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 shortfall is projected at $60 million for the next fiscal year and could reach $90 million by 2030.
—
Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Mass merchants, department and convenience stores would make up some of the shortfall, with consumers stocking up ahead of the storm on essentials like food, water and batteries, along with melting salt, shovels, coats and winter accessories.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
Given the current budget shortfall, the price tag for keeping data centers from spiking utility rates should be a nonstarter.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 25 Jan. 2026
There’s the direct cost of the raises, but also the related growth of the city’s pension shortfall, which increasingly eats further into the budget, as reported by the U-T’s Garrick.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortfall
Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Mass merchants, department and convenience stores would make up some of the shortfall, with consumers stocking up ahead of the storm on essentials like food, water and batteries, along with melting salt, shovels, coats and winter accessories.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
Given the current budget shortfall, the price tag for keeping data centers from spiking utility rates should be a nonstarter.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 25 Jan. 2026
There’s the direct cost of the raises, but also the related growth of the city’s pension shortfall, which increasingly eats further into the budget, as reported by the U-T’s Garrick.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortfall
Noun
-
The state has since stated that the medical center has corrected the deficiencies.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Older leaves often show the deficiency first.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
An Australian study of advanced brain images found significant alterations even among people who had already recovered from mild infections — a possible explanation for cognitive deficits that may persist for years.—
Stephanie Armour,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Threes from Holiday and Camara, layups by Caleb Love and a succession of Grant free throws trimmed the deficit to 10 by the end of the quarter as the Celtics’ offense began to stagnate.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shortfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortfall. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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