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
According to an August report from the Office of Inspector General, the watchdog arm of the Department of Veterans Affairs, all 139 Veterans Health Administration facilities in the country have reported severe occupational shortages, a 50% increase from last year.
—
Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The shortages have plagued the workforce for many years now, educators have told ABC News, with many of them citing strict time demands, persistent behavioral issues and lack of administrative support, among other obstacles.
—Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2025
At Aboutengue, Saman documented how limited access to clean water, shortages of food, and overstretched health services compound the trauma of displacement.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
The war has caused a humanitarian crisis across the territory, with health officials in Gaza reporting that 367 people, including 131 children, have so far died of malnutrition and starvation caused by acute food shortages.
—Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Supporters say the measure would provide stability for workers and businesses facing labor shortages.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 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
There are talent shortages constraining the development of these sectors.
—Vilius Kavaliauskas, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Mabe said chronic staffing shortages must be fixed.
—Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 27 Dec. 2024
Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The shortages have plagued the workforce for many years now, educators have told ABC News, with many of them citing strict time demands, persistent behavioral issues and lack of administrative support, among other obstacles.
—Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2025
At Aboutengue, Saman documented how limited access to clean water, shortages of food, and overstretched health services compound the trauma of displacement.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
The war has caused a humanitarian crisis across the territory, with health officials in Gaza reporting that 367 people, including 131 children, have so far died of malnutrition and starvation caused by acute food shortages.
—Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Supporters say the measure would provide stability for workers and businesses facing labor shortages.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 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
There are talent shortages constraining the development of these sectors.
—Vilius Kavaliauskas, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Mabe said chronic staffing shortages must be fixed.
—Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 27 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortages
Noun
-
But Davies’s film has a patience and lightness of touch that Scorsese’s lacks, as well as a note-perfect lead in Gillian Anderson.—
Elle Carroll,
Vulture,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In contrast, focusing on weaknesses traps people in a cycle of fixing deficiencies; over time, this limits performance by missing opportunities to generate truly forward-looking solutions.—
Gamze Acar Bayraktaroglu,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
In addition to amassing millions of dollars in debt, the four facilities also racked up nearly 384 violations for health and safety deficiencies in the last three years.—
Steven Martinez,
jsonline.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Outside of the United States, global government bonds sold off as jitters around government deficits and interest rates rippled through markets.—
Sean Conlon,John Melloy,Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The most notable pick came against the Baltimore Ravens in the 2014 AFC Divisional round after the Patriots clawed back from a pair of 14-point deficits.—
Tim Crowley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
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 Sep. 2025.
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