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
As the world creeps toward peak travel season, industry leaders are taking notice of the fuel shortages.
—
Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 13 Apr. 2026
But even with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates rerouting some of their oil supplies and with many nations drawing from their emergency stockpiles, the world will continue to face more shortages, Pickering said.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Police began cracking down Saturday, using pepper spray to help clear protesters at the Whitegate refinery in County Cork and vowing to remove others who were endangering critical infrastructure and public safety because gas shortages could prevent response by emergency services.
—Brian Melley, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
But Cuba’s economy has been in a recession since before the COVID pandemic years, and medicine and food shortages have only worsened year after year.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
The event comes as animal shelters nationwide face ongoing capacity pressures from staffing shortages, limited pet-friendly housing and a lack of affordable veterinary care.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
Reuse was essential because in many contemporary cities, and especially across China, water shortages could be as much of a problem as flooding.
—Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Perez’s attorney, deputy public defender Ron Johnson, cited staff shortages and a backlog of cases in arguing for time to file a retrial motion.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Fuel shortages increased the cost of transportation, and the production of key health commodities like mosquito nets which are made of polyester, which is made of petrochemicals.
—Fatma Tanis, NPR, 6 Apr. 2026
Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 13 Apr. 2026
But even with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates rerouting some of their oil supplies and with many nations drawing from their emergency stockpiles, the world will continue to face more shortages, Pickering said.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Police began cracking down Saturday, using pepper spray to help clear protesters at the Whitegate refinery in County Cork and vowing to remove others who were endangering critical infrastructure and public safety because gas shortages could prevent response by emergency services.
—Brian Melley, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
But Cuba’s economy has been in a recession since before the COVID pandemic years, and medicine and food shortages have only worsened year after year.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
The event comes as animal shelters nationwide face ongoing capacity pressures from staffing shortages, limited pet-friendly housing and a lack of affordable veterinary care.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
Reuse was essential because in many contemporary cities, and especially across China, water shortages could be as much of a problem as flooding.
—Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Perez’s attorney, deputy public defender Ron Johnson, cited staff shortages and a backlog of cases in arguing for time to file a retrial motion.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Fuel shortages increased the cost of transportation, and the production of key health commodities like mosquito nets which are made of polyester, which is made of petrochemicals.
—Fatma Tanis, NPR, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortages
Noun
-
Cinch doesn't have many add-on options available, which means customization lacks.—
Caroline Ernst,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
-
As of Wednesday, firearms dealers are required under state law to use scanners that pull the prospective purchaser’s name, date of birth and other details from the card’s magnetic strip, which the new design lacks — except if they are authorized otherwise.—
Madison Smalstig,
Sacbee.com,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The move signaled their clarity about their deficiencies over the last few seasons.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Lawmakers have proposed several bills this session related to the agency that have, in part, been meant to address deficiencies or gaps made public after the recent tragedies.—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Without a doubt, the city, the county, the school districts, and the state are approaching crisis positions as financial stability is threatened by structural deficits.—
Harvey Levine,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Like most Bay Area transit agencies, the VTA – although reporting a rebound in ridership – is projecting multi-million dollar deficits in the coming years, a hangover from pandemic-era ridership losses.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Meanwhile, the island’s population, almost all of which lives below the poverty line according to some estimates, continues to face essential scarcities, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Still, the financial strain continued and, by the fall, dozens of staff and prisoners were telling ProPublica about unusual scarcities in facilities across the country.—
Keri Blakinger,
ProPublica,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shortages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortages. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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