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
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 shortage
There was never a shortage of food, or long waits to get your meal.
—
Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2025
Nancy Ebel of Hill’s Travel Service in St. Petersburg, Florida, says there is a shortage of quality English-speaking guides in Japan.
—Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
As of February 2025, the district reported a shortage of 26 special education teachers and nine special education paraprofessionals.
—Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2025
The following three days, NASA went on to execute a historic rescue as the astronauts faced shortages of water and electrical power, and extremely high levels of carbon dioxide.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2025
Nancy Ebel of Hill’s Travel Service in St. Petersburg, Florida, says there is a shortage of quality English-speaking guides in Japan.
—Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
As of February 2025, the district reported a shortage of 26 special education teachers and nine special education paraprofessionals.
—Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2025
The following three days, NASA went on to execute a historic rescue as the astronauts faced shortages of water and electrical power, and extremely high levels of carbon dioxide.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortage
Noun
-
Another driver of instability is the lack of details about the trade agreements that have so far been reached.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
17 Aug. 2025
-
Van Gaal seemed to be the solution and all was good to go, despite the lack of European football after a seventh-place finish under Moyes and interim manager Ryan Giggs — the club’s worst since 1990.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
If not carefully planned, ADF may increase the risk of nutrient deficiencies.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
11 Aug. 2025
-
Chinook salmon were facing yet another stressor: a deficiency in thiamine, or vitamin B1, key for energy production and juvenile growth.—
Calista Oetama,
Sacbee.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
But the breach already showed that scarcity managed poorly can implode the emotional equation.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
-
To address this problem of scarcity, a martial government will form.—
Weike Wang,
New Yorker,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
Anxiety behaviors were unchanged, meaning the social and communication deficits weren’t due to general anxiety.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Lindor erased a 1-0 deficit with a solo home run against Luis Castillo in the first, then capped a two-run rally in the second with a go-ahead RBI single.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shortage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortage. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share