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
Ukraine’s manpower shortages irk her, as does the criticism of strongarm recruitment efforts.
—
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Developed by his technology company Atoco, this device operates effectively even in areas with less than 20% humidity, offering a potential lifeline to regions struggling with severe water shortages.
—Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
While rideshare apps like Uber exist in major cities in Jamaica, driver shortages can make rides expensive.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
Growth has slowed to a near halt, due to persistent inflation and labor shortages.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
The union is seeking higher wages and benefits, plus more hiring to fill staffing shortages.
—Pat Maio, Oc Register, 23 Feb. 2026
The study further concludes that current crackdown has reduced employment in those and other industries where employers face shortages.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2026
Other reasons include staffing and volunteer shortages.
—Wendy Coschignano-Ford, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
Her goal is primary care, one of the specialties facing the most severe shortages nationwide.
—Nancy Badertscher, AJC.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Developed by his technology company Atoco, this device operates effectively even in areas with less than 20% humidity, offering a potential lifeline to regions struggling with severe water shortages.
—Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
While rideshare apps like Uber exist in major cities in Jamaica, driver shortages can make rides expensive.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
Growth has slowed to a near halt, due to persistent inflation and labor shortages.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
The union is seeking higher wages and benefits, plus more hiring to fill staffing shortages.
—Pat Maio, Oc Register, 23 Feb. 2026
The study further concludes that current crackdown has reduced employment in those and other industries where employers face shortages.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2026
Other reasons include staffing and volunteer shortages.
—Wendy Coschignano-Ford, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
Her goal is primary care, one of the specialties facing the most severe shortages nationwide.
—Nancy Badertscher, AJC.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortages
Noun
-
Each provides amino acids that the other lacks, so eating them together gives you all the essential amino acids.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Economic theory would suggest that the best place to make a major investment such as a STAR bond would be in a place that has low, or lacks, economic activity.—
Sofi Zeman
January 21,
Kansas City Star,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Collectively, the deficiencies identified by interim coach Frank Lampard towards the end of the 2022-23 season and later by Mauricio Pochettino and Enzo Maresca — a collective lack of experience, resilience and know-how — have still been in evidence in the first six weeks of Rosenior’s tenure.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Oddly, Southern states have lately been the most active in owning up to their educational deficiencies.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Projections show multi-trillion-dollar deficits stretching into the indefinite future.—
Les Rubin,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The wealthy nation, heavily dependent on oil revenue, has been dogged by deficits over the past decade, with 80% of the state budget spent on subsidies and salaries.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This is because climate change and ecological collapse are very likely to cause political fragmentation that nullifies legal and cultural precedents like abolition, and bring about agrarian and manufacturing crises and scarcities in which people are forced into labor.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Dec. 2025
-
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 2 Mar. 2026.
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