29 May 2026
-
Stagg, though, begs to differ from the American's assessment.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
The program currently requires companies to submit a plan to the EPA outlining safety precautions, hazard assessments in the case of an accidental release and emergency response steps.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
-
This super athletic girl requires a yard with a high fence.—
Maryanne Dell,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps that’s why Irish actor Colm Meaney has been called in to play the proprietor of a convenience store who, in short order, conspires to get Cameron a job alongside Tova, asks Tova out on a date, and is forever giving away coffee and other goods.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
30 May 2026
-
Trademark law asks whether the use misleads consumers about whether a company or person has produced or endorsed something.—
Daryl Lim,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
For glowing skin, get the plumping thirst relief facial, which involves a nori algae mask and organic marine products only found at Shangri-La Boracay.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
They Debrief And Recover Post-Travel A successful campaign, whether in sports or politics, involves a debriefing and post-review to assess the big picture.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacks. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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