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
Advocates are asking Lamont to consider using it to help offset the federal shortfall.
—
NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
Air travel was snarled during the more than month-long government shutdown that ended in January 2019, hours after a shortfall of air traffic controllers disrupted flights in the New York area.
—Lillian Rizzo,leslie Josephs, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
This shortfall was quite disappointing.
—Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2025
Organizers who help with Louisville's Senior Nutrition Program, which offers free meals to elderly residents in need, knew a budget shortfall was coming.
—Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortfall
NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
Air travel was snarled during the more than month-long government shutdown that ended in January 2019, hours after a shortfall of air traffic controllers disrupted flights in the New York area.
—Lillian Rizzo,leslie Josephs, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
This shortfall was quite disappointing.
—Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2025
Organizers who help with Louisville's Senior Nutrition Program, which offers free meals to elderly residents in need, knew a budget shortfall was coming.
—Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shortfall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortfall
Noun
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Sprinkle in Minerals Don't just toss in minerals at random, says Damrosch—only use when recommended by your soil test to correct deficiencies that have been identified.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Oct. 2025
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For that reason, the vast majority of companies now employ human reviews and stand-alone testing tools or services to address generative AI’s deficiencies.—
Philipp Eisenhauer,
Harvard Business Review,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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How to Watch Pittsburgh Penguins at Anaheim Ducks Anaheim came back from a two-goal deficit in the third period for its first victory of the season on Saturday night when Leo Carlsson scored 46 seconds into overtime to give the Ducks a 7-6 road win over the San Jose Sharks.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
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Milwaukee cut the deficit in half with a run off rookie Roki Sasaki and had the bases loaded before Blake Treinen struck out Brice Turang to clinch the win for the Dodgers.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shortfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortfall. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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