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
While Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker have touted housing availability and affordability as key concerns and priorities of their administrations, the task to overcome the city and state housing shortages has become a heftier one.
—
Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025
The euro had been weakening based on the notion that Europe would suffer more from any oil shortages in the Middle East.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 24 June 2025
That will require more tech-savvy technicians at a time when domestic manufacturers already face a labor shortage.
—Kristen Waggoner, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
The disappearance of undocumented workers stands to exacerbate the labor shortage that has grown more pronounced in recent years as construction has been slowed by high interest rates and the rising cost of materials that could get even more expensive due to new tariffs.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025
The euro had been weakening based on the notion that Europe would suffer more from any oil shortages in the Middle East.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 24 June 2025
That will require more tech-savvy technicians at a time when domestic manufacturers already face a labor shortage.
—Kristen Waggoner, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
The disappearance of undocumented workers stands to exacerbate the labor shortage that has grown more pronounced in recent years as construction has been slowed by high interest rates and the rising cost of materials that could get even more expensive due to new tariffs.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortage
Noun
-
An emotional Huda was selected by Ace and Nic, who criticized her and Jeremiah for their lack of effort in getting to know other people early in the process.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
18 June 2025
-
The lack of consistency and production from that position was one of the major flaws that hurt them during their playoff run.—
Ricardo Klein,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 June 2025
Noun
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Grassley cited a Government Accountability Office report issued last year that detailed deficiencies in the program’s management dating back to 2009.—
Ryan J. Foley,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2025
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Studies show that patients not meeting the diagnostic criteria for testosterone deficiency are still being prescribed testosterone therapy, often based on vague symptoms.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
24 June 2025
Noun
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Though the scarcity of furry figurines is a central part of the Labubu ecoystem, reseller communities online and in local collector shops keep buyers hooked.—
Annette Choi,
CNN Money,
21 June 2025
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The Thunder are Oklahoma’s only big-league option — the scarcity has taken a region divided by college allegiances and coalesced that fandom behind one franchise.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
19 June 2025
Noun
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The bank said its research showed that a gold deficit should peak in the third quarter of this year and the market should fundamentally weaken after that, driven by lower investment demand.—
Tim Treadgold,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
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With Haliburton significantly limited by a right hamstring injury suffered in the first half, his teammates elevated to make up for his deficit.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shortage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortage. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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