as in weakness
a defect in character
a wife who never tires of listing her husband's perceived shortcomings
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Recent Examples of shortcoming
Despite these differences, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is resorting to a familiar playbook for repressing protests, blending a passing acknowledgement of his system’s shortcomings with maximum deflection and defiance.
—
Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
The first few generations of those devices had subpar cameras compared to standard, non-folding phones and a visible crease running down the middle, among other shortcomings.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
His failures and shortcomings speak volumes.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
Researchers have been seeking to overcome these shortcomings by using alternative approaches to deposit metal nanoparticles, such as nickel and copper, onto QWFs.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortcoming
Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
The first few generations of those devices had subpar cameras compared to standard, non-folding phones and a visible crease running down the middle, among other shortcomings.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
His failures and shortcomings speak volumes.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
Researchers have been seeking to overcome these shortcomings by using alternative approaches to deposit metal nanoparticles, such as nickel and copper, onto QWFs.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortcoming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortcoming
Noun
-
The strengths and weaknesses are always shown in a game like this.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
-
According to the Mayo Clinic, CMS is caused by a gene change that results in muscle weakness, which worsens with physical activity.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Dixon-Waters has always been a cerebral player, sometimes to a fault.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Jan. 2026
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If an opposing tight end or running back flares open from the slot or backfield on an in-breaking route, that wouldn’t be that linebacker’s fault.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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These are the words of someone determined not to repeat their father’s sins, someone who wants to be a little different than what a lot of the world might expect of a player with his unique brand of raw power and athleticism.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
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Except, apparently, among the Hoosiers who play football as if not playing football hard would be an unforgivable sin.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
At least in the interim, Duke deserves credit for finding ways to win despite some of its defensive deficiencies.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
11 Jan. 2026
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To combat this, our program overcorrected for the deficiencies of remote work, investing in in-person experiences and human connection.—
Justin Harlan,
Fortune,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Here are two clubs with huge histories and a modern malaise; two clubs with unhappy fans, owner issues, governance questions, unpopular managers, recruitment failings; two clubs who appear to have lost their ‘Way’.—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2026
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Stephen Ross, the Miami Dolphins’ majority owner since 2009, is now looking for his eighth different head coach in a parade of floundering, flailing and failing.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shortcoming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortcoming. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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