as in weaknesses
a defect in character
a wife who never tires of listing her husband's perceived shortcomings
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Recent Examples of shortcomings
Much more damning, however, was the manner in which Wrexham’s shortcomings were brutally exploited during what proved to be the club’s biggest home loss since Gateshead ran riot to triumph 7-2 at The Racecourse Ground in 2011.
—
Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
And, clearly, there are shortcomings to the current drug-approval process.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
The show mostly avoids the politics that swirl around the design business, especially these days when critics are obsessed with the environmental evils of fast fashion and the shortcomings of an industry known to exploit labor around the globe.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
Each generation of parents hopes to improve upon the shortcomings of the last.
—Brianne Hogan, Parents, 5 Apr. 2026
If the president can’t change, other leaders must compensate for his shortcomings.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 5 Apr. 2026
Its embrace of antisemitic conspiracy theories allows men who see themselves as victims to explain multiple grievances at once without confronting their own shortcomings.
—Miriam Eve Mora, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
The Johnnies thrive on messy, on disruptive pressure that limit possessions to compensate for what is ordinarily their own offensive shortcomings.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Harris’ death underscores growing concerns about the risks of riding small, low-speed electric vehicles and the shortcomings of the user agreements riders have with the companies that rent them.
—Hope Moses, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
And, clearly, there are shortcomings to the current drug-approval process.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
The show mostly avoids the politics that swirl around the design business, especially these days when critics are obsessed with the environmental evils of fast fashion and the shortcomings of an industry known to exploit labor around the globe.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
Each generation of parents hopes to improve upon the shortcomings of the last.
—Brianne Hogan, Parents, 5 Apr. 2026
If the president can’t change, other leaders must compensate for his shortcomings.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 5 Apr. 2026
Its embrace of antisemitic conspiracy theories allows men who see themselves as victims to explain multiple grievances at once without confronting their own shortcomings.
—Miriam Eve Mora, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
The Johnnies thrive on messy, on disruptive pressure that limit possessions to compensate for what is ordinarily their own offensive shortcomings.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Harris’ death underscores growing concerns about the risks of riding small, low-speed electric vehicles and the shortcomings of the user agreements riders have with the companies that rent them.
—Hope Moses, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortcomings
Noun
-
The model, Claude Mythos, excels at identifying weaknesses and security flaws within software, and Anthropic is limiting access to try to prevent bad actors from exploiting that capability, the company said.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 2026
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Players undergo stress tests during practice so the coaching staff can identify weaknesses before the season starts.—
Anthony Solorzano,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Maybe the mere fact of having been born illustrious, with no apparent faults, with nothing to prove or to be ashamed of, had liberated John from the resentments the rest of us feel, and from the cunning and ambition such resentments fuel.—
Jeffrey Eugenides,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The Zayante and San Andreas faults are considered to be faults that pose the most serious shaking threats in the Santa Cruz County area, according to county officials.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Woods’ reported admission that his eyes were off the road, whether true or not, is indicative of the warped hierarchy of driving sins our society has established.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The bible writes that Jesus carried the cross to Calvary, where he was crucified and died for the forgiveness of sins.—
Elijah Westbrook,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shortcomings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortcomings. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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