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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
Verb
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
-
For American farmers waiting on harvesting equipment, that means delays, shortages and higher costs down the line.—
Veronique De Rugy,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Recovering and processing that gas, instead of wasting it, could ease Iraq's chronic power shortages.—
Emma Graham,
CNBC,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But Daly still insists romance is a real possibility in this special place.—
Bernadette Keith,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Arne Slot insists Liverpool’s worst run of results for nearly 11 years has not dented confidence levels in his misfiring squad.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
If social media is any indication, lean bulking still commonly involves extreme dieting, which can lead to nutrition deficiencies, hormonal changes, eating disorders, and loss of muscle and bone density.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The Swedish government said up to 95 percent of the population could survive on grains for three months without any nutrient deficiencies in the plan which would provide people with 3,000 calories a day.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
All of which begs the question, can—and should—Europe use the once-in-a-generation opportunity presented by decarbonization to reboot its own renewables supply chain, creating green jobs and sustainable wealth for the future?—
Andrew Saunders,
Fortune,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Carrie begs Lo to drop it before things get worse.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The parts of California where going someplace requires getting on a highway and driving for thirty minutes feel like both Costco’s native habitat and my own.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Overlooking Eaton Place, the sky-high oasis offers the privacy and luxury that a rock legend requires.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Mark asks, who has been our best signing so far from this summer?—
Handbrake Off,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
As Leavitt leads me down the rabbit hole, the brothers exchange a look, and Matt half-jokingly asks Leavitt not to spoil the season.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
All of this exacts a fuzzy psychological toll.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
20 Oct. 2025
-
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
-
The sharp deterioration in air quality this week comes following celebrations for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, which traditionally involves the widespread use of firecrackers which release sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides into the air, as well as harmful heavy metals.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The craft involves manipulating color to create a specific mood, visual style or narrative theme and is widely-used across film, TV and music.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacks. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share