as in lacks
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 shortages
China’s apparent surge in missile production comes as the US expends sophisticated defense systems in Ukraine and Israel, causing some ammunition shortages and sparking debate in Washington about how and where to deploy its high-end weapons.
—
Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
When staffing shortages occur, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Knoxville's airport has so far avoided widespread flight cancellations and ground traffic freezes during the monthlong federal shutdown, but staffing shortages could worsen as the congressional stalemate drags on, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Nov. 2025
Last weekend, half of the agency’s core 30 facilities experienced staffing shortages, and 80% of air traffic controllers in New York–area facilities were absent.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Cave Creek is almost entirely dependent on its Colorado River supplies, which were stretched even before the shortages.
—Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Amid the shutdown, federal employees, including air traffic controllers, are not being paid for their work, exacerbating existing staffing shortages.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
The cuts, announced by the Department of Transportation this week, stem from chronic shortages among air traffic controllers made worse by the ongoing government shutdown.
—Josh Rivera, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Mabe said chronic staffing shortages must be fixed.
—Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 27 Dec. 2024
Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
When staffing shortages occur, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Knoxville's airport has so far avoided widespread flight cancellations and ground traffic freezes during the monthlong federal shutdown, but staffing shortages could worsen as the congressional stalemate drags on, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Nov. 2025
Last weekend, half of the agency’s core 30 facilities experienced staffing shortages, and 80% of air traffic controllers in New York–area facilities were absent.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Cave Creek is almost entirely dependent on its Colorado River supplies, which were stretched even before the shortages.
—Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Amid the shutdown, federal employees, including air traffic controllers, are not being paid for their work, exacerbating existing staffing shortages.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
The cuts, announced by the Department of Transportation this week, stem from chronic shortages among air traffic controllers made worse by the ongoing government shutdown.
—Josh Rivera, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Mabe said chronic staffing shortages must be fixed.
—Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 27 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortages
Noun
-
So Vegas has to hope that their forward depth is strong enough to balance out where their star power lacks, relative to other contenders.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
This absence — of God, of love, of plain community spirit — is a metaphor for the whole parish, where everyone is defined by their own lacks and deficiencies, the weaknesses that cause Wicks to despise them and vow to bring down them all.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Opponents raised concerns about the cost of new construction and long-term debt, arguing that renovations could have addressed the library’s deficiencies.—
Daniel Hunt,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
These nutrients reduce the risk of certain conditions present at birth, help fetal development, and prevent deficiencies that can affect the pregnant person.—
Nancy LeBrun,
Verywell Health,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The north’s deficits are growing, albeit from a lower base, while the south’s are shrinking.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The question has extra resonance at a time when local deficits and federal cuts are forcing leaders to make tough choices about which programs stay afloat.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In addition to political persecution, returning Venezuelans would reenter a country teetering on collapse—maligned by hyperinflation, soaring unemployment, rampant crime, frequent power outages, water shortages and chronic scarcities of food and medicine.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shortages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortages. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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