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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shortage
Gaza’s fuel shortage, caused by Israel’s blockade of the territory, led to the shutdown of essential infrastructure such as water and wastewater treatment necessary for environmental and public health.
—
Simmone Shah, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
Read more on what a shortage of air traffic controllers could do to bring an end to the shutdown from NPR's Joel Rose.
—NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
Yet some furniture executives worry that this help from the federal government will do more harm than good to an industry grappling with notoriously thin profit margins, a shortage of skilled workers and whiplash from other tariffs.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
But Hairston warns the lack of protections against silica dust will exacerbate problems in the industry by threatening a labor shortage, because younger workers in an aging workforce are now getting black lung.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Simmone Shah, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
Read more on what a shortage of air traffic controllers could do to bring an end to the shutdown from NPR's Joel Rose.
—NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
Yet some furniture executives worry that this help from the federal government will do more harm than good to an industry grappling with notoriously thin profit margins, a shortage of skilled workers and whiplash from other tariffs.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
But Hairston warns the lack of protections against silica dust will exacerbate problems in the industry by threatening a labor shortage, because younger workers in an aging workforce are now getting black lung.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortage
Noun
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Other issues brought up at the meeting included ongoing construction, public safety and a lack of sufficient workforce housing.—
Mars King,
Twin Cities,
17 Oct. 2025
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D’Alleva Valas said the biggest barrier for women, though, isn’t a lack of knowledge.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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If social media is any indication, lean bulking still commonly involves extreme dieting, which can lead to nutrition deficiencies, hormonal changes, eating disorders, and loss of muscle and bone density.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
17 Oct. 2025
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Use folic acid for general supplementation, pregnancy, or to prevent deficiency—unless your healthcare provider advises otherwise.—
Trang Tran,
Verywell Health,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Sanogo said that, when individuals do not have the resources to buy everyday essentials or discretionary luxuries, seeing others treat expensive items casually can create feelings of scarcity, which may lead to envy or resentment.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
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The challenge isn’t just scarcity.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This one, however, made erasing a 17-3 deficit against Philadelphia earlier this month look quaint.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
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Four plays later, Nix found RJ Harvey for a 2-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to three points.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shortage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortage. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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