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 shortage of outdoorsy offerings here—opt for the four-mile Mont Rotui trail, with 360-degree views of Cook’s Bay and the island’s volcanic rim from its summit.
—
Skyli Alvarez, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 May 2026
Jost then turned to how Cuba has seen blackouts due to the collapse of its power grid, as well as an oil shortage.
—William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2026
Fuel shortages mean transporting goods is more expensive, so prices for energy, food, medicine and other basic items have also risen as supplies begin to dwindle.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 16 May 2026
The Japanese director has no shortage of ideas — chief among them the potential for advanced robotics to bring closure to the bereaved.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Skyli Alvarez, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 May 2026
Jost then turned to how Cuba has seen blackouts due to the collapse of its power grid, as well as an oil shortage.
—William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2026
Fuel shortages mean transporting goods is more expensive, so prices for energy, food, medicine and other basic items have also risen as supplies begin to dwindle.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 16 May 2026
The Japanese director has no shortage of ideas — chief among them the potential for advanced robotics to bring closure to the bereaved.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortage
Noun
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In England, the Women’s Super League’s commitment is attracting more and more talent to England, and at some point, Spain’s lack of investment in women’s football, not the club, will end up posing a problem for Barca — as seen in Arsenal’s triumph in the final over the Spanish side last year.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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The temporary restraining order has been extended due to the lack of service.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
21 May 2026
Noun
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For most people eating a typical diet, sodium deficiency is very rare.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
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This season, however, due to a number of factors including changing personnel, injuries, underperformance from key players and tactical deficiencies, Liverpool have become a soft touch and easy to play against.—
Colin Millar,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
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More broadly, the NFL is eroding the scarcity that helped turn the sport into America’s dominant television property.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
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The harsh reality is that scarcity creates a structural bottleneck for both commerce and science.—
Thomas Andersen,
Rolling Stone,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shortage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortage. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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