as in lack
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
there was a troubling shortage of supplies for the troops overseas this year
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Recent Examples of shortage
The bill would allow contractors to build on relatively small lots, encouraging the construction of smaller homes, and tackling a slice of Connecticut’s housing shortage.
—
Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
Interim guidelines used for nearly two decades to manage shortages are set to expire at the end of the year.
—Amalia Roy, FOXNews.com, 22 Mar. 2026
The effort targets a looming global shortage of high-performance chips, particularly those needed for AI, robotics, and large-scale infrastructure.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
American shipyards have long faced a shortage of skilled labor, including welders and pipe fitters, in part because the work is grueling and dangerous.
—Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
Interim guidelines used for nearly two decades to manage shortages are set to expire at the end of the year.
—Amalia Roy, FOXNews.com, 22 Mar. 2026
The effort targets a looming global shortage of high-performance chips, particularly those needed for AI, robotics, and large-scale infrastructure.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
American shipyards have long faced a shortage of skilled labor, including welders and pipe fitters, in part because the work is grueling and dangerous.
—Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortage
Noun
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The lack of snow has water providers across the state enacting drought restrictions or preparing to do so.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
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While Havana is signaling a willingness to allow foreign investment, many in the community remain skeptical, citing decades of political control and lack of economic transparency.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The state has sent Dole four notices of deficiency about the dam since 2009 and five years ago fined the company $20,000 for failing to address safety deficiencies on time, according to records.—
Jennifer Sinco Kelleher,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
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Before injections became routine, up to about 1 in 60 babies suffered vitamin K deficiency bleeding, which can also affect the gastrointestinal tract.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The journalist Ezra Klein has written a book of the same name, Abundance, arguing that governments have a key role to play in ending the age of scarcity.—
Kamal Ahmed,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
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Still, there are many reasons to invest in professional sports teams, one being the scarcity of teams, with many leagues capped at around 30 clubs.—
Luisa Beltran,
Sportico.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shortage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortage. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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