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
Additionally, the report found that 47% of companies looked to automating or implementing new technologies to address worker shortages, a five percentage point increase from 2024.
—
Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Management later confirmed the closures, citing power and gas shortages, as well as insufficient purchase orders.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
In addition, holiday shopping for some consumers began as early as July amid concerns over rising prices and shortages on retail shelves.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
However, staffing shortages may lead to delays for some services if the shutdown continues, says NPR's Greg Allen.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
According to the report, many developers face obstacles such as rising construction costs, financing constraints, labor shortages, and regulatory complexity.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
Other impacts of the shutdown could also affect national parks, which remain partially open but could face staff shortages during the shutdown.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
Members of the public also expressed concerns that their energy bills would increase and there would be water shortages, according to WIRED.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
The ban on exports is the latest attempt by the Kremlin to deal with the shortages.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Management later confirmed the closures, citing power and gas shortages, as well as insufficient purchase orders.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
In addition, holiday shopping for some consumers began as early as July amid concerns over rising prices and shortages on retail shelves.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
However, staffing shortages may lead to delays for some services if the shutdown continues, says NPR's Greg Allen.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
According to the report, many developers face obstacles such as rising construction costs, financing constraints, labor shortages, and regulatory complexity.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
Other impacts of the shutdown could also affect national parks, which remain partially open but could face staff shortages during the shutdown.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
Members of the public also expressed concerns that their energy bills would increase and there would be water shortages, according to WIRED.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
The ban on exports is the latest attempt by the Kremlin to deal with the shortages.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortages
Noun
-
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
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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
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Rocha also has language deficiencies and has low cognitive functioning, testing with an IQ of 81 as a child, according to Reynolds.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The team had clear deficiencies going into October.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Saudi Arabia expects wider budget deficits this year and in 2026 after lowering revenue projections and boosting spending.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The Leafs can win more games 2-1, but also struggle more to come back from 2-1 deficits.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 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 5 Oct. 2025.
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