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
There's no energy shortage at all in the Western Hemisphere.
—
CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Statewide, that translates to a shortage of roughly 655,900 rental homes affordable to those households, according to the report.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
However, a broader housing shortage remains a problem.
—Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 7 Mar. 2026
India, a major buyer of crude oil from the Persian Gulf, is especially vulnerable to the shortage of oil.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortage
CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Statewide, that translates to a shortage of roughly 655,900 rental homes affordable to those households, according to the report.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
However, a broader housing shortage remains a problem.
—Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 7 Mar. 2026
India, a major buyer of crude oil from the Persian Gulf, is especially vulnerable to the shortage of oil.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortage
Noun
-
In response to this lack of demand, Canadian airlines cut flights, driving the number of seats on planes from Canada to Las Vegas to its lowest point in two decades.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
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Other residents expressed frustration as Wu administration officials pooh-poohed not only Pepén’s snow-removal proposal, due to a lack of capacity, but ideas put forward by Councilors Brian Worrell and Ed Flynn, who chaired the hearing.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The title refers to canines that are awaiting deployment, undergoing medical evaluation, being reviewed for deficiencies or leaving the service.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Many weed problems begin because lawn grasses are stressed due to nutrient deficiencies.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Living in scarcity can be incredibly isolating.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Part of the declines are a function of a maturing business where teams in a market like San Diego curtailed freebies and cheap tickets and moved toward a model of greater scarcity and premium experiences.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shortage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortage. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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