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
-
Cuba provides free, universal healthcare, but the system has been pushed to the brink as a result of resource shortages, fuel scarcity and power outages that can last more than 20 hours.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
-
The war displaced most of the Palestinian population of more than 2 million, left large parts of the territory in rubble and created widespread shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies asGaza’s border crossings — all but one controlled by Israel — were shut.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Ukraine, which says it has been let down by previous security assurances from allies, insists that guarantees are ratified in parliament.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
12 Dec. 2025
-
These simmering resentments, along with standard NHS protocol and the need to kick the story into gear, help explain why Liz chooses to call social services when Jess unconvincingly insists her infant daughter Betsey simply fell down while crawling.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
For a team that has barely begun to address its many roster deficiencies, the San Francisco Giants are winning the heck out of the Winter Meetings.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Vitamin D deficiencies may be more pronounced during the winter months due to less sunlight.—
Maggie O'Neill,
Health,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
However, that’s not the case for supporting categories, which begs the question — why?—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
13 Aug. 2025
-
His preseason is, more than likely, done which begs the question.—
Geoffrey Knox,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The Miami city charter requires voter approval for long-term leases of public land on waterfront property.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Dec. 2025
-
The bill requires the Justice Department to release all documents related to Epstein and information related to the investigation into his 2019 death in a federal prison within 30 days, the Associated Press reported.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In her confessional, Larsa asks who can show up two hours late and pretend like nothing happens.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Willinger said there’s a relatively strong chance the Supreme Court will get involved, which the justices tend to do when a lower court strikes down or restricts the application of a federal criminal law – especially if the government asks them to intervene.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
At May Mobility, Olson said that involves installing systems in autonomous cars that are capable of simulating and assessing various scenarios simultaneously and choosing the best option.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
16 June 2026
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One is debt settlement, which involves negotiating with the creditor or debt collector on a lump-sum settlement amount that's less than the full amount owed.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacks. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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