as in weakness
a defect in character
a wife who never tires of listing her husband's perceived shortcomings
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shortcoming
Theories about this abound—all have their evidentiary shortcomings—but Greenblatt agrees with a common one that sees Marlowe traveling to France and uncovering Catholic conspiracies against the Crown.
—
Isaac Butler, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2025
Those shortcomings have included a heavy emphasis on finding defensive help in the days and weeks leading up to the NFL trade deadline, specifically at defensive end and linebacker.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2025
But, even with this major shortcoming, my home still felt much cleaner, smelled fresher, and honestly felt even a tad bit more peaceful at the end of the day.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
His own composer as usual, Amenabar here tends to underline the film’s shortcomings, rather than elevate its idiosyncrasies with an original score that’s too conventional by half.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortcoming
Isaac Butler, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2025
Those shortcomings have included a heavy emphasis on finding defensive help in the days and weeks leading up to the NFL trade deadline, specifically at defensive end and linebacker.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2025
But, even with this major shortcoming, my home still felt much cleaner, smelled fresher, and honestly felt even a tad bit more peaceful at the end of the day.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
His own composer as usual, Amenabar here tends to underline the film’s shortcomings, rather than elevate its idiosyncrasies with an original score that’s too conventional by half.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortcoming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortcoming
Noun
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Ancelotti and Zidane certainly had their own tactical ideas, but were also pragmatic and based game plans primarily on the characteristics (strengths and weaknesses) of the squad made available to them.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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The Dodgers' bullpen is one of their weaknesses, meaning the team is asking a lot from starters.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, when asked who is to blame, 58% of those surveyed said both Disney and Google are equally at fault, while 37% point the finger at Disney and 5% blame Google.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
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Some of them have not been his fault.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The tragic death of the Sepulveda family patriarch calls his descendants back to Villa Sepulveda, a Spanish colonial manor in a coconut plantation; but a landslide traps the guests inside, transforming the funeral plans into a supernatural reckoning of sins.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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Once, there were two sweet kids who came of age in the evangelical purity culture of the 1990’s, a world in which being LGBTQ+ or accepting anyone who was gay was seen as a sin that could send you straight to hell.—
Kelly Foster Lundquist,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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However, specific groups may be particularly vulnerable to deficiency, and the consequences can be significant.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
23 Oct. 2025
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That has allowed the Dodgers to hide their deficiencies in the bullpen – and ask less of their offense.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Everyday absurdities, moral failings and big-city tension carry a pointed social sting.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
29 Oct. 2025
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There were festering family vendettas; botched forensics; staggering police failings.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shortcoming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortcoming. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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