as in deficiency
formal
a failure to get what is expected or needed
a shortfall in milk production profit shortfalls
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Recent Examples of shortfall
The city laid off 169 employees in August and eliminated more than 600 vacant positions in an effort to address an anticipated $200 million shortfall in the 2026 budget.
—
Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025
As if the city isn’t facing a revenue shortfall.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Army recruitment crisis spawns 'future soldier' course In 2022, as years of shortfall in recruiting numbers compounded into a crisis, the Army test-launched the Future Soldier prep course, a boot camp-style program to quickly pull up recruits who don't meet academic or physical standards.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
This rate change announcement is the latest in a series of bad news for low-income families and child care providers after the state announced in December 2024 that waitlists for two child care voucher programs would restart due to the nearly $1 billion Medicaid budget shortfall found in 2023.
—Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortfall
Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025
As if the city isn’t facing a revenue shortfall.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Army recruitment crisis spawns 'future soldier' course In 2022, as years of shortfall in recruiting numbers compounded into a crisis, the Army test-launched the Future Soldier prep course, a boot camp-style program to quickly pull up recruits who don't meet academic or physical standards.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
This rate change announcement is the latest in a series of bad news for low-income families and child care providers after the state announced in December 2024 that waitlists for two child care voucher programs would restart due to the nearly $1 billion Medicaid budget shortfall found in 2023.
—Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortfall
Noun
-
The Maasai had vitamin A and C deficiencies due to meat and dairy exclusivity.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
B vitamins have been reported to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and depression associated with vitamin B12 deficiency.—
Alessandra Signorelli,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Both levels are far above EU rules demanding that individual members’ deficits should not exceed 3% of GDP, while their public debt should not surpass 60% of economic output.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, with 76 wins, the Mets face a seemingly insurmountable seven-game deficit to the Phillies, and currently cling to the NL's final Wild Card berth by just four games over the Cincinnati Reds.—
Jon Vankin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shortfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortfall. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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